The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry, 2nd Edition : Discover the Rich and Fascinating History of This Mysterious Society

Freemasonry is an ancient secret society shrouded in obscurity. Fascination with the mysteries of the Masons reached fever pitch after the release of Dan Brown's novels, __Angels and Demons, The DaVinci Code,__ and __The Lost Symbol.__ But these novels and their related movies raised more questions than they answered. __The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry, Second Edition,__ fills readers in on the truths behind the mysteries. In it, readers get: - A fact-filled overview of the birth and beginnings of Freemasonry, including its relationship to the Knights Templar and Egypt - Fascinating facts about famous Masons - An explanation of the various Masonic organizations, such as the York and Scottish rites, and the Shriners - A behind-the-scenes look at what really goes on in a Masonic lodge, including initiations - A new walking tour of Washington, D.C., pointing out the hidden Masonic symbols featured in __The Lost Symbol__- Scripts for Masonic rituals, giving a flavor of the language used in such ceremonies - A field guide to Masonic symbols and regalia, with photos and explanations of significance - The history behind Masonic philanthropic efforts and youth groups - A history of African American Freemasonry and the role of women in Masonic organizations Freemasonry is an ancient secret society shrouded in obscurity. Fascination with the mysteries of the Masons reached a fevered pitch after the release of Dan Brown’s novels Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol. But these novels and their related movies raised more questions than they answered. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Freemasonry, S econd Edition, fills readers in on the truths behind the mysteries. In it, readers get: - A fact-filled overview of the birth and beginnings of Freemasonry, including its relationship to the Knights Templar and Egypt. - Fascinating facts about famous Masons. - An explanation of the various Masonic organizations, such as the York and Scottish rites, and the Shriners. - A behind-the-scenes look at what really goes on in a Masonic lodge, including initiations. - A new walking tour of Washington, DC, pointing out the hidden Masonic symbols featured in The Lost Symbol. - Scripts for Masonic rituals, giving a flavor of the language used in such ceremonies. - A field guide to Masonic symbols and regalia, with photos and explanations of significance. - The history behind Masonic philanthropic efforts and youth groups. - A history of African-American Freemasonry and the role of women in Masonic organizations. Recent novels and films about the ancient society of Freemasons have increased interest and raised a lot of misconceptions about this mysterious fraternity. This guide gives you everything you need to know, from its beginnings to how it is organized and operates today