Freemasons for Dummies (Paperback)

At last, a plain-English guide to Freemasonry, the secret society that's reportedly at the center of Dan Brown's forthcoming novel The Solomon Key With Freemasonry featured prominently in The Da Vinci Code as well as the hit movie National Treasure, it's no wonder that more and more people are curious about this ancient organization, and interest is sure to intensify when Dan Brown's new blockbuster appears. This eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining the organization's origins in medieval Europe, its philosophy and purpose, and, of course, the elaborate rituals, secret signs, and cryptic symbols that set Freemasonry apart from other fraternal orders. The book profiles famous Freemasons throughout history, including many of America's Founding Fathers as well as prominent politicians and business leaders, and offers a balanced assessment of the many controversies and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around Freemasonry. For anyone who wants an evenhanded overview of Freemasonry's past, present, and future, this guide is the key. reporting on masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He is currently a Past Master and a Master of his lodge. Hodapp edits the lodge newsletter and has written for the Grand Lodge magazine, the Indiana Freemason.