Author(s): Jeremy Harwood

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This is a full and intriguing account of the influence, rituals, key signs and symbols associated with the beliefs and history of Freemasonry. It analyses the Masonic movement, the preconceptions and myths around it, and its sometimes shadowy past. It discusses how the rituals of modern Freemasonry are steeped in mystery and symbolism from the past, and explores its imagery through the ages. It covers the mystical symbolism of the Square and the Compass, the Five-Pointed Star, the All-Seeing Eye, the Sun and Moon, and many others. It is illustrated with over 200 images, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the Masonic movement. Freemasonry is part of a long tradition of Western mysticism, steeped in a long-standing and eclectic mixture of historical fact and legend. Much of the ritual and symbolism prevalent in Freemasonry has developed over many centuries and relies heavily on notions inherited from the customs and practices of medieval stonemasons. Members are still taught its precepts using ritual dramas that follow ancient forms and use stonemasons' tools as allegorical guides.
This absorbing and informative book provides an account of the history and legends of the Freemasons, from its links with the Knights Templar, its explorations into alchemy and the hermetic tradition, through the age of Enlightenment and the founding fathers of the USA, to the Victorians and up to the present day.