The Other Brotherhood: When Freemasonry Crossed the English Channel

by Darren Lorente-Bull

This new book by Darren Lorente-Bull The Other When Freemasonry Crossed the English Channel is an excellent book, being perfect for Freemasons and non-Freemasons alike who want to explore the origins of Freemasonry and to examine how it influenced French thought in the eighteenth century to become a unique but equally diverse society. Lorente-Bull also discusses the Grand Orient de France and the development of Co-Masonry, esoteric and philosophical elements, and the many transitions that the society has gone through. In short, this book is a must for everyone with an interest in Freemasonry, and even rounds off with a collection of insightful interviews with present day Freemasons, which give a contemporary view of Masonry. A great book. Dr David HarrisonCHAPTER 1 | Seeking a definition13 What is Freemasonry?15 CHAPTER 2 | The Origins27 Where did Freemasonry come from?29 The Operatives30 The Ancient Charges32 The transition from Operative Freemasonry to Speculative Freemasonry36 The United Grand Lodge of England40 CHAPTER 3 | French Freemasonry47 Some early Fringe orders49 French or continental Freemasonry53 Philosophical and literary influences57 Mystical and Chivalric influences64 The French Revolution66 CHAPTER 4 | The birth of Liberal Freemasonry73 The Grand Orient of France75 The Grand Lodge of France88 Le Droit Humain89 Le Droit Humain in Great Britain93 CHAPTER 5 | The uses of Freemasonry101 Political Freemasonry103 Esoteric Freemasonry107 Philosophical Freemasonry110 CHAPTER 6 | Universalism113 The Appeal of Strasburg115 CHAPTER 7 | Conclusion125 APPENDIX I | RITUALS135 A note on Ritual137 The Emulation Ritual139 The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite142 The French Rite146 Lauderdale Ritual147 APPENDIX II | INTERVIEWS151 Javier Otaola, former President of CLIPSAS153 Julian Between Masonic Worlds162 Philippe Bodhuin, Grand Orient of France172 Lorena The female perspective181 REFERENCES193 ONLINE RESOURCES194 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS197

206 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2019

Reviews

[Marco]

Darrent Lorente-Bull's book is an insightful and accessible introduction both for readers curious about Freemasonry and for established Freemasons who have not yet explored its Continental and Liberal traditions. While Lorente-Bull intentionally avoids delving deeply into the specifics of rituals and rites, he excels at clearly tracing the historical evolution and ideological distinctions between various branches of Freemasonry, emphasizing its diversity as more of an umbrella concept than a single unified organization.

The author's approachable style and clear explanations make complex historical developments easy to understand, providing valuable context for anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of the fraternity beyond traditional Anglo-American Masonry.

The only notable downside is the disappointing proofreading: readers will often encounter repetitive sentences or phrases—errors which should have been caught by the publisher. Despite this minor issue, the book remains an excellent resource that fills a significant gap in Masonic literature, making it highly recommended for anyone seeking a broader understanding of Freemasonry’s rich and diverse traditions.

[Greg Sudmeier]

Important history!

This book serves as a very good chronicle of Masonic development. While it does not go far enough in acknowledging the vital connection between the Knights Templar/Ancient Mystery foundations and modern Masonry, it does provide a comprehensive overview of the vast world of an organization that has greatly helped humanity without the problems of religious dogmatism. (Note: Some further editing is necessary - there are still several repeated paragraphs throughout the publication.)

[Magic Reviewer]

A great book for beginners that will introduce readers not only to mainstream Freemasonry, but also to Co-Masonry and its history. Well worth a read.