BOOK REVIEW - “The Freemasons” by Jasper Ridley.
By R.W. Bro Brian King
“London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.” A
nursery rhyme still sung in pre-school. But did
you know that it was written about masons in the
year 1209. The year London Bridge was built by
stonemasons. The original version of the last verse
went:
“Build it up with stone so strong, dance over my lady
lea. Then twill last for ages long, with my fair lady.”

Well everyone in the 13th Century knew that masons
buried a virgin in one of the stone columns to bring
the bridge good luck. So when you crossed over
the bridge you “danced” over her. Jasper Ridley in
his book “The Freemasons” says its just one of the
myths told about masons that have been untrue in
the past 800 years.

Jasper Ridley is neither a mason nor an anti-mason.
He states that he is an historian who simply
became intrigued by all the accusations against
masons and sets out to separate myths from truths.

Topics include: The Knights Templar – was Scottish
Masonry descended from them? And was the
U.S. Constitution a Masonic plot? There’s also a new
look at Wellington, Nelson and Thyandangea, two of
whom had masons executed. The jacket cover tells
the reader that the author will examine the effect of
our secrecy on our image; the position of masonry
today and how it will adapt in the 21stCentury. An
interesting index.

In fact, although the author has some very
interesting topics and dispels many of the myths
about our secrecy, the book is a tough read. You
really have to be a history buff to deal with all the
insignificant minutiae to which far to many
pages are devoted.

 The book covers the early beginnings of freemasonry. How we came to be and how our beliefs were formulated. The author then goes through Masonic involvement, myth or truth, in every war, revolution,
rebellion, uprising, coup and counter coup that have occurred in the past 300 years.

France alone has had about a dozen rebellions and wars in the time. Add Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria and even Poland and Yugoslavia. He refers to all the Kings, Emperors, Dictators and all the generals and politicians advising them about masons. Then add the same for all of South America: Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. Throw in the U.S. War of Independence and the Russian Revolution and you get some idea of the magnitude of the book. Masons have been accused of starting, instigating or actually fighting just about every single conflict. Even skirmishes such as the Alamo, the Falkland Islands, Pearl Harbour and the U.N. bombing in Kosovo.

The author analyses each accusation and in
particular looks at who is doing the accusing and
why. The author concludes by assessing whether
masons really are the Evil Empire our accusers
allege we are. You may not find the result flattering
but it’s an interesting look at ourselves from
someone on the outside. For once it is not mason
bashing. We actually come out looking far better
then our accusers.

 

Editor’s Note. “The Freemasons” is available at
Dominion Regalia, some Chapters stores or the
Grand Lodge Library in Hamilton.