{"product_id":"the-magus-of-freemasonry-the-mysterious-life-of-elias-ashmole-scientist-alchemist-and-founder-of-the-royal-society-9781594771224","title":"The Magus of Freemasonry: The Mysterious Life of Elias Ashmole--Scientist, Alchemist, and Founder of the Royal Society","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElias Ashmole (1617-1692) was the first to record a personal account of initiation into Accepted Freemasonry. His writings help solve the debate between operative and “speculative” origins of Accepted Freemasonry, demonstrating that symbolic Freemasonry existed within the Masonic trade bodies. Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual luminaries of his time: a founding member of the Royal Society, a fellowship and later academy of natural philosophers and scientists; alchemist; astrological advisor to the king; and the creator of the world’s first public museum. While Isaac Newton regarded him as an inspiration, Ashmole has been ignored by many conventional historians. Tobias Churton’s compelling portrait of Ashmole offers a perfect illustration of the true Renaissance figure--the magus. As opposed to the alienated position of his post-Cartesian successors, the magus occupied a place at the heart of Renaissance spiritual, intellectual, and scientific life. Churton shows Ashmole to be part of the ferment of the birth of modern science, a missing link between operative and symbolic Freemasonry, and a vital transmitter of esoteric thought when the laws of science were first taking hold. He was a man who moved with facility between the powers of earth and the active symbols of heaven.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Reads like an adventure novel. Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual and spiritual lights of the time, an accomplished alchemist, and close friend to some of the most brilliant men in England. Churton has given us a compelling picture of Ashmole’s life, the city in which he lived, and the guild structure of the time.” * Scottish Rite Journal of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA *\u003cbr\u003e\"This book is not only an excellent reference on the life of Elias Ashmole but also a most needed, in-depth study into the early transition from Operative to Speculative Freemasonry. It is highly recommended reading for the Masonic scholar.\" * Gigi Minor, Ladyfogg's Reviews, Sept 2006 *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction: Ex Uno Omnia\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e The Great Man\u003cbr\u003e The Magus\u003cbr\u003e The Hermetic Magus\u003cbr\u003e Alchemy\u003cbr\u003e Lichfield\u003cbr\u003e C.H. Josten\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne: The Coming One \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e The Ashmoles\u003cbr\u003e Formative Influences\u003cbr\u003e Mother\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo: Lichfield--the Hidden Light of England\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e St. Chad and the Origins of Lichfield \u003cbr\u003e Gaia \u003cbr\u003e Childhood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThree: London Calling\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFour: War\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e Astrology\u003cbr\u003e The Intelligencer\u003cbr\u003e Ashmole’s Persona \u003cbr\u003e Defending Oxford\u003cbr\u003e Dreams and Spires\u003cbr\u003e Women \u003cbr\u003e Worcester\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFive: Defeat and Rebirth: Freemasonry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Free Masonry \u003cbr\u003e Secret Signs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSix: Return to London\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Women Again\u003cbr\u003e Lady Mainwaring\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeven: The 1650s (I): The Philosopher’s Stone\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e Ex Uno Omnia \u003cbr\u003e Fasciculus Chemicus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e One Hieroglyph--New Being\u003cbr\u003e The Theatre of British Chemistry\u003cbr\u003e Ashmole and the Rosicrucians\u003cbr\u003e The Rose Cross Fraternity\u003cbr\u003e A Gathering Reputation\u003cbr\u003e The Way to Bliss\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEight: The 1650s (ii): Study to Be Quiet\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e Secret Work \u003cbr\u003e A Journey to Staffordshire\u003cbr\u003e Contemplative Men and Antiquarian Recreation\u003cbr\u003e The Tradescant Deed of Gift\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNine: The Windsor Herald \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e The Royal Society\u003cbr\u003e The Antiquarian\u003cbr\u003e The Masterpiece\u003cbr\u003e Astro-Politics\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTen: Lichfield--the Reconstruction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Restaurator\u003cbr\u003e The Loving Cup \u003cbr\u003e Our Magus \u003cbr\u003e Ashmole’s Politics\u003cbr\u003e Bills, Bills, and More Bills\u003cbr\u003e Ashmole and the Mason's Company\u003cbr\u003e The Origins of Freemasonry\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEleven: The Museum\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e The Tradescant Rarities\u003cbr\u003e The Ashmolean\u003cbr\u003e\"Those Fatall Flames\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwelve: Coming Home\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Saving Dee \u003cbr\u003e Sendivogius, Kelley, and Dee\u003cbr\u003e Toward Home\u003cbr\u003e Postscript\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNotes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBibliography \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Inner Traditions Bear and Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53734103286103,"sku":"9781594771224","price":15.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-magus-of-freemasonry-the-mysterious-life-of-elias-ashmole-scientist-alchemist-and-founder-of-the-royal-society-9781594771224","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}