A Brief History of the Freemasons: The True Story of the World’s Most Powerful Secret Society

In the popular imagination the Freemasons are often regarded as a sinister secret society practising arcane rituals: Jasper Ridleys reassessment traces the origins of Freemasonry in the medieval craftsmen's guilds and its spread throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. Dispelling the more lurid misconceptions, Ridley sheds new light on the organization's beliefs, activities and current role in society. It is easy to see why the Freemasons are chosen for harassment. They are seen as a privileged, wealthy, middle-class group; like City livery companies they can be attacked with impunity because they have tended to ignore criticism and do not wish to lower themselves by replying to it. Is it not time that the Freemasons were left alone to hold their dinners and their lodge meetings in peace? For the Freemasons, these meetings are inspiring rituals; for others, they are nothing worse than harmless play-acting and silly nonsense. Jasper Ridley is a highly acclaimed historian. He is the author of a number of titles including A Brief History of the Tudor Age, He died in 2004. CONTENTS Acknowledgements Introduction 1 The Masons 2 The Heretics 3 The Seventeenth Century 4 Grand Lodge 5 The Pope’s Bull 6 Germany and France 7 English Grand Lodge: ‘Wilkes and Liberty! ’ 8 Troubles and Scandals 9 The American Revolution 10 The Magic Flute 11 The French Revolution 12 Loyalist and Revolutionary Freemasons 13 Napoleon 14 The Restoration 15 The Case of William Morgan 16 The Lautaro Lodge 17 The Nineteenth Century 18 The New Assault on Freemasonry 19 Freemasonry in the World 20 Modern Freemasonry in Britain 21 Are the Freemasons a Menace? Notes and References Bibliography Index