The Brotherhood: Inside the Secret World of the Freemasons [Paperback]

Tom Dedopolus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2005

The Freemasons are the world’s best-known fraternity. Famous for their secretive nature and impressive roster of historical members, they are often regarded as a sinister force operating behind the scenes. Some dismiss them as a group of old men who dress up to play games and indulge in a convivial dinner. Others believe they are a corrupting network of avid nepotists and political dabblers, pulling society’s strings for their own dark ends.

This is a long way from the Order’s original reputation as a force of enlightenment, social responsibility, and scientific awareness. Behind the rumors, hearsay, and façade of secrecy, Freemasonry resonates with a beautiful tradition of philosophical symbolism. The journey through the degrees of Masonry is the journey through life itself.

Written by the grandson of a very high-ranking Mason, The Brotherhood is a fascinating look inside an enigmatic institution. Starting with the visible structure of international Freemasonry and the myths and legends that surround it, the book moves on to examine the true meaning of Freemasonry—its mythological and real history, its social context, and the symbolism and philosophy that illuminates every aspect of the Craft, with a look at the current state of Freemasonry today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Dedopulos is an anthropologist, esoteric researcher and amateur historian with well over a score of books to his name. He has been fascinated by Freemasonry ever since discovering that his grandfather was a 33o Master Mason and former Worshipful Master of the island of Corfu in Greece.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560258292
• ISBN-13: 978-1560258292
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #459,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'll tell you now, there's some truth to Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining, so it's probably a good thing that I'm really not a tetchy, alcoholic git. I haven't slept with any ghosts yet either, but hey, never say never. I'm English - with a selection of crunchy European bits - but I've been wandering the world for a few years, for a variety of reasons. At the moment, I'm back living in London.

I suspect I'd feel blind if my intuition ever turned off, and I pride myself on remaining open-minded and kind despite everything. I do have a dark streak - I think it's a fairly common side effect of being reasonably intelligent and well informed - but it's well under control, and there isn't a malicious bone in my body. Which is nice.

When I'm not writing, I like to keep myself amused by exploring, reading, swimming, spending time with friends, watching movies and gigs, gazing at the stars/stormy seas/fires/woodlands/ancient places/&c, and occasionally hacking up the odd pixellated monster or some such. I know Net Fu.

I tend to have all sorts of random questions on my mind. Today, these include:
- Why doesn't Dubai build an underground city complex, given the summer heat out there, and the fact they're building just about everything else? Or if not an Underside, then how about a new Wonder of the World designed to last five thousand years -- a Colossus, say, or a mighty Labyrinth?
- If reincarnation were true, would we need to live our lives in sequential order, or could souls hop around in time?
- How did Staff Sergeant Max Fightmaster get such an insanely butch name, and can he live up to it?
- What sort of society would live in a wondrous crystal city powered by the sacrifice of unwilling victims?

In general, I'm interested in just about everything, with the possible exceptions of celebrities and car engines. I've been lucky enough to have some rather strange experiences over the years, which I cherish. Perhaps it's something to do with being a lapsed Anthropologist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid information, good images, dry writing, August 6, 2006

By 

Jason Mierek "uniqueness is ubiquitous" (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brotherhood: Inside the Secret World of the Freemasons (Paperback)

I am petitioning for initiation into the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois, and so I wanted to read something reputable (and short) on the history and practices of Freemasonry. This new book (published in spring 2006), written by the grandson of a 33rd degree Master Mason, does an admirable job of providing solid information about the history of Freemasonry (which he traces back to the 14th century), its influence in the Enlightenment and role in the creation of modernity, and its structure. Dedopulos also describes the three degrees of the Blue Lodge in some detail and relates these details to the quest for personal transformation and spiritual illumination, while stressing repeatedly that Freemasonry is not a religious organization or belief system. Finally, he throws a few bones to those of us interested in the speculative, esoteric side of Freemasonry, by pointing out possible connections to the Knights Templar and Kabbalah. The prose is fairly leaden, unfortunately, but this is mitigated against by the fantastic nature of the material and by copious illustrations (they occupy about 50% of each page spread).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries Magazine review, October 28, 2007

By 

Kim Guarnaccia "Editor, Mysteries magazine" (Surry, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brotherhood: Inside the Secret World of the Freemasons (Paperback)

With so much interest in secret societies currently generated by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, Canadian anthropologist, historian, and author Tim Dedopulos' exposé The Brotherhood is bound to be well-received for its implied promise of a look "inside the secret world of the Freemasons," a society with roots in pre-Biblical times and connections to secret sects throughout history. A slim trade paper edition of only 128 pages, the well-designed volume contains hundreds of photographs and illustrations, a comprehensive appendix of the titles and web sites for Lodges in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.S.

Dedopulos became interested in Freemasonry when he learned that his grandfather was a 33-degree Mason and former Worshipful Master of the island of Corfu in Greece. To satisfy his curiosity--and enlighten others about "the rumours and legends [that] have dogged Freemasonry since its inception"--he set out to lower the veil of secrecy surrounding the traditional definition of Freemasonry as "a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illuminated by symbols." To do so, he describes the nature of the Craft, outlines the history of the movement, delves into its symbolism, and concludes by describing Freemasonry in the modern world.

Packed with facts and figures about the evolution of the Society, from its seeds in King Solomon's reign through to the Knights Templar, the Order of the Red Cross, such as the Rosicrucians--and even to Freemasonry's involvement with and later excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church--the book is an eye-opener in naming historical icons who were alleged to have been members, such as da Vinci, Newton, Descartes, Mozart, Beethoven, and many of America's founding fathers. For many readers, the detailed descriptions of the physical layout of the Lodges and the symbolism of the design and of the tools of the Craft will also be enlightening. Not to be overlooked are the impacts Dedopulos mentions for Freemasonry on the politics and social issues of various eras.

Dedopulos has indeed delivered on the implied promise of a look inside the secret world of the Freemasons. But as interesting, informative and readable as it is, this book nevertheless seems to be more of a glimpse than a look and will probably leave readers wanting more, only a good thing if Dedopulos is planning a sequel.
Mysteries Magazine