From Publishers Weekly
Unlike most of its five million members, including many world leaders, who believe that the Freemasons, the world's largest fraternal organization, evolved from the guilds of medieval stonemasons, historian Robinson persuasively links Freemasonry's origins and goals to the once powerful and wealthy Knights Templar order. Banned and persecuted by a 14th-century papal bull, he claims, the Knights were forced to form an underground society. The author combines scholarly research and entertaining storytelling in tracing Freemasonry as a worldwide political, religious, economic and social body dedicated to self-improvement and charity while governed by secret rituals and symbols (explained here in detail). Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Historians are always wary of newcomers who try to reinterpret old events in a new way. Here, Robinson (not a professional historian) takes a fresh look at the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 in England and emerges with something really new. It had been thought that this revolt against feudal landlords and royalty was a spontaneous one led by ad hoc people. Robinson shows, in what seems to be a convincing way, that far from being spontaneous, the revolt was a well-planned and highly organized attempt on the part of remnants of the Knights Templar (disbanded by the Pope 65 years earlier) to get retribution against the Knights Hospitaller. Robinson's hypothesis explains many previously unanswerable facts; for those interested in medieval British history and Freemasonry.- Gordon Stein, Univ. of Rhode Island, ProvidenceCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Lively...illuminating. A refreshing example of scholarly detective work.--Kirkus Reviews

FROM OUR EDITORS

Based on years of research, this probing book solves the last remaining mysteries of the Masons--their secret words, symbols, and allegories whose true meanings had been lost in antiquity but whose origins can be traced to Norman French, the language spoken by the Knights' Templar. Demonstrates how, more than 600 years later the heritage of the Knights Templar lives on in the largest and most successful secret society in the history of the world: Freemasonry.

ANNOTATION

For history buffs, curious Catholics, mystery lovers, and Freemasons everywhere comes the first comprehensive and objective book in more than 100 years on the world's largest fraternal organization.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Unlike most of its five million members, including many world leaders, who believe that the Freemasons, the world's largest fraternal organization, evolved from the guilds of medieval stonemasons, historian Robinson persuasively links Freemasonry's origins and goals to the once powerful and wealthy Knights Templar order. Banned and persecuted by a 14th-century papal bull, he claims, the Knights were forced to form an underground society. The author combines scholarly research and entertaining storytelling in tracing Freemasonry as a worldwide political, religious, economic and social body dedicated to self-improvement and charity while governed by secret rituals and symbols (explained here in detail). (Jan.)

Library Journal