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The Secret History of Freemasonry: Its Origins and Connection to the Knights Templar
Explores the hidden history of Freemasonry from ancient Rome, through the Middle Ages, to the present
• Shows the close connection between medieval masons and the Knights Templar
• Illustrates the sacred nature of Roman and medieval trade associations
• Reveals the missing link that connects the lodges of modern Freemasonry to the medieval brotherhoods of builders
Historians often make a sharp distinction between the operative Masonry of the Middle Ages and the speculative Masonry of modern times, emphasizing that there is no direct bridge connecting the two. Modern historians also have scoffed at Masonic claims concerning the close relationship between the Lodge and the Temple. Using medieval archives housed throughout Europe, historian Paul Naudon reveals that there was in fact a very intimate connection between the Masons and the Knights Templar. Church records of medieval Paris show that most, if not all, the Masons of that time were residents of the Templar censive, which allowed them to enjoy great exemptions and liberties from both church and state as a result of the protection afforded them by this powerful order.
Naudon shows that the origins of Freemasonry can be traced back to the collegia of ancient Rome. He traces the evolution of organizations such as the Comacine Masters, the Arab turuqs, and the brotherhoods of builders created under the aegis of the Benedictines and the Knights Templar, all of which provide the vehicle for the transmission of a sacred tradition from pre-Christian times to the modern era. This tradition is the source of Masonic ritual and symbolism, and it provides the missing link in the transformation of the operative Masonry of the medieval cathedral builders to the spiritual principles of modern speculative Masonry.
• Shows the close connection between medieval masons and the Knights Templar
• Illustrates the sacred nature of Roman and medieval trade associations
• Reveals the missing link that connects the lodges of modern Freemasonry to the medieval brotherhoods of builders
Historians often make a sharp distinction between the operative Masonry of the Middle Ages and the speculative Masonry of modern times, emphasizing that there is no direct bridge connecting the two. Modern historians also have scoffed at Masonic claims concerning the close relationship between the Lodge and the Temple. Using medieval archives housed throughout Europe, historian Paul Naudon reveals that there was in fact a very intimate connection between the Masons and the Knights Templar. Church records of medieval Paris show that most, if not all, the Masons of that time were residents of the Templar censive, which allowed them to enjoy great exemptions and liberties from both church and state as a result of the protection afforded them by this powerful order.
Naudon shows that the origins of Freemasonry can be traced back to the collegia of ancient Rome. He traces the evolution of organizations such as the Comacine Masters, the Arab turuqs, and the brotherhoods of builders created under the aegis of the Benedictines and the Knights Templar, all of which provide the vehicle for the transmission of a sacred tradition from pre-Christian times to the modern era. This tradition is the source of Masonic ritual and symbolism, and it provides the missing link in the transformation of the operative Masonry of the medieval cathedral builders to the spiritual principles of modern speculative Masonry.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2022
While academic and dry this book was impeccably researched and informative.
January 9, 2013
Gotta love how almost every book on Freemasonry starts with a title "Secret ...... etc", to make it sound more intriguing than it actually is.
This book was fairly decent. The author takes a totally different angle on how Freemasonry is connected to the Knight's Templar. He advocates the modern-day Freemasonry is in fact a descendant of the Roman Collegia (guild) of Stone-masons. He attempts to prove that after the fall of Rome, the respect for many of the different Craft Collegias survived despite the destruction of the empire. The Gauls apparently kept the Stone Masons Collegia around for the sole purpose of bridge building and fortifications. Britain lost all of their collegias, but imported them back from France and Italy. And the Italian peninsula never lost theirs.
When the Knight's Templar arrive on the scene in the 12th century they bring with them immense wealth and property as well as freedom for many of the different Craft Guilds (no longer called collegia at this time). To live and work on Templar property meant you were "free" from being a serf and thus tied down to a Manor or Abbey. This immense freedom meant they could travel and work on Templar projects from Scotland to Jerusalem. The Patronage of the Templar's brought a lot of benefits and thus attracted a large portion of Stone-Masons and other craftsmen all eager to live and work for the Templars.
With the destruction of the Templars, these Templar Stone-mason guilds continued and still enjoyed many of their same benefits. They evolved over-time and went from Operative Masons into Speculative. The part where the author struggles to make a convincing argument is why the Aristocracy of 17th, 18th and 19th Century Britain would want to join a blue-collar worker's guild. Despite all the embellished rituals and history surely there must have been a stronger reason to join the "Freemasons" than that. Rarely did the upper-class associate with common workers, so why now at this point?
I think the part the author leaves out is that many of the Knight Class in the Knight's Templar were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sons of the aristocracy of all Europe. When the Templars were disbanded, where did this Knight class go? Could it be that they joined the Guilds of the workers who already lived and worked on Templar property through-out Europe? This would add to the motivation for why later Aristocracy would join Freemasonry in such large numbers later. It had to have had some Gentleman attraction already.
All in all an interesting read, author could have condensed it a bit and made his point faster. Reads more like an Academia Journal article than a book.
This book was fairly decent. The author takes a totally different angle on how Freemasonry is connected to the Knight's Templar. He advocates the modern-day Freemasonry is in fact a descendant of the Roman Collegia (guild) of Stone-masons. He attempts to prove that after the fall of Rome, the respect for many of the different Craft Collegias survived despite the destruction of the empire. The Gauls apparently kept the Stone Masons Collegia around for the sole purpose of bridge building and fortifications. Britain lost all of their collegias, but imported them back from France and Italy. And the Italian peninsula never lost theirs.
When the Knight's Templar arrive on the scene in the 12th century they bring with them immense wealth and property as well as freedom for many of the different Craft Guilds (no longer called collegia at this time). To live and work on Templar property meant you were "free" from being a serf and thus tied down to a Manor or Abbey. This immense freedom meant they could travel and work on Templar projects from Scotland to Jerusalem. The Patronage of the Templar's brought a lot of benefits and thus attracted a large portion of Stone-Masons and other craftsmen all eager to live and work for the Templars.
With the destruction of the Templars, these Templar Stone-mason guilds continued and still enjoyed many of their same benefits. They evolved over-time and went from Operative Masons into Speculative. The part where the author struggles to make a convincing argument is why the Aristocracy of 17th, 18th and 19th Century Britain would want to join a blue-collar worker's guild. Despite all the embellished rituals and history surely there must have been a stronger reason to join the "Freemasons" than that. Rarely did the upper-class associate with common workers, so why now at this point?
I think the part the author leaves out is that many of the Knight Class in the Knight's Templar were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sons of the aristocracy of all Europe. When the Templars were disbanded, where did this Knight class go? Could it be that they joined the Guilds of the workers who already lived and worked on Templar property through-out Europe? This would add to the motivation for why later Aristocracy would join Freemasonry in such large numbers later. It had to have had some Gentleman attraction already.
All in all an interesting read, author could have condensed it a bit and made his point faster. Reads more like an Academia Journal article than a book.
January 2, 2009
Probably the most 'grounded' of the books in this genre that I have read. Key points:
-the colleges of builders go back to at least ancient Rome. They evolved into the guilds of medieval times.
-the colleges/guilds were very closely linked to professional worship. They were similar in this way to every action of life at that time in that they commingled work and religion. "Work was notably invested with a sacred nature." "...a union was ...effected between the humble mortal and the God who worked through him, using him as an intermediary therefore deifying the human through work."
-masonic associations were under the protection of the Knights Templar who were largely autonomous from the King.
-through the travels of the Templars to the east during the Crusades, both the builders and the Templars were influenced by Islam. Often they lived peacefully together.
-Masonic corporations, the operative ones were closely associated with the Catholic Church.
-symbols were used as much for spiritual teaching as for transmission of operative craft secrets.
-accepted or speculative masonry was a very old practice. Eventually, the speculative masons exceeded the operative ones in number.
-because the operative lodges were granted right of assembly, they became centers for discussion and debate-hence speculative.
-speculative lodges became a magnet for current philosophi8cal and mystical influences such as Rosicrucianism.
-for the most part Masonic lodges including the Scottish ones were loyal to James I - Jacobites.
-with the strong anti-Catholic feelings present in England, ther arose the York Rite-dominated by Anglicism.
-the Scottish Freemason in France did not join the Grand Lodge founded in London in 1717 and remained Catholic.
-What remains: "The effort required by implementation, the path that must be taken, is the application to acquit ourselves well of every task to which our human condition makes us heir. This the Work conceived by all and on every plane as a sacred gesture, the co-participation in the perpetual creation of the Great Work of the Absolute.
-the colleges of builders go back to at least ancient Rome. They evolved into the guilds of medieval times.
-the colleges/guilds were very closely linked to professional worship. They were similar in this way to every action of life at that time in that they commingled work and religion. "Work was notably invested with a sacred nature." "...a union was ...effected between the humble mortal and the God who worked through him, using him as an intermediary therefore deifying the human through work."
-masonic associations were under the protection of the Knights Templar who were largely autonomous from the King.
-through the travels of the Templars to the east during the Crusades, both the builders and the Templars were influenced by Islam. Often they lived peacefully together.
-Masonic corporations, the operative ones were closely associated with the Catholic Church.
-symbols were used as much for spiritual teaching as for transmission of operative craft secrets.
-accepted or speculative masonry was a very old practice. Eventually, the speculative masons exceeded the operative ones in number.
-because the operative lodges were granted right of assembly, they became centers for discussion and debate-hence speculative.
-speculative lodges became a magnet for current philosophi8cal and mystical influences such as Rosicrucianism.
-for the most part Masonic lodges including the Scottish ones were loyal to James I - Jacobites.
-with the strong anti-Catholic feelings present in England, ther arose the York Rite-dominated by Anglicism.
-the Scottish Freemason in France did not join the Grand Lodge founded in London in 1717 and remained Catholic.
-What remains: "The effort required by implementation, the path that must be taken, is the application to acquit ourselves well of every task to which our human condition makes us heir. This the Work conceived by all and on every plane as a sacred gesture, the co-participation in the perpetual creation of the Great Work of the Absolute.
November 24, 2008
An intriguing and scholarly summary of the history of masons to free masons. Since my great grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all masons (actual, operative, work with stone, brick and mortar masons) I was intrigued by the ties of this occupation to faith, honor and nobility. What we view today as a "blue collar" job was historically appreciated for the art and science involved in the craft, and for the masons' dedication to improvement of the craft and for plying his trade to the greater good of the Almighty. I greatly appreciate this book, since it gave me a new perspective and appreciation for my forefathers.
October 18, 2014
An exhaustive history, from the Romans to "present" day. Reveals no "secrets," but has been thoroughly researched.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews