Secret societies Books

Book SynopsisWomen have been structurally part of the masonic enterprise from at least the middle of the 18th century. Yet, little is known about the ways in which they themselves obtained and exercised power to influence the systems they were involved in, in order to adapt them to be more appropriate to their needs. This volume intends to concentrate on two aspects: Women’s agency (i.e. the power women gained and exercised in this context) and rituals (i.e. the role of men and women in changing and shaping the rituals women work with). These two aspects are closely related, since it requires some agency to realise changes in existing rituals.Trade Review"Heidle and Snoek have edited a useful volume for the emerging area of Freemasonic studies in the Anglophone academic space." Amy Hale, St. Petersburg College, Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft Vol.6Table of ContentsContributors include: Bärbel Raschke, Malcolm Davies, Andreas Önnerfors, James Smith Allen, Anton van de Sande, Henrik Bogdan, Bernard Dat, Ann Pilcher-Dayton, Andrew Prescott, and Anne van Marion-Weijer

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Book SynopsisFreemasonry is generally regarded a male phenomenon. Yet, both before 1723 and since 1744, women were initiated as well. This book is about the rituals, used for the initiation of women in the Adoption Lodges, since the middle of the 18th century. It describes their contents, roots and creation before reviewing and conceptualising their development in the past three centuries. It analyses the different families of rituals within the Adoption Rite, and gives an overview of specific developments, showing how the rituals were adapted to their changing contexts. Apart from its relevance for the history of Freemasonry in general and the Adoption Rite in particular, the book also writes a hitherto unknown chapter of women’s history. Of particular interest for the history of feminism is the chapter about the 20th century, which could only be written now that the documents concerning it, which had been moved to Moscow in 1945, had been returned in 2000.Trade ReviewWith his new book, Initiating Women in Freemasonry: The Adoption Rite, the author, gallantly, has thrown a gauntlet into the scholarly arena. Ruben Gurevich, St, Catharines, Ontario "The scholarship on the history of women and the Craft contained within the pages of Initiating Women in Freemasonry is some of the best available... If someone is serious about unveiling the mysteries of Freemasonic ritual, or locating possible sources for the inspiration of sacred LDS ceremonies, the research is invaluable." Kris Wray, Association for Mormon Letters

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Book SynopsisFreemasonry is the largest, oldest, and most influential secret society in the world. The Brill Handbook of Freemasonry is a pioneering work that brings together, for the first time, leading scholars on Freemasonry. The first section covers historical perspectives, such as the origins and early history of Freemasonry. The second deals with the relationship between Freemasonry and specific religious traditions such as the Catholic Church, Judaism, and Islam. In the third section, organisational themes, such as the use of rituals, are explored, while the fourth section deals with issues related to society and politics - women, blacks, colonialism, nationalism, and war. The fifth and final section is devoted to Freemasonry and culture, including music, literature, modern art, architecture and material culture.Trade Review"The Handbook of Freemasonry is a formidable and provocative collection of the thoughts of many of the most accomplished scholars of Freemasonry in Europe and America. Anyone involved in serious Masonic research will find it to be a valuable resource." Shawn Eyer, FPS, Philalethes, Summer 2014 "At 669 pages, meticulously indexed, and boasting detailed bibliographies at the end of each chapter, the Handbook of Freemasonry functions as a valuable and insightful compendium of a remarkable quantity of knowledge about an often misunderstood and yet strangely ubiquitous initiatory society. Those looking for a detailed study or help in inspiring their own research on Freemasonry would do well to tackle the Handbook." Nathan Schradle, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nova Religio, Vol. 20, No. 2 "To sum up, the volume contributes significantly to the understanding of Freemasonry with its diverse entries and points of focus. The Handbook of Freemasonry likely qualifies as the most significant work to have been published on Freemasonry in recent years, and will be a source of great importance for years to come, both in terms of its theoretical developments and as a reliable source for consultation." Peter Olsson, Correspondence 4 (2016).Table of ContentsCONTENTS Acknowledgements List of Contributors List of Illustrations Chapter 1: Introduction Henrik Bogdan and Jan Snoek PART I HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES Chapter 2: The History of Freemasonry: An Overview Jan Snoek and Henrik Bogdan Chapter 3: The Old Charges Andrew Prescott Chapter 4: The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland David Stevenson Chapter 5: The Origins of Freemasonry: England Matthew Scanlan Chapter 6: Freemasonry and Templarism Pierre Mollier Chapter 7: Freemasonry and the Enlightenment Margaret Jacob and Matthew Crow Chapter 8: Masonic Historiography Charles Porset PART II FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION Chapter 9: Freemasonry and the Catholic Church José A. Ferrer Benimeli Chapter 10: Freemasonry and the Orthodox Churches Jean-François Var Chapter 11: Freemasonry and Protestant Churches Guy Liagre Chapter 12: Freemasonry and Judaism Robert Jan van Pelt Chapter 13: Freemasonry and Islam Thierry Zarconne Chapter 14: Freemasonry and Eastern Religions Jessica Harland-Jacobs and Jan Snoek Chapter 15: Freemasonry and Western Esotericism Henrik Bogdan Chapter 16: Freemasonry and New Religious Movements Massimo Introvigne PART III RITUAL, ORGANISATION, AND DIFFUSION Chapter 17: Masonic Rituals of Initiation Jan Snoek Chapter 18: Freemasonry and Performance Kristiane Hasselmann Chapter 19: Masonic Rites and Systems Arturo De Hoyos Chapter 20: Relationships between Grand Lodges Jan Snoek Chapter 21: Freemasonry and Friendly Societies Daniel Weinbren PART IV FREEMASONRY, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS Chapter 22: Freemasonry and Women Jan Snoek Chapter 23: Freemasonry and Blacks Cecile Révauger Chapter 24: Freemasonry and Colonialism Jessica Harland-Jacobs Chapter 25: Freemasonry and Nationalism Jeffrey Tyssens Chapter 26: Freemasonry and War François Rognon PART V FREEMASONRY AND CULTURE Chapter 27: Freemasonry and Music Malcolm Davies Chapter 28: Freemasonry and Literature R.A. Gilbert Chapter 29: Freemasonry and Modern Art Marijo Ariens-Volker Chapter 30: Freemasonry and Architecture James Stevens Curl Chapter 31: The Material Culture of Freemasonry Mark J.R. Dennis

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Book SynopsisFreemasonry is the largest, oldest, and most influential secret society in the world. The Brill Handbook of Freemasonry is a pioneering work that brings together, for the first time, leading scholars on Freemasonry. The first section covers historical perspectives, such as the origins and early history of Freemasonry. The second deals with the relationship between Freemasonry and specific religious traditions such as the Catholic Church, Judaism, and Islam. In the third section, organisational themes, such as the use of rituals, are explored, while the fourth section deals with issues related to society and politics - women, blacks, colonialism, nationalism, and war. The fifth and final section is devoted to Freemasonry and culture, including music, literature, modern art, architecture and material culture.Trade ReviewLo Handbook offre una veduta estremamente ampia e circostanziata della Massoneria come soggetto di studio, proponendo un approccio estremamente ancorato al rigore documentario e senza concedere o togliere nulla ai diversi soggetti affrontati, secondo una linea di indagine scevra da apriorismi partigiani e antiscientifici o, di converso, da ostilità più o meno inconfessate. Di fatto, uno degli scopi di questo imponente saggio è proprio quello di risultare intellegibile e soprattutto scientificamente utile sia agli addetti ai lavori, sia a quegli storici che, pur non essendo esperti di vicende libero-muratorie, hanno necessità di trovare una guida affidabile e ben documentata su tale soggetto di studio. In questo senso la liberazione degli studi massonici come dominio di ricerca pienamente autonomo, sdoganato da riserve confessionali o persecutorie, ma anche riportato a quella necessaria competenza professionale, che così lo riscatta finalmente da un certo (e ampiamente praticato) dilettantismo, merita una forte attenzione. - Antonio C. D. Panaino in: HIRAM no.1, 2015.Table of ContentsCONTENTS Acknowledgements List of Contributors List of Illustrations Chapter 1: Introduction Henrik Bogdan and Jan Snoek PART I HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES Chapter 2: The History of Freemasonry: An Overview Jan Snoek and Henrik Bogdan Chapter 3: The Old Charges Andrew Prescott Chapter 4: The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland David Stevenson Chapter 5: The Origins of Freemasonry: England Matthew Scanlan Chapter 6: Freemasonry and Templarism Pierre Mollier Chapter 7: Freemasonry and the Enlightenment Margaret Jacob and Matthew Crow Chapter 8: Masonic Historiography Charles Porset PART II FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION Chapter 9: Freemasonry and the Catholic Church José A. Ferrer Benimeli Chapter 10: Freemasonry and the Orthodox Churches Jean-François Var Chapter 11: Freemasonry and Protestant Churches Guy Liagre Chapter 12: Freemasonry and Judaism Robert Jan van Pelt Chapter 13: Freemasonry and Islam Thierry Zarconne Chapter 14: Freemasonry and Eastern Religions Jessica Harland-Jacobs and Jan Snoek Chapter 15: Freemasonry and Western Esotericism Henrik Bogdan Chapter 16: Freemasonry and New Religious Movements Massimo Introvigne PART III RITUAL, ORGANISATION, AND DIFFUSION Chapter 17: Masonic Rituals of Initiation Jan Snoek Chapter 18: Freemasonry and Performance Kristiane Hasselmann Chapter 19: Masonic Rites and Systems Arturo De Hoyos Chapter 20: Relationships between Grand Lodges Jan Snoek Chapter 21: Freemasonry and Friendly Societies Daniel Weinbren PART IV FREEMASONRY, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS Chapter 22: Freemasonry and Women Jan Snoek Chapter 23: Freemasonry and Blacks Cecile Révauger Chapter 24: Freemasonry and Colonialism Jessica Harland-Jacobs Chapter 25: Freemasonry and Nationalism Jeffrey Tyssens Chapter 26: Freemasonry and War François Rognon PART V FREEMASONRY AND CULTURE Chapter 27: Freemasonry and Music Malcolm Davies Chapter 28: Freemasonry and Literature R.A. Gilbert Chapter 29: Freemasonry and Modern Art Marijo Ariens-Volker Chapter 30: Freemasonry and Architecture James Stevens Curl Chapter 31: The Material Culture of Freemasonry Mark J.R. Dennis

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Book SynopsisFrom Mythos to Logos: Andrea Palladio, Freemasonry and the Triumph of Minerva explores how myth was used to encode architecture and frescoed interiors with insights that promote peace, freedom and kindness as ways of being in the world. The author, Michael Trevor Coughlin argues that Freemasonry took root in the Italian city of Vicenza as early as 1546, and that its precepts, conveyed through the intersection of myth and philosophy, were disseminated widely in buildings and images, as well as texts, prescribing tolerance and an understanding of the divine that exists in each and everyone.Trade Review“Coughlin’s book is valuable for its courageous attempt to investigate an extremely complex topic, providing a really interesting and clear analysis of the context. This book is intended for a broad academic audience in the fields of philosophy, history of art and architecture, literature, and religion, and it represents a valuable example of a meeting point among different disciplines.” Francesco Marcorin, Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio. In: Journal of British Studies, Vol. 60, No. 3 (July 2021), pp. 696–697.

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