Freemasonry: A Very Short Introduction

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest, most widespread voluntary organizations. With a strong sense of liberation, moral enlightenment, cosmopolitan openness, and forward-looking philanthropy, freemasonry has attracted some of the sharpest minds in history and created a strong platform for nascent civil societies worldwide. With the secrecy of internally communicated knowledge, its clandestine character, the enactment of rituals, and elaborate use of symbols, freemasonry has also opened up feelings of distrust, along with allegations of secretiveness and conspiracy. Freemasonry: A Very Short Introduction introduces the organization, rituals, and symbols of freemasonry, navigating through the prevalent fictions and conspiracy theories. It also sheds light on the participation of women in freemasonry.