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Secret Societies: Illuminati, Freemasons, and the French Revolution

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"Secret Societies - Illuminati, Freemasons and the French Revolution" by Una Birch, Edited, Enlarged and Introduced by James Wasserman (Ibis Press) Originally published as "Secret Societies and the French Revolution Together With Some Kindred Studies" (1911).

Freemasons have often been accused of supporting revolution, one world government, and other nefarious activities that would raise an eyebrow or two among the brethren. Yet few Masons really understand where these accusations come from, where they are rooted in historical reality, and what they mean to us today as both Masons and a free people. In "Secret Societies" Birch and Wasserman detail the connection between the French Revolution and its seeds of 'collectivism' and compare it to the 'other Masonic revolution' in America with its seeds of individualism.

"...the American Revolution was the celebration of individualism, the breaking forth of a free people from the shackles of foreign oppression. The facts of life and survival in the century and a half preceding the American Revolution built a hardy, self-reliant people who embraced a strong Protestant work ethic, an abiding community, religious faith that had a practical share in building the community...the American Experiment was designed to deal with human nature as it, rather than what it might be transformed into...Both the French Declaration [of the Rights of Man, 1789] and the UN Declaration [of Human Rights] advance the idea that the rights of the citizens are conditional - to be granted or withdrawn by the state in accordance with the needs of 'public order'. The US Bill of Rights, on the other hand, recognizes that the natural rights of humanity are derived from our Creator, are superior to the whims of state, and must be protected from the state. Thus the familiar language restricting the state, "Congress shall make no law...," and the protection against tyranny afforded the citizenry by the Second Amendment."

However, if you are not a historian fear not. "Secret Societies" is a fine read, and also a valuable resource in that Wasserman has taken to providing a complete index of persons appearing across the text, as well as added commentary to bring the modern reader up to speed on the events surrounding and following the French Revolution and what they mean to us today. He makes the book accessible and current. "Secret Societies" will be of particular interest to those who have also read Wasserman's book, "The Slaves Shall Serve: Meditations on Liberty".

Secret Societies: Illuminati, Freemasons and the French Revolution is a reprinting of historian Una Birch's classic treatise, originally published in 1911, with extensive annotations, an introduction, biographical sketches, and a history of the French Revolution by James Wasserman. The core of Secret Societies focuses upon links between the fierce violence and lasting societal changes wrought by the French Revolution and the roles that mysterious, clandestine organizations such as the Freemasons and the Illuminati may have played in the transformation. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, and so Secret Societies explores what lessons can be drawn from the Revolution and applied to modern times, as well as the question as to whether secret societies exert influence upon the world, and if so how much. A venerable classic, now in a more accessible form than ever before.

There are a lot of individuals surrounding the French Revolution, I found the best piece of the book was the glossary of people in that era to help keep dates, people, and involvement accurate as well help understand and remember the information.