This paper on early nineteenth century Yorkshire based Freemason Godfrey Higgins and his most famous work Anacalypsis, was published in Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research and Letters, in 2015. Anacalypsis was published after Higgins’ death in 1836, and displays his thoughts on discovering the ‘most ancient and universal religion from which all later creeds and doctrines sprang’. In doing so Higgins discusses Pandeism, the Druids and of course Freemasonry, Higgins having done research on the York Grand Lodge, which had ceased to function in the 1790s.

Anacalypsis is a fascinating work, and as Higgins said ‘I think it right to warn my reader, that there are more passages than one in the book, which are of that nature, which will be perfectly understood by my Masonic friends, but which my engagements prevent me explaining to the world at large’.

I have written about Higgins in two of my books; The York Grand Lodge and The City of York: A Masonic Guide, and my paper on him can be accessed for free at the Academia.edu website by clicking here.