November 8th is 'The Feast of the Four Crowned Ones', still marked by some English freemasons. It commemorates four masons martyred by Emperor Diocletian for refusing to sculpt a pagan god.
1520 Stockholm Bloodbath begins as Danish forces successfully invade Sweden and execute approximately 100 people.
1602 The Bodleian Library at Oxford University was opened to the public. It is second in size to the British Library.
1605 Robert Catesby, the ringleader of the Gunpowder Plotters, was killed by gunshot, along with other conspirators at Holbeche House, on the border of Staffordshire. He was buried close by but the bodies of Catesby and fellow conspirator Percy were exhumed and decapitated and Catesby's head was placed on the side of the Parliament House.
1731 Benjamin Franklin opens the first library in the North American colonies, the Library Company of Philadelphia.
.. 'Big Ben' is named after a Welshman. Born on this day 1802 - Sir Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover As First Commissioner of Works responsible for Government building projects, Hall’s work included the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament and the installation of the hour bell, "Big Ben", in the clock tower. The nickname 'Big Ben' was given to the Great Bell in honour of Sir Benjamin, whose name is inscribed on it. ..
… On 8th of November 1867, two underground explosions claimed the lives of 178 men and boys in Ferndale.
The rescue attempt was hindered by foul air and roof falls, and it was over a month before the badly burnt and disfigured bodies could be brought to the surface. The accident report blamed the mine operators and warned that a similar accident could occur unless conditions underground improved. They were proved right, and on June 10th 1869 another gas explosion killed 53 men at the same pit. A second enquiry again blamed the mine owners, but no penalties were paid. …
1910 William H. Frost receives the first U.S. patent for an electrical insect destroyer.
.., On 8th November 1927, 270 people from South Wales marched to London, in protest against the Ministry of Health who had refused and limited the relief notes given to unemployed miners and their families.
The march was called for by A. J. Cook, the miners' leader at the time, during a demonstration on 18 September 1927 — 'Red Sunday in Rhondda Valley'. The march went ahead, with each marcher carrying a miner's safety lamp, in spite of hostility from the trades unions, press and government. However, they were supported in every town and village they passed through, including, Bath, Bristol and Swindon.
The 270 marchers came from all the South Wales mining valleys, and two died on the way. One of these, John Supple of Tonyrefail who died after catching pneumonia, wrote in his last letter to his wife, 'Don't worry about me. Think of me as a soldier in the Workers' Army. Remember that I have marched for you and others in want.'
A song sung by the marchers, 'A Rhondda Rebel Song (to the tune of Cwm Rhondda)' was later released in memory of the two men who died; Workers of all lands united, Marching onwards steadfast, true, Hopes of Kings and Tyrants blighted, We shall build this world anew, Long live Freedom! Long live Freedom! Chains are shattered, we are free. …
1952: The New Musical Express publishes the first ever UK pop chart from returns submitted by 53 record shops. Crooner Al Martino's ‘Here In My Heart’ is the first number 1.
1958 Melody Maker published the first British album charts.
The Licensing Act 1961 was enacted on 8th November 1961, following a national referendum to decide whether to keep pubs shut on Sundays. The result of the referendum was divided, with rural counties in West, Mid and North Wales electing to close pubs on Sundays and counties in South Wales voting to open them. The Act allowed local authorities in Wales to hold polls every seven years and by 1996, all areas had removed the ban.
1974 Covent Garden ceased to be the location of London’s famous flower and vegetable market as it moved across the Thames, leaving the old warehouses and Floral Hall.
8 Nov 1968 The Who, Joe Cocker and The Grease Band, The Mindbenders and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown all appeared at The Walthamstow Granada Theatre, England.
8 Nov 1965 The Beatles worked on a new George Harrison song ‘Think For Yourself’ at Abbey Road for their forthcoming Rubber Soul album. After rehearsing the song, they recorded the basic instrumental track in one take.
Emperor Diocletian ruled from 284 to 305 BCE, so none he persecuted could possibly have been Freemasons. Masons by trade maybe, but not members of any trade guild.
Certainly not "Freemasons", who historically are part of a predominently-Christian society; so some may well honour Christians killed by the Romans for being Christian.
Diocletion initiated the largest and bloodiest anti-Christian pogrom (303–312). It did not destroy the religion though, and Emperor Constantine made Christianity the Roman Empire's official faith.
The Freemasons also question the popular idea, given by their own ceremonials, that they originated as a Mediaeval trade association; but the connection seems to have been the fraternal-society basics developed among skilled trades-men including the "master masons" (cathedral architects) of the time.
The earliest surviving document referring to Freemasonry was written in 1390, nearly 1300 years after Diocletion. The first "Grand Lodge" was established in London in 1717, long after any stone-trade associations beyond ceremonial references had been left behind.
Freemasonry must not be confused with the Guild of Masons, one of the London-based livery-guilds. That genuinely is a trade association, existing to further the training, skills and quality standards of real stone-masons; and it has no connection at all with the Freemasons.
