The second edition of the "Royal Art: Three Centuries of Freemasonry" has just been released.
When few years ago I mentioned to a friend of mine about my intention to write a book on Freemasonry, he was very skeptical about the need for yet another book, on the subject so thoroughly researched, and written about, by many. Of course, question regarding my motives for such an endeavor, followed.
I knew then, as I know now, that the book I wanted to write is the one I would like to read. Masonic scholarship was, for a larger part of its history, victim of the circumstances and conditions that existed in the Masonic community worldwide. At the very beginning, three hundred years ago, scholars were struggling with the few available medieval Manuscripts, in order to come to the valid conclusions. Today, authors are drowning in the volumes of accumulated material, trying to separate facts from fiction.
Additionally, division between Anglo- American and French Freemasons, one hundred and thirty years ago, caused by different understandings of Masonic principles, resulted in development of two parallel schools of Masonic thought. Each school was concerned with the study of their own strain of Freemasonry, completely ignorant of the existence and equally valid experiences of the other group.
In this book, I tried to make an overview, as impartially as possible, of many different interpretations of the concept of Freemasonry, its symbolism, teachings, rituals, and history. Nonetheless, I could not escape the temptation of adding my own understandings, particularly in the chapters regarding different traditions and concepts (Three Tradition and two Concepts), and the future of Freemasonry (Dawn of the Third Millennium). After all, the purpose of any scholarship is to add another spark to ever burning flame of human desire of knowledge.
Not claiming to be an authority on the subject, but just a passionate seeker after Truth, I humbly offer my thoughts to curious readers, with intention to provoke their further inquiry on this valuable topic. Some may be impressed and enriched or enlightened, others angered and disturbed, but I hope to leave none indifferent.
I knew then, as I know now, that the book I wanted to write is the one I would like to read. Masonic scholarship was, for a larger part of its history, victim of the circumstances and conditions that existed in the Masonic community worldwide. At the very beginning, three hundred years ago, scholars were struggling with the few available medieval Manuscripts, in order to come to the valid conclusions. Today, authors are drowning in the volumes of accumulated material, trying to separate facts from fiction.
Additionally, division between Anglo- American and French Freemasons, one hundred and thirty years ago, caused by different understandings of Masonic principles, resulted in development of two parallel schools of Masonic thought. Each school was concerned with the study of their own strain of Freemasonry, completely ignorant of the existence and equally valid experiences of the other group.
In this book, I tried to make an overview, as impartially as possible, of many different interpretations of the concept of Freemasonry, its symbolism, teachings, rituals, and history. Nonetheless, I could not escape the temptation of adding my own understandings, particularly in the chapters regarding different traditions and concepts (Three Tradition and two Concepts), and the future of Freemasonry (Dawn of the Third Millennium). After all, the purpose of any scholarship is to add another spark to ever burning flame of human desire of knowledge.
Not claiming to be an authority on the subject, but just a passionate seeker after Truth, I humbly offer my thoughts to curious readers, with intention to provoke their further inquiry on this valuable topic. Some may be impressed and enriched or enlightened, others angered and disturbed, but I hope to leave none indifferent.
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