Customer Reviews

The Freemasons: A History of the World's Most Powerful Secret Society

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I would use the term fair and balanced to describe this book but I am afraid that Fox News would take me to court. So, I will just have to say that this book is a very objective look at both the Freemasons and their critics. Where the Freemasons have made a claim that is not supported by fact or is just plain wrong, the author points out the mistake. On the other hand, he also points out the weakness of most Anti-Masonic arguments, calling some of them ridicules. When the Anti's have a fair point though, it is clearly acknowledged.

Jasper Ridley traces Freemasonry from where he thinks it began, to the present day and also looks at Masonry in most countries of the world. He points out that Masonic Lodges in some countries have been the centers for radical revolutionary movements. Masons often deny this but Masonic opposition to reactionary and oppressive monarchs, dictators, and popes has helped inspire many revolutionary leaders from Simon Bolivar to Giuseppe Garibaldi to George Washington. This is for the most part the reason that the Catholic Church has historically been opposed to Freemasonry. However, Ridley correctly points out that while many revolutionary leaders were Freemasons so to were many Royals. For example, Washington fought to free the American colonies from George III whose brother was the Grand Master of English Masons. In fact, as Ridley points out, during conflicts Freemasons were often the leaders of both sides. It was indeed the Freemason Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna who ordered the slaughter of the defenders of the Alamo, Freemasons included. The head of the Texas army, Sam Houston was also a Mason. Jasper's argument here is that the Masonic oaths mean little at such times.

To make a long story short, Ridley gives praise where it is due and does the same with criticism. The Masons come in for harsh treatment over the Morgan affair in New York, as do the Anti-Masons with their contention that Masons had something to do with the Jack the Ripper murders. If you are a Freemason or if you are Anti-Masonic some of your sacred cows will likely be gored by this book. If you are neither of the above you will still enjoy this well written book as it touches on most major events in modern western history.

The only fault I can find is that some of Ridley's history is in error. For example, John Quincy Adams was not the Whig Presidential nominee in 1824. Nor were W.H. Crawford and Henry Clay Independent candidates. Andrew Jackson was also not the Democratic nominee. There was no Whig party in 1824 and all four candidates were Democrats since that was basically the only party in existence. Its picky I know, but if he gets some of these historical facts wrong; what else might he be wrong about?

This book is a combination of the history of the Freemasons and the debunking of myths. The Freemasons organization has been accused of many things throughout the world, such as assassinations and revolutions, but Ridley scrutinizes these accusations and explains that most of this is coincidental or that the myth-writer has a different agenda.

The history of the Freemasons covers the beginnings in the British Isles and the creation of lodges in Europe, Asia, and South and North America. He explains how the membership of the lodges has changed through time as well as how the lodge has changed its organization. He does not seek to expose any secrets, but points out that the organization is similar to many others, but prefers to keep it rituals and initiations to itself.

This secrecy, according to Ridley, is the main reason why there are so many conspiracy theories concerning the Freemasons. An example of the theories is that Jack the Ripper was a Freemason, and another is that the Freemasons started the American Revolution. He points out that although some of the American founding fathers were Freemasons, many of them were not. He also points out that less democratic governments tend to fear the lodge and will present any manner of propaganda to suppress it.

This is a good book to read to learn a bit more about the organization. Also, if you are a conspiracy theorist, I would recommend reading this for balance.

Freemasonry is an incredibly broad topic, and I'm impressed by Ridley's ability to tackle it with such skill. This book is very much a recounting of the last 400 years of European and American history, exploring the influences and inclusions of Freemasonry through the most influential persons and events of the time.

Ridley does tend to jump around quite a bit, and in places it's difficult to tell if you're still reading about the same country and century as you were in the previous paragraph. And in several cases he seems to be slightly confused regarding Masonic symbolism. For example, he refers at least twice to the "name of the Masonic god" revealed in the Royal Arch degree. Perhaps things are different on his side of the Atlantic, but over here in the American Royal Arch, we don't specify anything or anyone as a "Masonic god".

Aside from these tiny quibbles, the book is great. I would recommend it as a valuable addition to any Masonic library. While it perhaps doesn't make a great introduction to Masonry, it will serve well as a reference and detailed Masonic history. Thank you, Mr. Ridley, for your great work.

Ridley takes a critical look at Freemasonry and its place and members in history. To date this has been the best, most honest, and accurate look at Freemasonry throughout history up to the year 2000.

Instead of looking at just the internal history of Freemasonry, Ridley writes about its influence (and it's members) on the world and how the world has influence it throughout history. The books places the craft in a historical context in the fact that the book explains what historical events were occurring and how it effect Freemasonry. Such as the American and French Revolutions.

Meanwhile, Ridley sheds light on the Masons and sweeps away the lies and half truths of others that have come before him and takes an honest look at the craft.
Ridley makes a solid case that in his work that instead of being some secret world wide conspiracy to control events or the world, Masons are often divided on the great issues of the day. However, English and American Masons forbid any political discussion within their lodges. Ridley points out that in every war, Masons supported and fought for their respective countries, which pitted Masons of different sides against each other. Ridley also documents how Freemasons were often the target of oppression and witch hunts started by dictators who have banned the craft and the formation of lodges.

The Freemasons is a great book for it's historical look at the craft and the history surrounding it both inside and outside. It takes a look at who were some of history's most famous Masons. While at the same time, not all Masons were angels.. but in the end showing that Freemasonry has always stood for the ideals of morality and freedom.

With the many books of like title, I expected us to take another bashing, Yes, I am a Freemason. Yet, I have to let you know that I have found this latest book's author quite different and supprizingly unbiased and very informitive, The author Jasper Ridley has written such works as The Roundheads, The Statesman and Fanatic, and biographies of persons of such note as John Knox, Mary Tudor, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Tito and Mussolini..
Mr. Ridley not being a Freemason spent some 63 days in The Masonic Library in Freemasons Hall in London in an attempt, as he puts it of "writing an objective book on the subject," I believe he has accomplished the task, it is a meticulous, sane and lucid.
He shifts the truth from the myth and takes us from the Tower of Babel
to Freemasonry in America today and answers the question for the world. "Are Freemasons a Menice ?", It is also a Who,s Who of artist, businessmen, politicians and thinkers in countries all over the world who belong to our great fraternity
He gives the contributions of the Craft to the World, refutes many of the alligations made against us and tells of our shortcomings: such as clannishness, misogyny, obsession with
secrecy and devotion to arcane ritual.
This book truly provides balance from all the wild claims that come out from time to time and all the Anti-Masonic literature that is on the market.
If you have bought a book on Masonry in the last 15 Years then you need this one to bring it into focus, and for our detractors, a great gift !. Thanks for writing it. Mr. Ridley

At a little under 300 pages, this book is not short but it's not long either. It moves quickly and is not too verbous. I found it to be well researched and balanced and enjoyed the anecdotal stories included. Especialy the one about d'Eon, the Frenchman who created such a stir that people actually bet on his gender.

If you want a book debunking Masons or one that defends them, don't by this book. If, however, you just want a good read on one of the worlds oldest secret societies, you won't be dissapointed.

This is the first book on the subject I have read and to my what this book doesn't do is go into the rituals and dealings of the Freemasons. It literally is, as it claims, a history.
The book seems to concern itself more with taking focal points in history and determining how many freemasons were involved. It came across, therefore, as a general history of the world at the points at which freemasons pop up in, rather than history of freemasonry.
At a purely technical level it comes across as fragmented and this is further echoed in the fact that the book is not singly thematic. It is both chronological, geographical, sociological, and political in its chapters and the reader suffers from lack of consistency. A good example is on page 54 of the hardcover version. It moves abruptly from talking about Maria Theresia to a John Coustos without pausing breath. I had to check several times there weren't missing pages for I could see no link, no chapter end, nothing. This occurs throughout the book and prevents it from having true fluidity. Indeed the history comes across as anecdotal at times (humorously so in the case of Chevalier d'Eon).
Simply put, the book is far too disjointed. Half way through it becomes (on almost a paragraph by paragraph basis) a collection of historical anecdotes, each culminating with who was a freemason and who wasn't.
There was no theory or conjecture as to how much the concepts, doctrines and beliefs of freemasonry dictated those peoples actions and thereby potentially altered history.
What you end up with is purely a chronology of who was and wasn't a freemason at various historical points.
Maybe Ridley was intimating that freemasonry today has arrived at its present perception through a combination of chance and circumstance dictated by others through history. What the book does state quite clearly is that people in power dislike secret societies for fear of fomenting sedition.
So, only 3 stars because if you want to know who was a freemason and who wasn't at major points in history, then this book is for you. What this book doesn't do is show how freemasonry may have influenced the actions of those historical figures.

I have been searching for an introduction to freemasonry for some time. Unfortunately, most of the literature I found was written by enthusiasts - how wonderful freemasonry is, how important its accomplishements, etc. A few other authors wanted to show how dangerous it is.

This author provides a many sided picture of a complex group or process that has evolved over centuries. I agree with the blurb from The Economist, shown on the cover of this book: " a meticulous, sane, and lucid book."

As a general reader I rate this book four stars for the valuable service it provides, and for its readibility. Were I to step into my academic/intellectual shoes, it would be three stars, for its fast-paced gallop over so much time and so many places, dealt with somewhat superficially.

In sum, the book gave me exactly what I wanted, an interesting introduction to the history and belief system of this movement.

I enjoyed the review written by Barnes and Noble junkie. He was bored by this book and gave it only 2 stars.

I was pretty interested in the book. It held my attention more than it did his. But before I finished the book, I noticed that a public television station was doing a special on the freemasons, I turned it on, and it was more interesting than this book. It made the freemasons seem more exciting than Ridley does, more influential in world history, more on the side of the common man against the oppressor.

What it comes down to is that if your emphasis is on saying that the freemasons are a silly coffee klatch wearing ridiculous robes and doing things that should embarrass them and make them feel childish, it doesn't make for that interesting a story. The freemasons in this book are often social climbers trying to flatter the royalty of England, and forbidding any political discussion.

But if you focus on the historically significant things that freemasons did, and you highlight the triumphs for humanity and tolerance, you can come up with a more dramatic and meaningful book to read. Perhaps the silly useless social climbing twits who became freemasons really aren't worth mentioning. I think if I had consulted with this author during his writing of the book, I'd have advised him to leave out the boring freemasons completely and just focus on the ones who actually did something inspiring, something worth writing about.

There's a lot of published work dealing with the Freemasons, either as a specific subject, or touching on them when writing about some esoteric, "New Age" issue, or conspiracy theory. Many of them depict the Masons as bad, dangerous or just plain nutty. Ridley's study effectively stands alone, being objective and unbiased---the more so, because he admits he's not a mason himself, and demonstrates why he's not convinced by the questionable scholarship of some contemporary books that depict them as evil and corrupt.

Anyone interested in a balanced overview of the masonic movement ought to read this book.