Freemasons

The Freemasons are a subject of endless fascination. To the layman, they are a mysterious brotherhood of profound if uncertain influence, a secret society purported, in some popular histories, to have its roots in the fabled order of the Knights Templar or in the mysteries of the Egyptian pyramids. They evoke fears of world domination by a select few who enjoy privileged access to wealth and the levers of power. The secrecy of their rites suggests the taint of sacrilege, and their hidden loyalties are sometimes accused of undermining the workings of justice and the integrity of nations."

In this reassessment, Jasper Ridley offers a substantial work of history that sifts the truth from the myth as it traces Freemasonry from its origins to the present day. Ridley recounts the development of Freemasonry from the guilds of freestone masons, the master builders of the Middle Ages, into societies of "gentleman masons" and "speculative masons" in the seventeenth century, culminating in the formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717.

Delineating the spread of the brotherhood to Europe, the New World, and the East, he weighs the role Freemasonry is supposed to have played in the American Revolution (some of our Founding Fathers were masons, among them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin) as well as those in France, South America, and later Russia. Ridley puts into proper perspective the contributions of "the Craft" to civilization over the centuries. Not a mason himself, he nonetheless refutes many of the outrageous allegations made against Freemasonry, while at the same time acknowledging the masons' shortcomings: their clannishness, misogyny, obsession with secrecy, and devotion to arcane ritual.

"Of course, any secret society that boasts influential members is bound to cause suspicion, and Ridley details the waves of anti-Masonic sentiment that arose throughout the centuries." Publishers Weekly

"[A] useful companion to the many scholarly and specialized works on the subject." Library Journal

"This work of popular history sheds light on a frequently obscure subject." Booklist

"Readers looking for a deeper understanding of Freemasonry will find Ridley a fascinating, informative guide to its historical and contemporary roles." Kirkus Reviews

To the layman, the Freemasons are a mysterious brotherhood. This text follows the development of Freemasonry from the operative working masons of the Middle Ages to the gentlemen masons of the 18th century through to the position of the Freemasons in British society in the 21st century.

Jasper Ridley's many works include Napoleon III and Eugenie, Garibaldi, and Mussolini. He lives and works in London.