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American Freemasonry: Its Revolutionary History and Challenging Future — Occult Philosophy

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American Freemasonry: Its Revolutionary History and Challenging Future

Name: American Freemasonry: Its Revolutionary History and Challenging Future
Price: 25.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: De Keghel, Alain; , De Hoyos, Arturo; , Jacob, Margaret C
ISBN: 9781620556054

✍️ De Keghel, Alain;, De Hoyos and 3 more

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4.5

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This compelling volume meticulously traces the evolution of Freemasonry within the United States, from its foundational role in the colonial era and the Revolutionary War to the emergence of the Scottish Rite. It provides an unvarnished look at the distinct American system, dissecting its enduring strengths alongside its significant weaknesses. The book courageously addresses the painful racial divide between Black and white lodges and the persistent exclusion of women, a stark contrast to some European traditions. Furthermore, it explores the forces behind declining membership and highlights contemporary efforts toward revitalization, offering a comprehensive and critical perspective.

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“American Freemasonry is everything one should expect from an author with Alain de Keghel's impressive resume. The author is a committed and accomplished Freemason, scholar, historian, and career diplomat. The book reflects his years of travel, study, and extensive Masonic activity around the world.”

— Martin L. Kanter, past master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2017 📖 216 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781620556054

Fun Fact

This insightful work offers an exceptionally balanced and unflinching look at American Freemasonry, moving beyond hagiography to reveal a complex institution deeply intertwined with the nation's often contradictory history. It excels in its critical examination of social divisions and its forward-looking perspective on revitalization. Those seeking a purely celebratory account of Masonic history might find its honesty challenging, but for scholars, initiates, and the curious alike, it provides an invaluable framework for understanding the Craft's past, present, and potential future within the United States.

📝 Description: American Freemasonry: Its Revolutionary History and Challenging Future

Explores the American Masonic system and its strengths and failings - Examines the history of Freemasonry in the United States from the colonial era and the Revolutionary War to the rise of the Scottish branch onward - Investigates the racial split in American Freemasonry between black lodges and white and how, unlike French lodges, women are ineligible to become Masons in the U. S. - Reveals the factors that have resulted in shrinking Masonic enrollment in America and explores the revitalization work done by the Grand Lodge of California Freemasonry bears the imprint of the society in which it exists, and Freemasonry in North America is no exception. While keeping close ties to French lodges until 1913, American Freemasonry was also deeply influenced by the experiences of many early American political leaders, leading to distinctive differences from European lodges. Offering an unobstructed view of the American system and its strengths and failings, Alain de Keghel, an elder of the Grand Orient de France and, since 1999, a lifetime member of the Scottish Rite Research Society (Southern U. S. jurisdiction), examines the history of Freemasonry in the United States from the colonial era to the Revolutionary War to the rise of the Scottish branch onward. He reveals the special relationship between the French Masonic hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Founding Fathers, especially George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, including French Freemasonry's role in the American Revolution. He also explores Franklin's Masonic membership, including how he was Elder of the lodge of the Nine Sisters in Paris. The author investigates the racial split in American Freemasonry between black lodges and white and how, unlike French lodges, women are ineligible to become Masons in the U. S. He examines how American Freemasonry has remained deeply religious across the centuries and forbids discussion of religious or social issues in its lodges, unlike some branches of French Freemasonry, which removed belief in God as a prerequisite for membership in 1877 and whose lodges operate in some respects as philosophical debating societies. Revealing the factors that have resulted in shrinking Masonic enrollment in America, the author explores the revitalization work done by the Grand Lodge of California and sounds the call to make Freemasonry and its principles relevant to America once again.

📑 What's inside

Foreword by Margaret C. Jacob, Ph.D
Foreword by Arturo de Hoyos, 33°
PREFACE Interpreting American Freemasonry throughout Time
1 Freemasonry in Pioneer America
2 At the Order's Origins The United Lodge of England
3 The American Spiritual Infusion and Freemasonry
4 The Masonic Tradition The Specifically American Features of Rituals and Institutions
5 Black American Freemasonry
6 The Charity of an Order Challenged by Change
7 American Masonry Confronted by the Initiation of Women
8 Relations and Ruptures with French Freemasonry
9 French Freemasonry in North America, Yesterday and Today
10 A Little American Masonic Perspective in a Changing World
11 Is the Overall Decline in Membership the Herald of Profound Changes?
AFTERWORD
Freemasonry in North America by John L. Cooper III Appendices
APPENDIX I Statistical Studies of the Evolution of the Membership of American and Canadian Grand Lodges APPENDIX II American Demographic Studies U.S. Census Bureau and the Washington Post
APPENDIX III
APPENDIX IV Sacramento Seminar of 2002, Organized by the Grand Lodge of California
APPENDIX V
Geneva Declaration (May 7, 2005)
APPENDIX VI
Declaration of Basel (June 10, 2012)
APPENDIX VII
Declaration of Vienna (January 29, 2014)
APPENDIX VIII Extracts from the Report of the Commission on Information for Recognition of the American Grand Lodges at the Conference of Baltimore in 2014
APPENDIX IX
Letter of the Sovereign Grand Commander Alain de Keghel to the Northern Jurisdiction
APPENDIX X
Thirty-fifth Anniversary of the George Washington Union
APPENDIX XI George Washington Union A Progressive American Obedience
Notes Bibliography Index of Names Subject Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This text provides a rigorous and often unvarnished look at American Freemasonry, moving beyond myth to address painful realities like racial segregation and the exclusion of women. It is highly recommended for serious students of occult history and those analyzing the societal role of fraternal orders. However, it may not suit readers seeking purely ceremonial instruction or uncritical hagiography of Masonic origins. The critical tone regarding membership decline and internal divisions might disappoint those expecting a celebratory tribute to the fraternity's glory days. It is best appreciated by those willing to engage with difficult truths about the organization's past and present challenges in a modern context.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume serves as an essential guide for dedicated Masons, historians of the American Revolutionary era, and scholars of esoteric traditions who seek a nuanced understanding of fraternal institutions. It is particularly valuable for readers interested in the sociological impact of secret societies, as it unflinchingly examines the racial divides and gender exclusions that have shaped the American experience. By dissecting both the enduring strengths and significant weaknesses of the distinct American system, the book offers critical insights into contemporary revitalization efforts. Those seeking to understand the complex future of Freemasonry, alongside its foundational role in colonial America, will find this comprehensive perspective indispensable for grasping the current state of the craft.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by American history, the intricate tapestry of secret societies, or the evolution of social institutions, this book is essential. It's for anyone seeking an honest, critical examination of Freemasonry's past and its potential path forward, beyond simplistic narratives.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This text provides a rigorous and often unvarnished look at American Freemasonry, moving beyond myth to address painful realities like racial segregation and the exclusion of women. It is highly recommended for serious students of occult history and those analyzing the societal role of fraternal orders. However, it may not suit readers seeking purely ceremonial instruction or uncritical hagiography of Masonic origins. The critical tone regarding membership decline and internal divisions might disappoint those expecting a celebratory tribute to the fraternity's glory days. It is best appreciated by those willing to engage with difficult truths about the organization's past and present challenges in a modern context.

❓ Frequently asked questions

This volume specifically focuses on the history and contemporary state of Freemasonry within the United States, tracing its unique development from colonial times to the present day.

While it thoroughly analyzes the challenges, the book also highlights revitalization efforts by specific Grand Lodges, offering practical examples and insights into potential strategies for its ongoing relevance.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Revolutionary Origins

The book delves into how early American leaders, deeply entwined with Masonic principles, shaped a unique version of the Craft. It explores Freemasonry's crucial role in the nation's formative years, distinguishing its trajectory significantly from European lodges even while maintaining historical ties, particularly with French traditions until the early 20th century.

Social Divides & Exclusions

This work critically examines the profound racial segregation that historically defined American Freemasonry, contrasting the segregated Black and white lodges. It also scrutinizes the enduring policy of excluding women from membership, analyzing how these internal social dynamics reflect and diverge from broader societal norms and the Fraternity's own ideals of universality.

Modern Challenges & Renewal

The authors confront the contemporary struggles facing American Freemasonry, particularly the significant decline in membership. The book investigates the underlying causes of this trend and showcases innovative revitalization initiatives, such as those undertaken by the Grand Lodge of California, offering insights into potential pathways for future relevance and growth.

📜 Historical context

American Freemasonry, though sharing roots with its European counterparts, developed a distinct identity shaped by the unique democratic ideals and social realities of the United States. Unlike some continental lodges, it became deeply intertwined with the nation's political and social fabric, yet it also inherited and perpetuated societal divisions, notably concerning race and gender, which set it apart from broader global Masonic trends.

📚 Glossary

Freemasonry
Grand Lodge
Scottish Rite

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might the historical exclusion of women and people of color from American Freemasonry have impacted its public perception and its internal development over time?
Considering the parallels between societal changes and Masonic evolution, what lessons can be drawn from Freemasonry's efforts to revitalize itself in the modern era?
If you were to imagine a 'challenging future' for a similar fraternal organization today, what historical or social factors might predict its decline or resurgence?