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Genesis of Freemasonry

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The Genesis of Freemasonry-A 'must read' for anyone interested in history or the true origins of this fascinating society......

This is a well written, informative & fully researched book that is a credit to the hard-work & dedication of Dr David Harrison. It traces the very beginnings of this secret society and mentions historic Freemasons such as Elias Ashmole, Alexander Pope & Sir Christopher Wren. It talks of the influence these founding men had on the society & explains the significance behind the early Masonic rituals....

This book has inspired & sparked a curiosity within me to discover more on this most intriguing subject.....

I would definately award it with 5 stars & fully recommend it anyone...

I would also recommend the following DVD tracing the origins of this craft-also available from Amazon: The Origin of Freemasonry: Where Did it All Begin

Dr Harrison's much awaited follow-up book 'The Transformation of Freemasonry' is now also available to buy from Amazon, follow this link to discover more: The Transformation of Freemasonry

The Genesis of Freemasonry by Dr. David Harrison

This stellar book is a well written documented history of the beginnings of Freemasonry during the late seventeenth century and throughout eighteenth century England. The author Historian Dr. David Harrison takes you on a fascinating journey through all the little nuances of the Craft.

Exploring the roots of Freemasonry and all it's degrees, the lodges, Grand Lodges, and the men who became Freemasons. The book mentions men like Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Wren, Elas Ashmole, Oliver Cromwell, Jean Desaguliers, Alexander Pope and many more.

It explores the rituals, the architecture of Freemasonry, the politics of Freemasonry, the rebellion within Freemasonry, the reconciliation and the coming together under the United Grand Lodge of England. It Shows how the Craft evolved and how it used elements of architecture, science, mathematics, poetry, art, magic, alchemy and astronomy as it's foundation. The author discusses the three transitions of English Freemasonry and the cultural impact of the Craft.

Most will find this book very informative on a subject which has long been filled with secrecy. Packed with facts and fascinating photos this book is a serious look into the world of Freemasonry. I highly recommend it. 5 stars all around! Nice one to add to your book library.

This is a fantastic first work by the leading UK Masonic historian Dr. Harrison. It looks at the origins of Freemasonry - exploring the mystical influences of alchemy and the obsessions for the search for the true dimensions of Solomon's Temple during the seventeenth century in England. From Elias Ashmole to Jean Theophilus Desaguliers - the book is brimming full of philosophical and magical influences such as alchemy and the Metaphysical Poets that came together with organised stone masonry to contribute to early Freemasonry and culminated in the foundation of the founding of the London Grand Lodge in 1717 and the development of the three degree ritual. This led to rebellions in the Craft with the formation of the Antients in 1751, and Harrison deals with the schism in English Freemasonry with a balanced view to create a fascinating historical analysis. He continues this excellent style in his follow-up work The Transformation of Freemasonry. Well worth 5 stars.

English historian David Harrison, PhD, explores the origins of Freemasonry in a scholarly but very readable book The Genesis of Freemasonry (Lewis Masonic, an imprint of Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, Surrey, England, 244 pages, $31.95, available on Amazon.com and other online booksellers).

Harrison sent me a review copy of his book after reading my reviews of books on Freemasonry. He suggested that it would be useful to understand the intellectual underpinnings of Freemasonry via a scholarly book like his.

Masonry has been described as a "society of secrets" as well as a "secret society." Historian Harrison is a lecturer in history at the University of Liverpool, where he earned his doctorate. He reconstructs the hidden history of the movement, tracing its roots through a mixture of medieval guild societies, alchemy and necromancy.

He examines the earliest known Freemasons and their obsessions with Solomon's Temple, alchemy, and prophecy, to the formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717, which in turn led to rebellions within the Craft throughout England.

Harrison also analyzes the role of French immigrant, Dr Jean Theophilus Desaguliers, a Protestant refugee from Roman Catholic persecution, in the development of English Freemasonry, focusing on his involvement with the formation of the mysterious modern Masonic ritual. All Freemasons and more general readers will find much of interest in this fascinating exploration of the very beginnings of Freemasonry, still one of the most mysterious brotherhoods in the world, he says.

Freemasonry had its origins in the guilds of "operative" masons -- actual stoneworkers -- who attracted the attention of "speculative" masons, mostly gentlemen and members of mercantile and aristocratic classes in the United Kingdom. It soon became fashionable for intellectuals and scientists and architects to become masons, where, Harrison says they could leave their religious and political differences at the door to the lodge, often a tavern or pub. It afforded like-minded men of all classes in the heavily class conscious UK to get together and eat and drink -- lots of drink -- Harrison says, and discuss intellectual and philosophic and scientific ideas.

Harrison discusses the differences between the "Antients" and the "Moderns" in Freemasonry -- differences which led to rebellions and schisms in the "craft," as Masons call their system of belief. Originally, speculative Freemasonry had only three degrees, as compared to the 33 of today's "supersized" Freemasonry. Initiates of the First Degree were called "Entered Apprentices," while Second Degree masons were called "Fellow Craft." Those attaining the highest degree, the Third Degree, were called "Master Masons." Before the 1720s, there were only two degrees, Harrison says: "These were extended into three degrees by the leaders of the 'Moderns.'"

I was startled, to say the least, to find in Harrison's books descriptions of licentious clubs called Hell Fire Clubs, organized by prominent Freemasons, where the men dressed like monks and the invited women, including local talent, dressed like nuns, engaging in orgiastic ceremonies.

I queried the good doctor by e-mail and he confirmed my interpretation: "Yes, you are absolutely right, the Duke of Wharton and later, Sir Francis Dashwood (both Freemasons) used the Hell Fire Clubs as a pseudo Masonic orgy on their country estates; the mix of secrecy, ritual and sex being an attractive way to spend the time with their close circle of influential friends, very much like [Stanley] Kubrick's [1999] film 'Eyes Wide Shut.'"

Read Harrison's fascinating book to expand your knowledge of Freemasonry, including its attraction to men of letters like Alexander Pope, Byron, Ben Jonson and James Boswell, along with scientists like Sir Isaac Newton and architects like Sir Christopher Wren, Inigo Jones and Nicholas Stone.

This is a must have for Any Mason. It gets right to the root of the Craft. Well written and easy to read this book adds to your understanding

A thoroughly enjoyable and compelling read.

Possibly one of the best researched books on the history and origins of Freemasonry, blowing away a number of the myths and folklore that tend to surround the subject.

If you want to findout how it all started you then you'll find the book is a very compelling and enjoyable read.

Highly Recommended (gets the full 5 stars)