The Temple and the Lodge

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly, provocative & fascinating revision of history
Review: "This book is not an expose. It does not adress itself to the role or the activities, real or imagined, of Freemasonry in contemporary society; it does not attempt to investigate allegations of conspiracy or corruption. Neither, of course, is it an apology for Freemasonry. We are not Freemasons ourselves, and we have no vested interest in exculpating the institution from the charges leveled against it. Our orientation has been wholly historical. We have endeavored to track down the antecedents of Freemasonry, to establish its true origins, to chart its evolution and development, to assess its influence on British and American culture during its own formative years...

"...At the same time, it must be acknowledged that Freemasonry itself has done little to improve its own image in the public eye. Indeed, by its obsessive secrecy and its stubborn defensiveness, it has only reinforced the conviction that it has something to hide. How little it does in fact have to hide will become apparent in the course of this book. If anything, it has more to be proud of than it does to conceal."

Introduction, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE; Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh

I haven't read Baigent and Leigh most famous book, HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL, which put them on the map with alternative historical perspectives regarding religion, secrecy and culture, but now I want to. This book, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE, makes clear in its erudition and almost ideally objective/journalistic approach that, unlike the general statement made by the writer of the book HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION, a select few men who formed an ancient society centuries ago that evolved and metamorphose into what we now know as Freemasonry have both developed and cultivated their organization into being the spine of Western Civilization after Christ itself. It is magnificent in that their approach is so historically innovative and nearly all-encompassing, in regards to the cultural scene of the time periods in question, and its strange bedfellows/dance with Catholicism and Protestantism over several hundred years. It is embarrassing to think that the average educated person can rip off a dozen or so names of great historical figures in many disciplines who were either Masons or a part of a similiar and related organization (Isaac Newton, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Claude Debussy, Duke Ellington to name a very small few), and yet we do not even consider what the ramifications of such a fact are to our view of history and culture. And, how culture itself as we know it was actually shaped--regardless of what we were told.

The section on the American Revolutionary War, elucidated in such a way as to make clear it was 18th Century England's Vietnam and a hotbed of Masonic activity simultaneously (if not definitively), makes it worth the price of admission all by itself. But the significance, grandeur and antiquity they lend to our perception of the Masons via the connection with the mythical Nights Templar in Scotland after the 12th century is something that must be read to be fully appreciated.

An excellent and important work of history and culture that quietly revels in what it reveals. I enjoyed it very much.

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly, provocative & fascinating revision of history
Review: "This book is not an expose. It does not adress itself to the role or the activities, real or imagined, of Freemasonry in contemporary society; it does not attempt to investigate allegations of conspiracy or corruption. Neither, of course, is it an apology for Freemasonry. We are not Freemasons ourselves, and we have no vested interest in exculpating the institution from the charges leveled against it. Our orientation has been wholly historical. We have endeavored to track down the antecedents of Freemasonry, to establish its true origins, to chart its evolution and development, to assess its influence on British and American culture during its own formative years...

"...At the same time, it must be acknowledged that Freemasonry itself has done little to improve its own image in the public eye. Indeed, by its obsessive secrecy and its stubborn defensiveness, it has only reinforced the conviction that it has something to hide. How little it does in fact have to hide will become apparent in the course of this book. If anything, it has more to be proud of than it does to conceal."

Introduction, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE; Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh

I haven't read Baigent and Leigh most famous book, HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL, which put them on the map with alternative historical perspectives regarding religion, secrecy and culture, but now I want to. This book, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE, makes clear in its erudition and almost ideally objective/journalistic approach that, unlike the general statement made by the writer of the book HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION, a select few men who formed an ancient society centuries ago that evolved and metamorphose into what we now know as Freemasonry have both developed and cultivated their organization into being the spine of Western Civilization after Christ itself. It is magnificent in that their approach is so historically innovative and nearly all-encompassing, in regards to the cultural scene of the time periods in question, and its strange bedfellows/dance with Catholicism and Protestantism over several hundred years. It is embarrassing to think that the average educated person can rip off a dozen or so names of great historical figures in many disciplines who were either Masons or a part of a similiar and related organization (Isaac Newton, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Claude Debussy, Duke Ellington to name a very small few), and yet we do not even consider what the ramifications of such a fact are to our view of history and culture. And, how culture itself as we know it was actually shaped--regardless of what we were told.

The section on the American Revolutionary War, elucidated in such a way as to make clear it was 18th Century England's Vietnam and a hotbed of Masonic activity simultaneously (if not definitively), makes it worth the price of admission all by itself. But the significance, grandeur and antiquity they lend to our perception of the Masons via the connection with the mythical Nights Templar in Scotland after the 12th century is something that must be read to be fully appreciated.

An excellent and important work of history and culture that quietly revels in what it reveals. I enjoyed it very much.

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly, provocative & fascinating revision of history
Review: "This book is not an expose. It does not adress itself to the role or the activities, real or imagined, of Freemasonry in contemporary society; it does not attempt to investigate allegations of conspiracy or corruption. Neither, of course, is it an apology for Freemasonry. We are not Freemasons ourselves, and we have no vested interest in exculpating the institution from the charges leveled against it. Our orientation has been wholly historical. We have endeavored to track down the antecedents of Freemasonry, to establish its true origins, to chart its evolution and development, to assess its influence on British and American culture during its own formative years...

"...At the same time, it must be acknowledged that Freemasonry itself has done little to improve its own image in the public eye. Indeed, by its obsessive secrecy and its stubborn defensiveness, it has only reinforced the conviction that it has something to hide. How little it does in fact have to hide will become apparent in the course of this book. If anything, it has more to be proud of than it does to conceal."

Introduction, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE; Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh

I haven't read Baigent and Leigh most famous book, HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL, which put them on the map with alternative historical perspectives regarding religion, secrecy and culture, but now I want to. This book, THE TEMPLE AND THE LODGE, makes clear in its erudition and almost ideally objective/journalistic approach that, unlike the general statement made by the writer of the book HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION, a select few men who formed an ancient society centuries ago that evolved and metamorphose into what we now know as Freemasonry have both developed and cultivated their organization into being the spine of Western Civilization after Christ itself. It is magnificent in that their approach is so historically innovative and nearly all-encompassing, in regards to the cultural scene of the time periods in question, and its strange bedfellows/dance with Catholicism and Protestantism over several hundred years. It is embarrassing to think that the average educated person can rip off a dozen or so names of great historical figures in many disciplines who were either Masons or a part of a similiar and related organization (Isaac Newton, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Claude Debussy, Duke Ellington to name a very small few), and yet we do not even consider what the ramifications of such a fact are to our view of history and culture. And, how culture itself as we know it was actually shaped--regardless of what we were told.

The section on the American Revolutionary War, elucidated in such a way as to make clear it was 18th Century England's Vietnam and a hotbed of Masonic activity simultaneously (if not definitively), makes it worth the price of admission all by itself. But the significance, grandeur and antiquity they lend to our perception of the Masons via the connection with the mythical Nights Templar in Scotland after the 12th century is something that must be read to be fully appreciated.

An excellent and important work of history and culture that quietly revels in what it reveals. I enjoyed it very much.

Rating:
Summary: Myth, legend & rumour...but what about reality?
Review: 'The Temple & The Lodge' is a book that sets out to connect the Freemasons and the Knights Templar. Whether it succeeds is largely a question of whether you're willing to accept the (often reaching) connections the authors have made. The writing style is kind of boring, but not laboriously so, and the book is packed full of interesting historical facts with some rather dull pictures. Read it, then draw your own conclusions.

Rating:
Summary: Disingenuous and Lame
Review: Although ambitious in their attempts to link Freemasonry to the Knights Templar through certain Scottish familial associations, the underlying agenda of the authors prevents such a link from coming across. This agenda centers on the wholesale exculpation of the Craft from the many charges of conspiracy that mark its history and reputation. While the authors purport to be non-masons with objective viewpoints, their desire to paint Freemasonry as a wholly innocent and benevolent institution betrays their actual sympathies. Though somewhat interesting, this book is anything but objective. While on display through the whole of the text, the ultimate manifestation of the authors' bias comes in the postscript where they hurl needless and unconvincing slurs at the Abbe Augustin Barruel. Rather than addressing the formidable documentation presented in Barruel's monumental "Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism," the authors content themselves with mere name calling and trite dismissals. To characterize "Memoirs" as a "perverse landmark in the history of Western social and political thought" bespeaks a disrespect and ignorance characteristic of the contemporary Left. At this point one gets the feeling that they are preaching from a pulpit of Masonic dogma that seeks to demonize all alternative viewpoints. Not surprisingly, the primary result of this rather lame litany is the wholesale abdication of everything the authors seek to pass off as scholarship. On the positive side, the authors provide accessible historical details on events as diverse as the Thirty Years War and the American Revolution. One doubts, however, that those who consider purchasing a book ostensibly relating to Freemasonry will wish to overburden themselves with details such as these. Indeed, the authors appear at pains to remember that they are not writing a general history, but something more specified, more particular. With that stated, this book can only rate two of a possible five stars, and that's being generous.

Rating:
Summary: Disingenuous and Lame
Review: Although ambitious in thier attempts to link Freemasonry to the Knights Templar through certain Scottish familial associations, the underlying agenda of the authors prevents such a link from coming across. This agenda centers on the wholesale exculpation of the Craft from the many charges of conspiracy that mark its history and reputation. While the authors purport to be non-masons with objective viewpoints, their desire to paint Freemasonry as a wholly innocent and benevolent institution betrays their actual sympathies. This book is anything but objective. While on display through the whole of the book, the ultimate manifestation of the authors' bias comes in the postscript where they hurl needless and unconvincing slurs at the Abbe Agustin Barruel. Rather than addressing the formidable documentation provided by Barruel in his monumental "Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism," the authors content themselves with mere name calling and trite dismissals. To characterize "Memoirs" as a "perverse landmark in the history of Western social and political thought" bespeaks a disrespect and ignorance characteristic of the contemporary Left. At this point one gets the feeling that they are preaching from the pulpit of pro-Masonic dogma that seeks to demonize all alternative viewpoints. Not surprisingly, the primary result of this rather lame attack litany is the wholesale abdication of everything the authors wish to pass off as scholarship. On the positive side, the authors provide accessible historical details on events ranging from the Thirty Years War to the American Revolution. One doubts, however, that those who consider purchasing a book ostensibly relating to Freemasonry will wish to overburden themselves with details such as these. Indeed, the authors appear at pains to remember that they are not writing a general history, but something more specified, more particular. With that stated, this book can only rate two of a possible five stars, and that's being generous.

Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, but inconclusive.
Review: As a Master Mason I find books such as these to be, more often than not, complete fiction. This one has just enough historical truth in it to keep you reading. I feel that the authors focused on Scotland a bit much, but there were some interesting data that I was unaware of.

Baigent and Leigh have a bit of a reputation for jazzing up history to make it more interesting... OK, that was putting it very nicely. I do not believe that they made up any of the facts, but the conclusions they sometimes draw could use a little help. I'd recommend this book to anyone that is mildly interested in either Freemasonry or the Knights Templar. "Born in Blood" is slightly more scholarly, if you wish to step up a notch. Not saying either are 100% true, but what is? The "official" history of Masonry is based partially on speculation also, Baigent and Leigh just have a more exciting speculation...

Rating:
Summary: How interesting...
Review: Baigent and Leigh create an interesting work here. Little did I know the involvement of Jacque de Molay, or the Knights Templar (historically) on modern day Freemasonry. This book is unlike the others that attempt to trace an absolute origin of Freemasonry; Baigent and Leigh simply offer ample suggestions with strong evidences behind its possible origin, and even throw in, although probably unkowingly, some political psychology in their thesis. This is a great book for the history buff.

Rating:
Summary: Not too bad. But too academic.
Review: I've been reading this book for sometime now.
It's O. K., but not really to taste.
The authors have lost too much time in Scotland.
I will be back when I finish the book.

Rating:
Summary: This book could change the way you think about the world!
Review: If you are stuck in your Columbus discovered America view of the world, Dont read this book. Great book that questions our school book view of history! It will make you think.