Dr. David Harrison

Category: Freemasonry

  • Review of Alchemically Stoned by PD Newman

    Review of Alchemically Stoned by PD Newman

    Alchemically Stoned (published by Laudable Pursuit, 2017) is a new book written by PD Newman, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, and an expert in the study of the use of mind altering substances in rituals. The book broke boundaries in the sense that it discussed new ground, especially with its presentation of the suggested use of DMT in certain Masonic rites in the eighteenth century, a topic that most Masonic writers would shy away from. Thus the book is a vital addition to the collection of any Masonic researcher.

    Newman also puts forward the importance of symbolism to the araltered mind of the visionary, especially when partaking in forms of ritual, and includes at the back of the book reports of individual experiences while under the influence of DMT, some of whom are Freemasons. The book also discusses ideas on the philosophers stone, and how certain natural substances that produce DMT may have been involved in procuring that idea, an idea which presents fresh concepts on the interpretation of alchemy itself.

    Indeed, Newman puts forward the importance of DMT in ritual. To quote Newman:

    “In the science and art of initiation there are actually two different types of initiation: formal and actual. Formal initiation plants the seeds and provides the means by which, through time and application of the lessons inculcated, those seeds might blossom into actual initiation or illumination. However, not all formal initiates attain actual initiation, nor have all actual initiates been formally initiated. The only way therefore to ensure that both formal initiation and actual initiation coincide in the same moment is to have a failsafe means by which actual initiation may be induced upon being formally initiated. It is this function which psychedelic drugs served in the ancient Mysteries and still serve to this day in certain indigenous and semi-civilized societies.”

    It’s a slim paperback volume at a reasonable price and as a refreshing piece of work, it is a must read for Freemasons and occultists alike. The book can be purchased from the publishers online store here.

  • Interview with Falcon Books

    Interview with Falcon Books

    Falcon books a is progressive publishing house that specialises in esoteric literature and I was very honoured to be interviewed by them about my new book The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry. The interview was originally published on their website here:

    AUTHOR’S CORNER
    FALCON BOOKS INTERVIEWS
    EXPLORING LITERATURE
    With Dr. David Harrison author of The Genesis of Freemasonry

    Author’s Corner is a platform to explore literature ranging from esoteric to historical works. Offering the opportunity for the author to discuss their titles and for us to find more about them and the reasons behind their work.

    Presenting today an interview with Dr David Harrison who is a Masonic historian and leading academic expert on the study of Freemasonry, also a musician. He has lectured at the University of Liverpool and Hope University, and has worked as an archaeologist, specializing in industrial archaeology in England. David is also a best-selling author in his field of research regarding Masonic historical literature. His most popular publication to date being The Genesis of Freemasonry. David has recently released a new publication The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry. We will be discussing both titles in this discussion You can view David’s Website, Facebook and Youtube Channel.

    A cordial welcome to David Harrison from Falcon Books Publishing and thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

    1. Falcon Books: I would like to begin with if you could share with us some of your background what inspired you research into Masonic history specifically.

    Dr. David Harrison: I became a Freemason in 1998, I had completed my first degree the year before in history and archaeology and was looking for a new direction. I started an MA course in history, completed that and I was offered to research for a PhD. I suggested looking at the origins and the development of English Freemasonry, they said yes and began my research in 2000 part time. I successfully defended my thesis in March 2008 after submitting the previous December, and the thesis was published a year later with Lewis Masonic as The Genesis of Freemasonry.

    2. Falcon Books: For those who are not familiar with Freemasonry I wonder if you could briefly outline to the reader the foundations and principles of Freemasonry.

    Dr. David Harrison: Brotherly love, relief and truth….

    3. Falcon Books:

    “The 19C Masonic historian Gould, seems to put forward an idea that as Rosicrucianism disappeared in the Mid- 17th Century, Freemasonry began to develop the remaining elements of the mysterious ancient Rosicrucian Order. The necromancer John Dee and the natural philosopher Sir Francis Bacon were both linked to Rosicrucianism and it was the practice of Hermetic philosophies that led to the foundation of the equally mysterious college.” (The Genesis of Freemasonry, page 27).

    We could say a large influence of Freemasonry practices originated from Hermeticism as early on as the 17th Century, I wonder if these practices are still prevalent today among Masons?

    Dr. David Harrison: I think the interest in Hermetics within Freemasonry is gaining popularity with the younger Freemasons who are searching for a greater meaning to their lives. I have met many young Masons who are deeply interested in this and want to explore it further.

    4. Falcon Books: I wonder if you could explain to us in a little more depth the influence that Hermetics has had on the practices and philosophy within Freemasonry?

    Dr. David Harrison: Hermetic philosophy certainly played a role with the careers of certain Masons such as Arthur Edward Waite and William Wynn Westcott for example, especially with the formation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The outstanding theme found embedded within Freemasonry of the search for lost knowledge is certainly something that inspired certain Freemasons to search for a deeper meaning and examined other philosophies, Hermetics certainly being one of them. The Occult Revival of the later 19th century witnessed a number of Masons being inspired by Hermeticism, and the Golden Dawn was a way of conducting research in this way.

    5. Falcon Books: You also mention in your latest publication The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry how in the past Masons would use magic in a way to connect with the Divine? Please could you explain a bit more in detail regarding this?

    Dr. David Harrison: I can’t delve into it too deeply here as this is all explained in the book, but the formation of certain rites such as the Rite de Elus Coen and others allowed for the use of what we would term magic, which was used as a way to contact the Divine. This was seen as a next step for some Masons and it embraces the theme of the search for lost knowledge.

    5. Falcon Books: Please could you explain to those who are not familiar with Freemasonry, the “rites” and what they represent.

    Dr. David Harrison: Art de Hoyos (Masonic author and renowned 33˚ degree Mason) who very kindly wrote the foreword for the book says it best when he describes a rite as a staircase, and each step is a particular degree. The rites discussed in the book are Masonic in nature, and developed because Freemasons wanted more.

    7. Falcon Books: When researching The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry which aspects did you find the most intriguing?

    Dr. David Harrison: I loved researching this book and it fits in with my other work as well, works such as the York Grand Lodge and the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion. The lost rites themselves where fascinating and reading all the old rituals was a great experience.

    8. Falcon Books: How do you feel the development of these rites has shaped modern Freemasonry today?

    Dr. David Harrison: They have shaped it a lot, especially when looking at the development of the Scottish Rite. But also in the Occult Revival, early propagators of these rites such as Count Cagliostro and Martinez de Pasqually certainly inspired Freemasons such as Arthur Edward Waite and John Yarker, who have in turn inspired modern Freemasons as they explore the hidden mysteries.

    9. Falcon Books:

    “The ritual of Freemasonry is heavily laced with magical imagery, with symbolism and numerology being of utter most importance to ceremonies. The power of ritual and and the secret of symbolism which accompanies the rites of passage is expressed more deeply with each passing degree, the initiate is constantly reminded of moral codes.” (The Genesis of Freemasonry, page 49).

    Since Masonry is heavily based on ritual and symbolism, I wonder could explain why this is so, and what does one gain in knowledge and wisdom from it in daily life as a form of self-development?

    Dr. David Harrison: The meaning of Freemasonry is different to different Masons, the interpretation, the experiences are all different – we all go through a similar degree ceremony, but each individual experience is different. I have met Freemasons who were moved after the ceremonies, some who were interested in finding out the history, some wanted more ceremonies immediately and go into the side degrees quickly. The power of the ritual certainly influences people in many ways.

    10. Falcon Books: How much of Masonic ritual would you say is based on Solomonic magic?

    Dr. David Harrison: The Grimoires associated to Solomon date to the Renaissance period and do not appear in Masonic ritual, though certain Freemasons such MacGregor Mathers was deeply interested in them. The Masonic ritual concerns the building of Solomon’s Temple and the search for lost knowledge.

    11. Falcon Books: What does one obtain at each stage going through the degrees. Does one need to show a level of magical ability as along with wisdom and how is this assessed?

    Dr. David Harrison: Not magical ability, but an ability to understand how one can improve himself; you act out a role in a moralistic play, so you move from apprentice to Master, and you experience how through work, you can improve upon oneself as a human being, moralistically and educationally. There are however many Freemasons who wanted more and saw Freemasonry as a gateway to the Divine, to understand more about the hidden mysteries of nature and science and in my latest book The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry, some Freemasons took a step further in their search for God.

    12. Falcon Books: In what ways does Freemasonry add to society?

    Dr. David Harrison: Freemasonry does give a lot to charities, local hospices, local hospitals, children’s charities. I believe in the age of austerity we have entered, Freemasonry certainly assists in filling the holes left by government, especially with charity to hospitals and even local education.

    13. Falcon Books: How much do you feel ideologies have changed over the centuries as it has developed and grown?

    Dr. David Harrison: Freemasonry has indeed changed over the centuries; its ritual has changed and the people who have joined are changing along with the world around them. The Freemasons of today are different to the Freemasons of the eighteenth century, for example they dress differently and dine differently, and they are worlds apart in the sense of technology, but I think they have the same fundamental needs – to care for their family, fellow brethren and society as a whole.

    14. Falcon Books: What is your vision for the future of Freemasonry?

    Dr. David Harrison: I think there will always be a need for Freemasonry, it’s attracted people for well over 300 years as a society, and I think it will continue to do so. Freemasonry has always changed and adapted and I believe it is beginning to change again to attract new young people.

    15. Falcon Books: I wonder if you tell us about your new title The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry and what can we expect from this book.

    Dr. David Harrison: The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry is my latest book. The book examines the lost rites of Freemasonry, in particular the mysterious and influential Rites created on continental Europe during the eighteenth century by the likes of Martinez Pasqually, Count Cagliostro and Baron Von Hund. Charismatic figures such as Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, an enigmatic French Mason of the eighteenth century that forged the Rectified Rite out of the teachings of Pasqually and the reorganised Rite of Strict Observance will also be discussed. The eighteenth century saw a number of Masonic Rites developing in France, Germany and Russia, and though some of these Rites ceased to exist by the close of the century, the Rectified Scottish Rite, though changed, still survives today. Other influential figures such as Louis-Claude de Saint Martin and Emanuel Swedenborg are examined, and the influence that these charismatic figures had on the occult revival and later Masonic organisations such as Martinism and the Swedenborgian Rite are analysed in depth. Lost English Rites and rituals are also covered in detail, along with the lost symbolism that vanished after the union of the Antients and the Moderns in 1813.

    Thank you again very much. I hope this addresses some of the questions of those who are not familiar with Freemasonry and its practices.

    The latest book by Dr David Harrison The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry published by Lewis Masonic

  • P2

    When talking to people who have little knowledge of Masonry, the darker mythology of the New World Order and modern Illuminati groups soon emerge in the conversation. Within this usual swirl of dark modern myths there is an actual historical incident that more than likely also surfaces in conversations, that of the murder of Italian banker Roberto Calvi. Calvi was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London in 1982, with a length of rope woven into a lover’s knot around his neck, he was weighed down by bricks and found with £15,000 in cash in his pockets. Calvi was also a member of the infamous P2 lodge (The Guardian, 2003).

    The Italian based P2 lodge or Propaganda Due, is perhaps the most controversial of modern Masonic stories. A lodge that emerged in 1966 headed by Licio Gelli as its Venerable Master, being vehemently anti-Communist with an ultra-right political agenda. It has even been referred to as a shadow government, and though this view may be exaggerating their power, they did, as we shall see, have an influence on the Italian political landscape. Though the lodge had emerged in 1966, it actually had a deeper history. Propaganda Massonica was founded in 1877, in Turin, the lodge being frequented by politicians and government officials from across Italy who were unable to attend their own lodges, brethren that also included members of the Piedmont nobility. Freemasonry was subsequently outlawed under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, but experienced a rebirth after World War II with encouragement from the USA. However, the lodge’s early ethos of free-thinking during the period of Italian unification was to transform into outright anti-communism during its later incarnation. The name was changed to Propaganda Due following World War II, when the Grand Orient of Italy numbered its lodges. By the early 1960s however, the lodge became inactive, and this original lodge had little to do with the one Licio Gelli established in 1966.

    Receipt for membership of Silvio Berlusconi to “Propaganda Due” (P2) masonic lodge. Image from «Relazione della Commissione Parlamentare d’inchiesta sul caso Sindona e sulle responsabilità politiche ed amministrative ad esse eventualmente connesse» (Legge 22 maggio 1980 n° 204).

    In 1971 the Grand Orient gave Gelli the task of reorganizing the lodge, however, in 1976, the lodge was closed by the Grand Orient and Gelli expelled, leaving the lodge as unrecognised and clandestine. It continued under the leadership of Gelli, and in 1981 a list of 962 lodge members was discovered in Gelli’s villa after a raid, leading to the P2 scandal and the fall of the Italian government. It’s easy to see how the scandal blew up when we take a look at the list of members; the list included future Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, various intelligence officers, military chiefs, bankers and officials from the Guardia di Finanza. Another member was the aforementioned murdered banker Roberto Calvi, also known as the Banker of God due to his close ties to the Vatican. Vittorio Emanuele, the son of the last King of Italy, was also listed. Further documents were discovered in a false bottom of a suitcase belonging to Gelli’s daughter a year later, revealing political plans of the P2 lodge, which were ultimately to help form a right-wing government and to curb the power of the Communist Party in Italy.

    Gelli and the head of the secret service Pietro Musumeci (also of the P2 lodge) were accused of misleading the police investigation into the Bologna Massacre in Italy, in 1980, a bombing that killed 85 people and injured a further 200. In 1982, the death of Calvi in London and the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano brought more attention onto P2 members. Calvi was the chairman of the bank, which went under with $1.4 billion of debt, the Banco Ambrosiano having ‘built its empire in close association with the Vatican bank’, the bank being embroiled in ‘a tale of drug trafficking’ and ‘money laundering’ (The Guardian, 2003).

    Licio Gelli in Masonic regalia

    Calvi’s death was originally ruled as suicide but was later judged to be murder. Gelli had been on the run since 1982, being arrested in Switzerland, escaping to South America, then surrendering himself to an investigative judge back in Switzerland in 1987. He was extradited back to Italy the following year where a number of trials took place, including a charge of fraud concerning the collapse of the Banco Ambrosiano, and in 2007 Gelli was implemented in an investigation into Calvi’s murder, but the case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence (Corriere della Sera, 2009). Gelli died in 2015 aged 96 in Tuscany.

    References

    Nick Mathiason, ‘Who Killed Calvi?’, The Guardian, (2003)

    ‘Mafia boss breaks silence over Roberto Calvi killing’, The Guardian, (2012)

    ‘Omicidio Calvi: archiviato procedimento contro Licio Gelli’, Corriere della Sera, (2009)

    ‘Masonic lodge affair leaves Italy shocked’, The Times, (23, May, 1981).

    ‘An Italian story’, The Economist, (26 April 2001).

  • Talk to Vale Chapter of Installed Principals No. 5256

    Talk to Vale Chapter of Installed Principals No. 5256

    Vale Chapter No. 5256 meets only twice a year in differing locations in the West Lancashire Province, sometimes in Carnforth, sometimes in Barrow-in-Furness, and I was honoured to have given a talk on their May meeting again, this time in Barrow-in-Furness, on the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and the Wigan Grand Lodge (last years talk at the Carnforth meeting was on the York Grand Lodge). Barrow is a historic town in the south west corner of the Lake District, the old county of Westmorland. The Masonic Hall, though it was purchased in the early 1960s, still has some older features that were moved from the older hall such as the stained glass windows and furniture. North from the Lake District, the next stop is Scotland, and it was interesting to see that a Chapter that meets in Barrow was originally Warranted by the Scottish Grand Lodge in the nineteenth century. I was given a warm welcome and hope to back there next year.

    The Chapter Room.
    The Masonic Hall at Barrow-in-Furness. There are no symbols on the outside and the hall was once a school before being converted into a Masonic Hall in the early 1960s. The hall is also used for events such as weddings.
  • Cornerstone Lodge No. 4369, Cheshire

    Cornerstone Lodge No. 4369, Cheshire

    Cornerstone Lodge No. 4369 is a Cheshire based lodge meeting at Neston Masonic Hall and I had the honour of giving a talk to the lodge on Saturday 21st April on the origins of Freemasonry. The talk was also open to non-Masons taking place after the lodge had closed. As a ‘white table’ event, the talk was part of an open day to educate non-members with a taste of Freemasonry and to dispell some of the myths about the Order. The event went very well indeed and on attending the festive board, it was good to see the lodge had Masonic firing glasses, though on this occasion – being a white table event – they weren’t used.

    The tradition of Masonic fire in England can be traced back to the eighteenth century, with a description in the 1760 Masonic expose Three Distinct Knocks:

    “Every Man has a Glass set him, and a large Bowl of Punch, or what they like, is set in the Center of the Table; and the senior Deacon charges (as they call it) in the North and East, and the junior Deacon in the South and West; for it is their duty to do so, i.e., to fill all the Glasses.

    Then the Master takes up his Glass, and gives a Toast to the King and the Craft, with Three Times Three in the Prentice’s; and they all say Ditto, and drink all together, minding the Master’s Motion: They do the same with the empty Glass that he doth; that is, he draws it across his Throat Three Times…, and then makes Three Offers to put it down; At the third, they all set their Glasses down together, which they call `firing’: Then they hold the Lefth and Breast-high, and clap Nine Times with the Right, their Foot going at the same Time: When this is done, they all sit down.”

    Indeed, that particular description puts it well; the thick base of the glass is brought down fast after the toast in unison to create a bang on the table. The exact origins of Masonic firing are certainly difficult to ascertain, but there is evidence for gun fire salutes after toasting in the seventeenth century. It has certainly become a unique way of toasting in Cornerstone Lodge and adds to the sense of Masonic tradition.

    References:

    David Harrison, A Quick Guide to Freemasonry, (Hersham: Lewis Masonic, 2013).

    Yoshio Washizu, ‘Notes on Masonic Fire’, Vol 111, 1998 Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Transactions, pp.162-167.

    Raymond Hollins, ‘Planning a White Table’, MQ Magazine, Issue 12, January 2005.

  • John Lane’s Masonic Records

    John Lane was a Masonic historian who first published his magnum opus Masonic Records in 1886, the work being a listing of all the lodges formed under the English Grand Lodges (both Antient and Modern), including the numbers and various locations of the lodges, from 1717 to 1886. Lane collected information from a variety of sources; Grand Lodge registers, minute books, Grand Lodge Proceedings, Warrants and Warrant Books, engraved lists, Masonic calendars, various lodge histories and various lodge minute books. The book was later revised in an updated edition to include lodges up to 1894. Freemasonry was growing fast in the later Victorian period.

    The work itself became an essential reference book for the Masonic historian, and by 2003, the University of Sheffield transferred Lane’s book into digital format, and since 2008, the United Grand Lodge Library and Museum have been adding information about lodges formed after 1894. The entry for each lodge formed since then, including lodges subsequently erased, features the warrant date, number and meeting places (Freemasonry Today, 2013).

    John Lane was born in 1843 and was based in Torquay, Devon, in the south west of England. He was an accountant by profession, though he had also worked as an Insurance collector and a secretary to a cemetery company. Lane had been initiated into the Torquay based Jordon Lodge No. 1402 in 1878, and went on to join the London based research lodge Quatuor Coronati Lodge in 1887, being awarded the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies by United Grand Lodge in 1895. Lane had also been awarded the rank of Past Senior Grand Warden in 1888 by the Grand Lodge of Iowa in the US, which at the time had just begun to build one of the largest Masonic libraries in the world. His work was well respected; he had written a number of papers for the Transactions of Quatuor Coronati Lodge and had a number of other books published including A handy book to the study of the engraved, printed and manuscript lists of lodges from 1723 to 1814, published in 1889 and Centenary warrants and jewels…which was published in 1891. It was his Masonic Records that he is best remembered for, and is still regularly used by Masonic researchers and family historians due to the updated online version. He died at the age of 56 in 1899.

    Lane’s updated and online Masonic Records can be found here: https://www.dhi.ac.uk/lane/index.php

  • The Alchemy in Runcorn, Cheshire; a new live music venue that has a little inspiration from Freemasonry

    The Alchemy in Runcorn, Cheshire; a new live music venue that has a little inspiration from Freemasonry

    In this current economic climate where numerous live venues up and down the country have closed, it’s extremely refreshing to see a new one not only open, but also doing very well indeed. The Alchemy which opened last year in Runcorn, Cheshire, is owned by local Freemason Gary Oates and is run by his son Matt (also a Mason) and when opened, revealed an interior décor that was inspired by Masonic symbolism.

    Gary, who served as Worshipful Master of his lodge last year, came up with the ideas for the designs himself and wanted to incorporate the symbolism without using the word Freemasonry, the interior of the venue having just enough Masonic imagery to be recognised by the initiated should they wander into the club. The Alchemy has gone from success to success, the venue supporting the many local bands.

    The All-Seeing Eye is prominent in some of the images, the symbolism becoming a much talked about topic amongst the visitors and the bands. There is live music at the venue throughout the week, for information on what’s on check out the twitter page here.

  • Alchemy and the Transmutation of a Freemason

    Alchemy and the Transmutation of a Freemason

    The relationship between alchemy and Freemasonry is a subject that I’ve written about in my recent work The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry; certainly some of the symbolism used in English Freemasonry reflects the theme of the transmutation of a Freemason – how to make a good man better, the journey from apprentice to master being part of a pathway to perfection and excellence.

    Certain rites from the eighteenth century such as Count Cagliostro’s Egyptian Rite and Melissino’s Rite refer to alchemy or chemistry in their respective rituals, especially in the way the process of alchemy is said to change certain substances; alchemy being used not only as a reminder of the philosophical ideas of the time, but as a metaphor for the journey of the Freemason as he (or in the case of Cagliostro’s Rite – he or she) continues through the higher degrees, transmuting to perfection accordingly as he/she discovers the lost knowledge of the ancients.

    Symbols such as the Ouroborus,  Mercury with Caduceus and the importance of the sun and the moon, not only remind us of the alchemical themes shared with Freemasonry, but also of the rites of the eighteenth century that attracted Freemasons who experimented in alchemy, Masons such as Louis Claude Saint-Martin, who became involved in the Rite de Elus Coens and Count Cagliostro himself, who formed his own style of Freemasonry, both testifying to the links between alchemy and Freemasonry. As Freemasons, we symbolically work stone to perfect it, stone that originally comes from the earth, and in Melissino’s Rite it is mentioned that ‘chemistry is art, and wisdom is nature, and the most learned chemist cannot be even a pupil amongst us.’ We strive for perfection in ritual and in life itself, like alchemists seeking lost knowledge to turn metal into gold.

    There still are echoes of the link between Freemasonry and alchemy, from the certain symbols used and in some of the old rituals, even perhaps in the way the candidate is divested of all metals before entering the lodge today, we only have to look.

  • Illuminati Madness

    Illuminati Madness

    I recently gave an interview to a journalist for the Economist in regards to some background information he needed for an article he was writing on a recent backlash to Freemasonry in West Africa. The article, which can be seen here, discussed a public protest against local Freemasons in Senegal, the protestors then turning their attention to Rihanna, who was in the region to attend a conference on education. Rihanna was accused of being part of the Illuminati by religious groups there, and the protesters saw a link between a meeting of the Freemasons and the conference that was occurring at the same time. It seemed to be the creation of one of those common public misunderstandings of Freemasonry, the public seeing visions of the New World Order and the Illuminati, which in turn reminded me of the recent media backlash against Freemasonry closer to home in the UK, with The Guardian leading the way. The Guardian had got its facts wrong in regards to supposed lodges meeting in secret in the Palace of Westminster and there were other articles that followed in the same newspaper that revealed a misunderstanding of Freemasonry and the way the organisation works.

    At the same time I’ve recently been seeing more Illuminati groups emerge on social media. It has certainly become common for ‘Illuminati’ groups to emerge on the internet, and in return for a fee, fame and fortune is promised. These groups tap into the desire for instant fame and are sold as an access to celebrity, these Illuminati Orders being sold as just another gateway for people eager to escape into a world of the rich and powerful. And just a few days ago it was reported in the British press that former Canadian defence minister Paul Hellyer believed the Illuminati to be in control of the world, an article in The Guardian discussing this can be found here.

    The common thread here is a misunderstanding of Freemasonry by the general public and the media, and how it clashes with conspiracy theories within a landscape of political division. These Illuminati groups are always linked to the rich and powerful, the elite who are planning new schemes in the shadows, and the way that Freemasonry is caught up in this idea by the public and the media can be seen in The Guardian article, wrongly putting forward how lodges meet in the Palace of Westminster – the centre of power in the UK. What is needed is for Freemasonry to educate outside the lodges and it’s good to see the United Grand Lodge of England go on the offensive in regards to the recent articles in The Guardian, putting the story straight. One positive result of this media attention is that enquiries concerning membership has risen, so maybe the public perceptions are changing after all.

  • Rosslyn Chapel

    I’ll be avoiding most of the speculative ideas that have been attached to the chapel by recent writers, but after a friend visited the site and took these great photos, I thought I’d write a brief history of the chapel, dispelling the ever popular speculation. I myself visited back in 2009 and was amazed by the architecture, and one thing I can clearly remember is the amount of stonemason’s marks you can see as you’re being guided around. Unfortunately no photos are allowed of the interior of the building, but the exterior is indeed quite spectacular enough to show here.
    The chapel near Edinburgh, Scotland, was been built in the mid-fifteenth century, started in 1446, by William Sinclair, first Earl of Caithness, and we have William St Clair of Roslin as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1736-1737, so there is a later connection between the family and the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The ‘Apprentice Pillar’ which has the legend attached of the Master Mason killing his Apprentice in jealousy after the Apprentice carved the elegant and beautiful pillar, was actually once called the Prince’s Pillar, and can be seen in a document dated 1778 entitled An Account of the Chapel of Roslin, so this idea is modern. What can be termed biomorphic imagery can also be seen carved in the interior, with iconography depicting Christian scenes, carving associated with the St Clair family and even a Green Man.
    The speculation has had a positive side however; Tom Hanks who played Dan Brown’s lead in the films of the books, donated to the chapel’s restoration.

    Photos by Helena Sofia Fernandes Esteves, 2018.

    By Roger Griffith – Heaths Picturesque Annual. 1835., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7033442