101 Things You Didn't Know About The Freemasons: Rites, Rituals, and the Ripper-All You Need to Know About This Secret Society!

by Barb Karg, John K Young

Overview

The Freemasons include some of the greatest minds in history, such as Darwin and Churchill. They also stand accused of some of the bloodiest acts humanity has ever seen. Many even believe that they control the destinies of the nations. They are the Freemasons, the longest lasting fraternal organisation in the world, shrouded by mystery, myth and murder. 101 Things You Didn’t Know About the Freemasons examines this society and dipels the rumours, uncovers the truth, and brings to light such topics as:
-masonic symbols
-rites and rituals
-famous Freemasons and their contributions to art, literature, and science
-and much more

With 101 Things You Didn’t Know About the Freemasons, you’ll unlock the secrets of this fascinating, age-old organization in no time!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440517143
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	01/19/2007
Series:	101 Things Series
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	759,442
File size:	565 KB

About the Author

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

Introduction     xi
Who Are the Freemasons?     1
A Veil of Secrecy     2
A Controversial Fraternity     4
The Three Virtues     6
Landmarks of Freemasonry     8
Degrees     10
Origins of Freemasonry     11
The Legend of Hiram Abiff     14
The Knights Templar     15
The Crusades     17
Jacques de Molay     19
The Scottish Rite     21
The Halliwell Manuscript and the York Rite     23
Breaking New Ground     24
The Protestant Reformation     27
King Henry VIII and Freemasonry Pre-1717     28
The Cooke Manuscript and the Schaw Statutes     30
Rebuilding London     32
Operative and Speculative Freemasonry     33
The Grand Lodge of England     36
Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry     38
Rifts in the Brotherhood     40
Colonial Effects on Freemasonry     42
Rival Unity     44
Vive la Masonry!     47
Members Only, or, How to Become a Freemason     49
What Qualifies a Mason?     50
Degrees of Freemasonry     52
Masonic Rituals     56
Initiation of the First Degree: Entered Apprentice     57
Obligations to the Brotherhood     60
Initiation of the Second Degree: Fellowcraft     63
The Seven Educational Steps     65
Initiation of the Third Degree: Master Mason     67
Lodges Defined     70
Lodges So Grand!     73
Proceedings Behind Closed Doors     76
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite     77
Chapter of the Rose Croix     81
Council of Kadosh     82
Consistory Degrees and the York Rite     84
The Royal Arch Chapter     86
Council of Cryptic Masonry     88
Commanderies of the Knights Templar     91
Freemasonry Friends, Foes, and Founding Fathers     94
American Freemasonry     95
The Boston Tea Party     97
Founding Fathers     99
The William Morgan Mystery     102
Birth of the Anti-Masonic Party     106
From Franklin to Fitch     108
Political and Military Masons     110
Scientists and Aviators     113
Kramer Is a Mason?: Arts and Athletics     114
Free Thinkers      117
Historical Masons     119
Freemasonry as Religion?     122
The Catholic Church     125
Modern-Day Misunderstandings     127
Links to Ancient Mysteries     129
Anti-Masonic Sentiments Worldwide     131
Il Duce vs. Freemasonry     133
Freemasonry in Nazi Germany     135
A Continental Persecution     138
A Reverent Forger     140
Demystifying Freemasonry     143
Secret Society...or a Society of Secrets?     144
Freemason Phraseology     146
Secret Handshakes and Passwords     148
By The Numbers     149
'Til Death Do They Part     151
Influences from Everywhere     154
Tools of the Trade     155
Dressing the Part     158
The Letter "G"     160
Other Significant Symbols     161
Masonry as a Cult     163
Satanic Suspicions     165
The Ku Klux Klan     167
The All-Seeing Eye     169
Fallen Idols     170
Conspiracy and the Holy Grail     174
The Rosslyn Chapel     177
A Masonic Legacy      179
A Legal Eagle     181
Albert Pike and Freemasonry     182
The Ghost of Lucifer     184
A Brief Biblical History     187
The Hoax of Leo Taxil     190
It's a Conspiracy! (Or Is It?)     192
The Crime of the Century: Jack the Ripper     193
A Man Called Sickert     194
A Knight in Whitechapel     198
Murder as Art     201
Sworn to Secrecy     205
Birth of the Enlightened Ones     207
Freemasons and World Domination?     208
The French Revolution     209
Mozart's Magic Flute     210
The Priory of Sion     214
Prince Hall Masonry     218
Charting a Course     220
Masons in Literature     222
Small-Screen Brotherhoods     223
Freemasons in Cinema     227
The Legacy of the Freemasons     228
Recommended Reading     229
Glossary     233
Index     239
About the Authors     244