Dr David Harrison is a leading authority on the history of English Freemasonry. Harrison successfully defended his PhD thesis on the origins and development of English Freemasonry at the University of Liverpool in 2008, the thesis being published by Lewis Masonic the following year as The Genesis of Freemasonry. Harrison has since had papers published in various journals in relation to his work on the history of English Freemasonry, and has had a number of works published, including 'The Transformation of Freemasonry', 'The Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and the Wigan Grand Lodge' and 'The York Grand Lodge'. His latest work The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry was published in 2017. Supervisors: Dr William Ashworth and Dr Harald Braun
This short paper explores new evidence for the existence of lodges in Southern Albania in the ear... more This short paper explores new evidence for the existence of lodges in Southern Albania in the early twentieth century, and how Freemasonry may have inspired radical ideas for change in the region.
This article was first published in a 2011 edition of the magazine for members of the United Gran... more This article was first published in a 2011 edition of the magazine for members of the United Grand Lodge of England; Freemasonry Today. It has since been published in various other works in an updated form, such as my collection of Masonic essays; Masonic Mosaic. The article brings together late Victorian writers and Freemasons such as Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rider Haggard (who was also a Freemason - his lodge membership details arriving a little late for the deadline of the original article presented here) and Jerome K Jerome (of whom, Masonic membership is still elusive).
The article discusses links between the Authors' Lodge and the Authors' Club, and how the aforementioned late Victorian writers were inspired by Freemasonry, the society having an impact on their work. The Authors' Lodge still meets to this day, and the lodge still celebrates these distinguished writers and their timeless works.
The paper will discuss how the engravings of Pierre Lambert de Lintot, the famed leader of the Ri... more The paper will discuss how the engravings of Pierre Lambert de Lintot, the famed leader of the Rite of Seven Degrees, based in London during the later eighteenth century, were presented to the Cheltenham based Foundation Chapter of Unanimity No.82 in 1888, and how the presentation possibly held a deeper meaning that reflected a connection to the Baldwyn Rite - a Rite that also had a seven degree system.
Philalethes; The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters , 2024
This short paper aims to explore how certain themes of self-improvement that occur within Freemas... more This short paper aims to explore how certain themes of self-improvement that occur within Freemasonry, can be found in the teachings of certain self-help educators such as Bob Proctor. Some of Proctor's ideas were inspired by Dr Thurman Fleet, a chiropractor practitioner, and the paper will also discuss the popular diagram of the stickman, a diagram used by both Fleet and Proctor, which not only became a vital teaching aid for many in the self-improvement industry, but became a symbol to aid one's progression for motivation and to discover the self.
The Journal of the Boleskine House Foundation, 2024
The magician and Occultist Aleister Crowley appears on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 masterpiece... more The magician and Occultist Aleister Crowley appears on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 masterpiece Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, situated on the back row of a crowd of people that the band admired. Crowley famously put forward in his book Magick, the practice of reverse speech, something that the Beatles experimented with in their recordings at this time. This short paper will explore how Crowley and other writers of the Victorian era inspired members of the band, and how spirituality and elements of the counter-culture of the late 1960s assisted to create an interest in the esoteric, which in turn inspired the music of the band.
The term cosmic consciousness has been used by authors such as Psychiatrist Dr Richard Maurice Bu... more The term cosmic consciousness has been used by authors such as Psychiatrist Dr Richard Maurice Bucke and Solicitor and esoteric Freemason Walter Leslie Wilmshurst to describe the experience of becoming one with the Divine. Indeed, Bucke described the term Cosmic Consciousness in his book of the same name, first published in 1901, as 'a higher form of consciousness than that possessed by the ordinary man.' Bucke had experienced cosmic consciousness himself, which he described as occurring after spending the evening with friends reading the poetry of Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Browning and Walt Whitman. After leaving his friends for home, he suddenly found himself 'wrapped around… by a flame-coloured cloud', though it seemed 'the light was within himself'. Bucke immediately felt 'a sense of exultation, of immense joyousness accompanied, or immediately followed, by an intellectual illumination quite impossible to describe.' Bucke goes on to say that 'his brain streamed one momentary lightning-flash of the Brahmic Splendour which has ever since lightened his life.' The experience changed his life forever, and Bucke said that 'upon his heart fell one drop of Brahamic Bliss, leaving thenceforward for always an aftertaste of heaven... and [he] knew that the Cosmos is not dead matter but a living Presence, that the soul of man is immortal…' Indeed, Bucke mentioned that he had learned more in those few seconds when he had experienced cosmic consciousness, than he had done in years of study. Walter Leslie Wilmshurst, wrote a paper entitled 'Notes on Cosmic Consciousness', which was published in the Occult Review in March 1924, where he expressed his thoughts on cosmic consciousness, describing it in a similar fashion to that of Bucke. Indeed, Wilmshurst believed that Freemasonry could teach us the pathway to achieve such an experience. This short paper will explore the history of such experiences and will discuss Wilmshurst's ideas.
The following paper examines the little known story of the Columbian Illuminati and has been edit... more The following paper examines the little known story of the Columbian Illuminati and has been edited from my recent publication Rediscovered Rituals of English Freemasonry. The book is an in-depth examination of the Masonic work of the early nineteenth century English radical Richard Carlile, a work known as The Manual of Freemasonry. This book became popular with English Freemasons, and is not just an exposé of the Craft rituals, but also of the further or higher degrees. His exposé was first published in his journal The Republican in 1825, but later emerged in book form, combining his thoughts on Freemasonry with the presented rituals. There were many influences on this work, including Thomas Paine, who had also had a work published on Freemasonry, William Finch, who had published a variety of Masonic exposés, Freemason Godfrey Higgins, and Elihu Palmer.
The Journal of the Boleskine House Foundation, 2021
Jimmy Page had a deep interest in the occult, especially the work of Aleister Crowley, and this i... more Jimmy Page had a deep interest in the occult, especially the work of Aleister Crowley, and this interest, which can also be seen in other British rock acts at the time such as David Bowie, filtered into his work with Led Zeppelin, something that can best be exemplified with the cover of Led Zeppelin IV. This short paper will explore the British rock music scene's flirtation with Crowley during the period of the 1960s and 1970s, and will attempt to put forward a reason behind this strange fascination.
Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, 2021
A recent visit to Kosovo in the Balkans gave me a glimpse into three Islamic Sufi Orders; the Bek... more A recent visit to Kosovo in the Balkans gave me a glimpse into three Islamic Sufi Orders; the Bektashi, Saadi and Halveti. It was interesting to talk to the Masters of these Orders, and to learn how they use initiation and a culture of secrecy, while also providing a journey of spiritual discovery and development for the initiate in a learning environment of signs and symbols, achieving levels of spiritual knowledge—a journey that is perceived by some nineteenth century writers, such as John Yarker, as being reminiscent of the spiritual journey some may experience within Freemasonry. Indeed, Bektashi, Saadi and Halveti are but three of the twelve Sufi Orders that can be found in Kosovo, other examples being Bajrami and Mevlevi. This short paper attempts to explore and examine the perceived Masonic similarities to the Islamic Mystical Movements that can be found in the Balkan region, and will also discuss how the views of nineteenth century Orientalist writers assisted in popularising this view.
In my book The Genesis of Freemasonry I proposed how natural philosopher and Freemason Dr Jean Th... more In my book The Genesis of Freemasonry I proposed how natural philosopher and Freemason Dr Jean Theophilus Desaguliers was responsible for creating the third degree by the mid-1720s. Before this, there were two 'parts' being performed; the Entered Apprentice and the Fellow Craft. The new three degree style ritual soon spread. It seemed that Freemasons soon wanted to explore deeper pathways within Masonry, leading to new ideas being developed. Chevalier Ramsey was a Jacobite Mason who had gone to France to tutor the sons of aristocrats, and in his Masonic address in 1737, he famously outlined that Freemasonry was linked to the Crusaders and Chivalric Orders. His Oration put forward that after being preserved in the British Isles, it was transported to France, and though there is no evidence that Masonry was associated in any way to the Crusaders or Chivalry, it does show that at this time there was a developing interest in Chivalric Orders in relation to Freemasonry. Though Ramsey did not set out any plans for new Chivalric Masonic Orders in his 'Oration', his address certainly assisted to inspire them.
Bram Stoker, famous for his Gothic novel Dracula, was also a Freemason, and this paper will argue... more Bram Stoker, famous for his Gothic novel Dracula, was also a Freemason, and this paper will argue how the themes of secrecy and mystery, key elements of the Byronic Hero, a characterisation of which Dracula has been associated with, may not only have been inspired from Stoker’s brush with Freemasonry, but also from the fellow Freemasons that were part of his life, such as Sir Henry Irving, Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Byronic Hero was a characterisation that can be found in nineteenth century literature with characters such as Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and the character of Eugene Onegin by Russian Freemason and writer Alexander Pushkin. These characters have elements of mystery and secrecy, and indeed, as we shall see, there is evidence of some Masonic influences with these works. Byron, whose own life, along with the fictional characters within his poetry, significantly inspired the Byronic Hero characterisation, was also a member of the Carbonari and there is evidence that he was aware of Freemasonry, his Great Uncle being Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England. Indeed, the Romantic essence of these literary Byronic Heroes will be explored, along with the darker traits that characters such as Dracula portrayed.
A Romanian translation of my article on Dr John Theophilus Desaguliers, which was originally publ... more A Romanian translation of my article on Dr John Theophilus Desaguliers, which was originally published in Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, Vol.71, No.3, (Summer 2018), pp.94-101.
Philalethes: The Journal of a Masonic Research & Letters, 2019
A French translation of my Thomas Garnett article, which originally appeared in Philalethes: The ... more A French translation of my Thomas Garnett article, which originally appeared in Philalethes: The Journal of a Masonic Research & Letters, Vol.72, No.4, (Winter 2019), pp.147-174
The Moderns and the Antients had finally come together in union in 1813, the rift between the two... more The Moderns and the Antients had finally come together in union in 1813, the rift between the two Grand Lodges being healed. One of the main problems had been the Royal Arch ritual, seen by the Antients as a fourth degree but practiced by the Moderns as the completion of the third degree. When both sides finally came together, it was settled that the Royal Arch was the completion of the third degree, though was to be practiced in separate ‘Chapters,’ the Chapter room set out differently than the craft Lodge room. Despite this, the Royal Arch was still referred to as a fourth degree by some stubborn lodges until around 1850, and the rebel Grand Lodge of Wigan still practised the Royal Arch as a separate degree. In fact during the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion, the Royal Arch became a point of debate. In my book, The Genesis of Freemasonry, I put forward how Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers had reconstructed the Masonic ritual in the 1720s, creating the three degree structure set within Solomon’s Temple, describing its initial construction by chief architect Hiram Abiff, disclosing his murder and the attempt at raising him from the dead to regain his lost knowledge. The Royal Arch ritual continues this theme with the rebuilding of Solomon’s Temple under Zerubbabel and the search for lost knowledge within the temple ruins, the ritual revealing a number of lost artefacts set within the keystones of three arches in the temple. These artefacts were lost in the destruction of the original temple, but with their discovery, the temple could be reconstructed, the divine measurements of God being found to recreate the most sacred holy place on Earth. This paper will discuss certain theories and ideas behind the creation of the Royal Arch and will examine how the ceremony was viewed within the context of the Masonic story.
The Transactions of the Leicester Lodge of Research No.2429, 2019
This paper will discuss the lost rites of Freemasonry, in particular the rites created in contine... more This paper will discuss the lost rites of Freemasonry, in particular the rites created in continental Europe during the eighteenth century by such charismatic and enigmatic Freemasons as Martinez Pasqually, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, Pyotr Melissino and Baron Von Hund. The eighteenth century saw a number of Masonic rites developing in France, Germany and Russia, and though some of these rites ceased to exist by the close of the century, the paper will discuss how they inspired the occult revival of the nineteenth century, the essence of the lost rites influencing Martinism, Memphis-Misraïm and the Swedenborgian Rite. This paper, edited from a chapter of my book The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry, published by Lewis Masonic in 2017, has been presented so far to around fifty lodges in England, Wales, Greece and the US, and saw publication in The Plumbline, Vol.25, No.2, (Summer 2018) and in the Transactions of the Leicester Lodge of Research No.2429, 2018-2019.
Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, 2018
In 1728, a year after the death of Sir Isaac Newton, his protégé and ardent supporter, Dr. John T... more In 1728, a year after the death of Sir Isaac Newton, his protégé and ardent supporter, Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683–1744), published a poem in celebration of Newton’s mechanical Universe, titled The Newtonian System of the World, The Best Model of Government: An Allegorical Poem. The poem—reproduced on the beginning on page 99—celebrated Newtonian Experimental Natural Philosophy, Desaguliers applying Newtonian mechanics to a poetical formula that at times, struggled under the sheer weight of Newton’s immense achievements. The poem also praised the Hanoverian Monarchy of the time, and as we shall see, the ordered Universe of Newton was applied by Desaguliers in his praise of this new system of British government.
The Warrington Dissenting Academy, situated in the north-west of England, existed from 1757-1786,... more The Warrington Dissenting Academy, situated in the north-west of England, existed from 1757-1786, and as an independent centre of learning, it became a paradigm of dissent against the backdrop of the British Enlightenment, a time of fermenting radical views and a reaction to exclusion. Importantly, it also exemplifies self-help amongst the Non-Conformist community and indeed, the local community of Warrington, a community that also included the local lodge; the Lodge of Lights. Two members of the lodge were Academy tutors, a founder of the lodge had also assisted in founding the local circulating library, and a number of other Freemasons were linked to the Academy and its community. This paper will discuss how certain Freemasons promoted education within a culture of self-help, and helped to leave a legacy of civic philanthropy that promoted education and charity on a wider social scale.
This short paper explores new evidence for the existence of lodges in Southern Albania in the ear... more This short paper explores new evidence for the existence of lodges in Southern Albania in the early twentieth century, and how Freemasonry may have inspired radical ideas for change in the region.
This article was first published in a 2011 edition of the magazine for members of the United Gran... more This article was first published in a 2011 edition of the magazine for members of the United Grand Lodge of England; Freemasonry Today. It has since been published in various other works in an updated form, such as my collection of Masonic essays; Masonic Mosaic. The article brings together late Victorian writers and Freemasons such as Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rider Haggard (who was also a Freemason - his lodge membership details arriving a little late for the deadline of the original article presented here) and Jerome K Jerome (of whom, Masonic membership is still elusive).
The article discusses links between the Authors' Lodge and the Authors' Club, and how the aforementioned late Victorian writers were inspired by Freemasonry, the society having an impact on their work. The Authors' Lodge still meets to this day, and the lodge still celebrates these distinguished writers and their timeless works.
The paper will discuss how the engravings of Pierre Lambert de Lintot, the famed leader of the Ri... more The paper will discuss how the engravings of Pierre Lambert de Lintot, the famed leader of the Rite of Seven Degrees, based in London during the later eighteenth century, were presented to the Cheltenham based Foundation Chapter of Unanimity No.82 in 1888, and how the presentation possibly held a deeper meaning that reflected a connection to the Baldwyn Rite - a Rite that also had a seven degree system.
Philalethes; The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters , 2024
This short paper aims to explore how certain themes of self-improvement that occur within Freemas... more This short paper aims to explore how certain themes of self-improvement that occur within Freemasonry, can be found in the teachings of certain self-help educators such as Bob Proctor. Some of Proctor's ideas were inspired by Dr Thurman Fleet, a chiropractor practitioner, and the paper will also discuss the popular diagram of the stickman, a diagram used by both Fleet and Proctor, which not only became a vital teaching aid for many in the self-improvement industry, but became a symbol to aid one's progression for motivation and to discover the self.
The Journal of the Boleskine House Foundation, 2024
The magician and Occultist Aleister Crowley appears on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 masterpiece... more The magician and Occultist Aleister Crowley appears on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 masterpiece Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, situated on the back row of a crowd of people that the band admired. Crowley famously put forward in his book Magick, the practice of reverse speech, something that the Beatles experimented with in their recordings at this time. This short paper will explore how Crowley and other writers of the Victorian era inspired members of the band, and how spirituality and elements of the counter-culture of the late 1960s assisted to create an interest in the esoteric, which in turn inspired the music of the band.
The term cosmic consciousness has been used by authors such as Psychiatrist Dr Richard Maurice Bu... more The term cosmic consciousness has been used by authors such as Psychiatrist Dr Richard Maurice Bucke and Solicitor and esoteric Freemason Walter Leslie Wilmshurst to describe the experience of becoming one with the Divine. Indeed, Bucke described the term Cosmic Consciousness in his book of the same name, first published in 1901, as 'a higher form of consciousness than that possessed by the ordinary man.' Bucke had experienced cosmic consciousness himself, which he described as occurring after spending the evening with friends reading the poetry of Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Browning and Walt Whitman. After leaving his friends for home, he suddenly found himself 'wrapped around… by a flame-coloured cloud', though it seemed 'the light was within himself'. Bucke immediately felt 'a sense of exultation, of immense joyousness accompanied, or immediately followed, by an intellectual illumination quite impossible to describe.' Bucke goes on to say that 'his brain streamed one momentary lightning-flash of the Brahmic Splendour which has ever since lightened his life.' The experience changed his life forever, and Bucke said that 'upon his heart fell one drop of Brahamic Bliss, leaving thenceforward for always an aftertaste of heaven... and [he] knew that the Cosmos is not dead matter but a living Presence, that the soul of man is immortal…' Indeed, Bucke mentioned that he had learned more in those few seconds when he had experienced cosmic consciousness, than he had done in years of study. Walter Leslie Wilmshurst, wrote a paper entitled 'Notes on Cosmic Consciousness', which was published in the Occult Review in March 1924, where he expressed his thoughts on cosmic consciousness, describing it in a similar fashion to that of Bucke. Indeed, Wilmshurst believed that Freemasonry could teach us the pathway to achieve such an experience. This short paper will explore the history of such experiences and will discuss Wilmshurst's ideas.
The following paper examines the little known story of the Columbian Illuminati and has been edit... more The following paper examines the little known story of the Columbian Illuminati and has been edited from my recent publication Rediscovered Rituals of English Freemasonry. The book is an in-depth examination of the Masonic work of the early nineteenth century English radical Richard Carlile, a work known as The Manual of Freemasonry. This book became popular with English Freemasons, and is not just an exposé of the Craft rituals, but also of the further or higher degrees. His exposé was first published in his journal The Republican in 1825, but later emerged in book form, combining his thoughts on Freemasonry with the presented rituals. There were many influences on this work, including Thomas Paine, who had also had a work published on Freemasonry, William Finch, who had published a variety of Masonic exposés, Freemason Godfrey Higgins, and Elihu Palmer.
The Journal of the Boleskine House Foundation, 2021
Jimmy Page had a deep interest in the occult, especially the work of Aleister Crowley, and this i... more Jimmy Page had a deep interest in the occult, especially the work of Aleister Crowley, and this interest, which can also be seen in other British rock acts at the time such as David Bowie, filtered into his work with Led Zeppelin, something that can best be exemplified with the cover of Led Zeppelin IV. This short paper will explore the British rock music scene's flirtation with Crowley during the period of the 1960s and 1970s, and will attempt to put forward a reason behind this strange fascination.
Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, 2021
A recent visit to Kosovo in the Balkans gave me a glimpse into three Islamic Sufi Orders; the Bek... more A recent visit to Kosovo in the Balkans gave me a glimpse into three Islamic Sufi Orders; the Bektashi, Saadi and Halveti. It was interesting to talk to the Masters of these Orders, and to learn how they use initiation and a culture of secrecy, while also providing a journey of spiritual discovery and development for the initiate in a learning environment of signs and symbols, achieving levels of spiritual knowledge—a journey that is perceived by some nineteenth century writers, such as John Yarker, as being reminiscent of the spiritual journey some may experience within Freemasonry. Indeed, Bektashi, Saadi and Halveti are but three of the twelve Sufi Orders that can be found in Kosovo, other examples being Bajrami and Mevlevi. This short paper attempts to explore and examine the perceived Masonic similarities to the Islamic Mystical Movements that can be found in the Balkan region, and will also discuss how the views of nineteenth century Orientalist writers assisted in popularising this view.
In my book The Genesis of Freemasonry I proposed how natural philosopher and Freemason Dr Jean Th... more In my book The Genesis of Freemasonry I proposed how natural philosopher and Freemason Dr Jean Theophilus Desaguliers was responsible for creating the third degree by the mid-1720s. Before this, there were two 'parts' being performed; the Entered Apprentice and the Fellow Craft. The new three degree style ritual soon spread. It seemed that Freemasons soon wanted to explore deeper pathways within Masonry, leading to new ideas being developed. Chevalier Ramsey was a Jacobite Mason who had gone to France to tutor the sons of aristocrats, and in his Masonic address in 1737, he famously outlined that Freemasonry was linked to the Crusaders and Chivalric Orders. His Oration put forward that after being preserved in the British Isles, it was transported to France, and though there is no evidence that Masonry was associated in any way to the Crusaders or Chivalry, it does show that at this time there was a developing interest in Chivalric Orders in relation to Freemasonry. Though Ramsey did not set out any plans for new Chivalric Masonic Orders in his 'Oration', his address certainly assisted to inspire them.
Bram Stoker, famous for his Gothic novel Dracula, was also a Freemason, and this paper will argue... more Bram Stoker, famous for his Gothic novel Dracula, was also a Freemason, and this paper will argue how the themes of secrecy and mystery, key elements of the Byronic Hero, a characterisation of which Dracula has been associated with, may not only have been inspired from Stoker’s brush with Freemasonry, but also from the fellow Freemasons that were part of his life, such as Sir Henry Irving, Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Byronic Hero was a characterisation that can be found in nineteenth century literature with characters such as Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and the character of Eugene Onegin by Russian Freemason and writer Alexander Pushkin. These characters have elements of mystery and secrecy, and indeed, as we shall see, there is evidence of some Masonic influences with these works. Byron, whose own life, along with the fictional characters within his poetry, significantly inspired the Byronic Hero characterisation, was also a member of the Carbonari and there is evidence that he was aware of Freemasonry, his Great Uncle being Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England. Indeed, the Romantic essence of these literary Byronic Heroes will be explored, along with the darker traits that characters such as Dracula portrayed.
A Romanian translation of my article on Dr John Theophilus Desaguliers, which was originally publ... more A Romanian translation of my article on Dr John Theophilus Desaguliers, which was originally published in Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, Vol.71, No.3, (Summer 2018), pp.94-101.
Philalethes: The Journal of a Masonic Research & Letters, 2019
A French translation of my Thomas Garnett article, which originally appeared in Philalethes: The ... more A French translation of my Thomas Garnett article, which originally appeared in Philalethes: The Journal of a Masonic Research & Letters, Vol.72, No.4, (Winter 2019), pp.147-174
The Moderns and the Antients had finally come together in union in 1813, the rift between the two... more The Moderns and the Antients had finally come together in union in 1813, the rift between the two Grand Lodges being healed. One of the main problems had been the Royal Arch ritual, seen by the Antients as a fourth degree but practiced by the Moderns as the completion of the third degree. When both sides finally came together, it was settled that the Royal Arch was the completion of the third degree, though was to be practiced in separate ‘Chapters,’ the Chapter room set out differently than the craft Lodge room. Despite this, the Royal Arch was still referred to as a fourth degree by some stubborn lodges until around 1850, and the rebel Grand Lodge of Wigan still practised the Royal Arch as a separate degree. In fact during the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion, the Royal Arch became a point of debate. In my book, The Genesis of Freemasonry, I put forward how Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers had reconstructed the Masonic ritual in the 1720s, creating the three degree structure set within Solomon’s Temple, describing its initial construction by chief architect Hiram Abiff, disclosing his murder and the attempt at raising him from the dead to regain his lost knowledge. The Royal Arch ritual continues this theme with the rebuilding of Solomon’s Temple under Zerubbabel and the search for lost knowledge within the temple ruins, the ritual revealing a number of lost artefacts set within the keystones of three arches in the temple. These artefacts were lost in the destruction of the original temple, but with their discovery, the temple could be reconstructed, the divine measurements of God being found to recreate the most sacred holy place on Earth. This paper will discuss certain theories and ideas behind the creation of the Royal Arch and will examine how the ceremony was viewed within the context of the Masonic story.
The Transactions of the Leicester Lodge of Research No.2429, 2019
This paper will discuss the lost rites of Freemasonry, in particular the rites created in contine... more This paper will discuss the lost rites of Freemasonry, in particular the rites created in continental Europe during the eighteenth century by such charismatic and enigmatic Freemasons as Martinez Pasqually, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, Pyotr Melissino and Baron Von Hund. The eighteenth century saw a number of Masonic rites developing in France, Germany and Russia, and though some of these rites ceased to exist by the close of the century, the paper will discuss how they inspired the occult revival of the nineteenth century, the essence of the lost rites influencing Martinism, Memphis-Misraïm and the Swedenborgian Rite. This paper, edited from a chapter of my book The Lost Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry, published by Lewis Masonic in 2017, has been presented so far to around fifty lodges in England, Wales, Greece and the US, and saw publication in The Plumbline, Vol.25, No.2, (Summer 2018) and in the Transactions of the Leicester Lodge of Research No.2429, 2018-2019.
Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research & Letters, 2018
In 1728, a year after the death of Sir Isaac Newton, his protégé and ardent supporter, Dr. John T... more In 1728, a year after the death of Sir Isaac Newton, his protégé and ardent supporter, Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683–1744), published a poem in celebration of Newton’s mechanical Universe, titled The Newtonian System of the World, The Best Model of Government: An Allegorical Poem. The poem—reproduced on the beginning on page 99—celebrated Newtonian Experimental Natural Philosophy, Desaguliers applying Newtonian mechanics to a poetical formula that at times, struggled under the sheer weight of Newton’s immense achievements. The poem also praised the Hanoverian Monarchy of the time, and as we shall see, the ordered Universe of Newton was applied by Desaguliers in his praise of this new system of British government.
The Warrington Dissenting Academy, situated in the north-west of England, existed from 1757-1786,... more The Warrington Dissenting Academy, situated in the north-west of England, existed from 1757-1786, and as an independent centre of learning, it became a paradigm of dissent against the backdrop of the British Enlightenment, a time of fermenting radical views and a reaction to exclusion. Importantly, it also exemplifies self-help amongst the Non-Conformist community and indeed, the local community of Warrington, a community that also included the local lodge; the Lodge of Lights. Two members of the lodge were Academy tutors, a founder of the lodge had also assisted in founding the local circulating library, and a number of other Freemasons were linked to the Academy and its community. This paper will discuss how certain Freemasons promoted education within a culture of self-help, and helped to leave a legacy of civic philanthropy that promoted education and charity on a wider social scale.
This book will examine the deeply esoteric eighteenth century Rite of Seven Degrees, a Masonic ri... more This book will examine the deeply esoteric eighteenth century Rite of Seven Degrees, a Masonic rite that was based in London, but was led by French engraver Pierre Lambert de Lintot. The work will not only present the story of de Lintot and his rite, but for the first time will display the translated ritual and the minute book from the late eighteenth century French, which not only reveals the workings of the lost rite, but adds to our historical understanding of the development of the rituals in a wider context. This is the third book in Harrison's Lost Rites series and follows on from his last work Rediscovered Rituals of English Freemasonry.
A Quick Guide to Freemasonry was my fourth published book, and was commissioned by Lewis Masonic ... more A Quick Guide to Freemasonry was my fourth published book, and was commissioned by Lewis Masonic as part of a proposed quick guide series, aimed at mentors and new members to the fraternity. It was written in an easy-to-understand question and answer format as requested by the publisher and covered a variety of Masonic topics, with many of the questions actually coming from new Masons that were submitted to the author via social media.
The book provides a brief history of Freemasonry, along with a quick guide to many of the English Masonic rituals, Masonic dress and various practices; also covering the roles of the Officers, the Festive Board, toasting and the use of symbols within Masonry. Containing the basic FAQs and more deeper considerations.
Leading Masonic authors Dr David Harrison and Fred Lomax examine Friendly Societies, Freemasonry ... more Leading Masonic authors Dr David Harrison and Fred Lomax examine Friendly Societies, Freemasonry and other Fraternal Orders in this, their latest work. The authors present the individual histories of the Odd Fellows, Foresters, Druids, Buffaloes, Rechabites, Moose, Elks, and more obscure Orders such as the Society of the Horseman’s Word and the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds; putting forward their similarities with Freemasonry, in their ritual and regalia. During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, several of these societies developed a fraternal aspect to their activities, using Freemasonry as their model via ritual and practice; some being open to men and women from working class backgrounds; supplying strong financial support for their members at a time when the ordinary worker had little or no protection against illness or injury at work. A number of these societies developed into extremely large organisations that still exist today as financial organisations, despite an overall decline in the wake of the arrival of the Welfare State in the UK. Some however were small local organisations that did not survive. The book also explores fraternal clubs at the other end of the class spectrum in the UK; gentlemen’s clubs that offered a sense of belonging and networking for the more affluent gentlemen of society. The book examines how some members of these clubs were influential Freemasons, and how these gentlemen’s clubs reflected the stark class differences in the UK. The book is richly illustrated, depicting the personal stories associated with the various Orders, revealing never-before-published photos of regalia, jewels and artefacts, which will demonstrate the importance of the Orders and their contribution to social history during the industrial revolution.
Harrison’s latest work examines the enigmatic and enlightening story of the last Masonic rebellio... more Harrison’s latest work examines the enigmatic and enlightening story of the last Masonic rebellion in England; the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and its formation into the Wigan Grand Lodge. The story reveals the curious nature of England’s last rebel Grand Lodge against the backdrop of the radicalism and revolt of the early nineteenth century. Using new evidence and never before seen archive material, Harrison reconstructs the rise and fall of this mysterious Masonic organisation, and exposes a tale of insurrection and the spirit of independence.
This study investigates the transitional phases of English Freemasonry from the mid-seventeenth c... more This study investigates the transitional phases of English Freemasonry from the mid-seventeenth century into what can be described as a Masonic Enlightenment during the eighteenth century. This movement was part of a wider enterprising evolution led by the Newtonian experimental natural philosopher Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers and James Anderson, both members of the London based Grand Lodge founded in 1717 and both staunch Hanoverians. The ritual, along with the accompanying Masonic symbolism, quickly became adopted into what would become known as ‘Modern’ Freemasonry, which spread its influence around England. One of the aims of this thesis is to assess why it was embraced by some areas, yet rejected by others, such as York. Scholarship to date has avoided analysis of the Masonic ritual, with Freemasonry being seen as a secret society, and many of the original documentation relating to Masonic lodges being held in private collections. The United Grand Lodge of England has only recently opened its archive and library to the public, though this has only revealed how much documentary material has either been lost or destroyed. An example of this is the absence of personal correspondence relating to Desaguliers’ Masonic ritual changes, despite the evidence that changes where made by him. An objective of this dissertation is to examine why the development of ‘Modern’ Freemasonry was so successful, and why Desaguliers, and other members of the Royal Society were attracted to the Craft. The study will also assess the fermentation of Freemasonry as it transmuted from the ‘operative’ society into a more ‘speculative’ one during the seventeenth century. Precious little academic work has been published on this aspect of the society, and this study will analyse the contributions of Christopher Wren and Isaac Newton on the development of the Craft, concentrating on their emphasis upon the search for the divine measurement of Solomon’s Temple. The later changes to the Masonic ritual reflected their work, displaying themes for the search of lost ancient knowledge set against the backdrop of the construction of Solomon’s Temple. In this Masonic quest the ethos of Freemasonry became shaped by fashionable and attractive concepts of the ‘New Science’ merging with the ‘Old Science’ of magic and alchemy. These concepts which became appealing in the light of the social and political atmosphere of the Whig Oligarchy of early eighteenth century England, will also be discussed, the study concluding with an examination of the overall contribution of the Masonic Enlightenment on English society.
Christopher Rawdon was a merchant and philanthropist who resided in Anfield, Liverpool, during th... more Christopher Rawdon was a merchant and philanthropist who resided in Anfield, Liverpool, during the first half of the nineteenth century. His father, also called Christopher though known as ‘Kit’, had also resided in Anfield, but had originated from Halifax in Yorkshire. ‘Kit’ had a connection with Liverpool through his wool business, and along with his wife, he had moved to Liverpool permanently by 1814. His three sons; Christopher born in 1780, James (b.1782) and Joshua (b.1785), had all followed suit by the early 1820s. Christopher became involved in local politics, banking and, like many Liverpool merchants of the nineteenth century, became an active philanthropist; his legacy being the founding of a library, drinking fountain and playground in Anfield. Rawdon was also involved in the development of a Liverpool school and was instrumental in the creation of the Ministers Stipend Augmentation Fund, a fund that served the Unitarian community, of which he was part of. I have been teaching a history group that meets in Anfield for quite a few years now, the history group being known as the Rawdon Residents, the group celebrating Christopher Rawdon’s work for their local community. The library which bore his name helped many of the residents throughout their lives, not just as a place to of education, but as a focal point to the community over the years. The local centre where the history group meets – in a Crypt of Holy Trinity Church on Lower Breck Road – is situated next to the library building, and a memorial to Christopher Rawdon is located on the wall of the library as part of a drinking fountain, a clean water source being important at the time and the memorial being a local monument for Rawdon, celebrating his work. Despite the library, the playground and the memorial, the details of the life of Christopher Rawdon, the full extent of his work for the community and his career are sketchy. Rawdon had been largely forgotten outside Anfield, and as a project for the history group, we decided to research his life using original documents and manuscripts, and to ultimately write a book that could be used to enlighten the local community about his life and work. The work done by Christopher Rawdon for Liverpool and the Unitarian community during a period where self-help was the only means of assisting the working-classes, can now be fully celebrated. It is hoped that the book will bring a rediscovery of the work of Christopher Rawdon and his family, and as a local philanthropist, he can finally join the ranks of other Liverpool humanitarians such as the Holt, Rathbone and the Melly families. The book also acts as a companion book of sorts to my other works on the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and The York Grand Lodge, as the Rawdon family moved from York to Liverpool during the same period as these seismic Masonic events took place, and as prominent businessmen, the Rawdons moved in similar social circles to men mentioned in these two works. As we shall see, members of the family had business dealings with men who were Freemasons and some members of the extended family were also involved in Freemasonry. Christopher Rawdon died in 1858, and like the other philanthropic Unitarian Liverpool families, Christopher, with his brother James, were buried at the Ancient Chapel of Toxteth in the south of Liverpool. Another monument was erected to him at the Renshaw Street Chapel, Liverpool. I hope this book will be fitting tribute to his life and work.
York in the eighteenth century was seen as the ancient centre of England, and in Masonic terms, t... more York in the eighteenth century was seen as the ancient centre of England, and in Masonic terms, this ancient northern city had its own independent Grand Lodge that rivalled the Grand Lodge in London. Indeed, York is now celebrated around the Masonic world, especially with the York Rite in the US, and there are a number of lodges in the US that celebrate York Masonry, such as the Ancient York Lodge which meets in Massachusetts and another Ancient York Lodge which meets in New Hampshire. York Masonry is also held in high regard in some Latin American countries such as Mexico, which has the York Grand Lodge of Mexico and also in Bolivia. There are records that refer to speculative Freemasonry in York and in Yorkshire dating to the 1600s, and this book aims to give a street-by-street guide to all things Masonic within the ancient Roman city, while also referring to the larger county as a whole. For example, there are a number of different and fascinating ritual variations; the York Working and the Humber Use, both of which have noted elements that date to the eighteenth century. There are literally thousands of Masonic references to be found in the ancient city of York; from the mysterious medieval Masons loft in the Minster (which incidentally has hundreds of masons marks, Masonic stain glass windows and Masonic symbols on display) to the beautiful Masonic Hall at Duncombe Place. York has traces of Freemasonry in abundance; Duncombe Place is also the location of all the rare manuscripts for the Grand Lodge of All England held at York, and this new Masonic guide book of York will include never-before-seen photos of the rolls, manuscripts and artefacts of this early independent Grand Lodge. The book will look at old pubs and places where the ancient St. John’s Lodges met, such as the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the Punch Bowl Tavern, and the early Masonic symbolism that decorates some of the beautiful Georgian town houses of York, many of which had links to famous Freemasons of the day such as Sir Robert Fairfax and Charles Bathurst. The work will act as a companion piece to the recent Lewis Masonic guide book of London, and is both educational and entertaining; filled with new photos and easy-to-understand references and maps, all aimed at assisting the reader in discovering the Masonic mysteries of York and the county of Yorkshire, both from the past and the present.
This in-depth work examines a compendium of Masonic rituals found in Richard Carlile's once popul... more This in-depth work examines a compendium of Masonic rituals found in Richard Carlile's once popular Manual of Freemasonry, some of the exotic high degrees displayed in his exposé being regularly practiced in England during the early nineteenth century. For the first time, Carlile's work is fully discussed, degree by degree, to not only reveal the full Masonic story, but to examine the eclectic sources of these degrees and the writers who influenced his work. Indeed, these writers, such as Thomas Paine, William Finch and Godfrey Higgins will also be observed, along with an examination of the radical, free thinking ideas that Carlile projected in his exposé. We will see how a rich array of Masonic high grades were practiced at a time of much development and profound change for English Freemasonry; the idea of the complete Masonic story being revealed via these high grades was, to certain English Freemasons, deeply attractive, especially to those who were found wanting after the union of 1813. Carlile's exposé, as we shall see, served these needs, his work revealing a rich fusion of radicalism along with an opulent collection of Masonic rituals that emerged from a variety of sources, such as Peter Lambert de Lintot's Rite of Seven Degrees and the French exposé Les Plus Secrets Mystéres. In short, Carlile's work is a highly valued piece of Masonic literature and gives an important insight into what can be seen as a very English practice of high degree Masonry during the time. This new examination of The Manual of Freemasonry is a much overdue rediscovery of the significance of his work on English Masonry and published in 2019, commemorates the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, an event that was witnessed by Carlile.
Ever since I began to research my PhD thesis on the origins and development of English Freemasonr... more Ever since I began to research my PhD thesis on the origins and development of English Freemasonry at the University of Liverpool in 2000, I started to write articles for Masonic magazines in the UK and US such as MQ, Freemasonry Today, The Ashlar, Philalethes, Knight Templar Magazine, and The Square, amongst others. These were all highly regarded and excellent magazines in their own right, all dealing with the history, philosophy and current news of Freemasonry, most having an international readership. I have thus written around a hundred articles over the past twenty years, and when it was put to me to compile my favourite articles in a Compendium, it gave me the opportunity to not only choose my favourite pieces, but also the articles that I received the most positive feedback from by the readers. Various different magazines have their own in-house style; some magazines wanted footnotes for example, others did not, some wanted photos, others supplied their own. It also gave me an insight into editing and publishing, and also gave me an opportunity to meet other well-known writers and editors such as Michael Baigent. Coming from an academic background, and being a lecturer of local history, much of my subject matter was drawn from that interest, such as the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and my work on the York Grand Lodge, both subjects becoming articles in various magazines and being the basis for future books. Other articles where particularly requested, such as Freemasonry and the French Revolution which is also featured in this book. Some articles reflected my interest and research such as my work concerning Thomas Paine and Joseph Brant, while other articles reflected my interest in archaeology, such as the tunnels of Joseph Williamson, the Hell Fire caves of Sir Francis Dashwood and the now derelict Woolton Hall in Liverpool. All however, reflected Masonic themes. As an academic, I also conducted research and wrote papers on the topic of Freemasonry that appeared in many academic journals, and I have also included some of those papers in this book. Some of my papers found homes in renowned Masonic journals such as Heredom, AQC and The Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism, and were presented at various conferences and at universities. Most of the articles presented in this collection have a related theme; that of Freemasons changing the world for the force of good, be it natural philosophers that have made an advancement in medicine such as Edward Jenner, men of science and revolutionary politics such as Benjamin Franklin and men that took a strong stance against the slave trade such as Thomas Stamford Raffles. My aim with this book is not only to collect the most popular articles and papers together in one source, but to allow Masons and indeed non-Masons, to read and present the articles themselves.
Uploads
The article discusses links between the Authors' Lodge and the Authors' Club, and how the aforementioned late Victorian writers were inspired by Freemasonry, the society having an impact on their work. The Authors' Lodge still meets to this day, and the lodge still celebrates these distinguished writers and their timeless works.
The article discusses links between the Authors' Lodge and the Authors' Club, and how the aforementioned late Victorian writers were inspired by Freemasonry, the society having an impact on their work. The Authors' Lodge still meets to this day, and the lodge still celebrates these distinguished writers and their timeless works.
The book provides a brief history of Freemasonry, along with a quick guide to many of the English Masonic rituals, Masonic dress and various practices; also covering the roles of the Officers, the Festive Board, toasting and the use of symbols within Masonry. Containing the basic FAQs and more deeper considerations.
The authors present the individual histories of the Odd Fellows, Foresters, Druids, Buffaloes, Rechabites, Moose, Elks, and more obscure Orders such as the Society of the Horseman’s Word and the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds; putting forward their similarities with Freemasonry, in their ritual and regalia.
During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, several of these societies developed a fraternal aspect to their activities, using Freemasonry as their model via ritual and practice; some being open to men and women from working class backgrounds; supplying strong financial support for their members at a time when the ordinary worker had little or no protection against illness or injury at work.
A number of these societies developed into extremely large organisations that still exist today as financial organisations, despite an overall decline in the wake of the arrival of the Welfare State in the UK. Some however were small local organisations that did not survive. The book also explores fraternal clubs at the other end of the class spectrum in the UK; gentlemen’s clubs that offered a sense of belonging and networking for the more affluent gentlemen of society. The book examines how some members of these clubs were influential Freemasons, and how these gentlemen’s clubs reflected the stark class differences in the UK.
The book is richly illustrated, depicting the personal stories associated with the various Orders, revealing never-before-published photos of regalia, jewels and artefacts, which will demonstrate the importance of the Orders and their contribution to social history during the industrial revolution.
One of the aims of this thesis is to assess why it was embraced by some areas, yet rejected by others, such as York. Scholarship to date has avoided analysis of the Masonic ritual, with Freemasonry being seen as a secret society, and many of the original documentation relating to Masonic lodges being held in private collections. The United Grand Lodge of England has only recently opened its archive and library to the public, though this has only revealed how much documentary material has either been lost or destroyed. An example of this is the absence of personal correspondence relating to Desaguliers’ Masonic ritual changes, despite the evidence that changes where made by him. An objective of this dissertation is to examine why the development of ‘Modern’ Freemasonry was so successful, and why Desaguliers, and other members of the Royal Society were attracted to the Craft.
The study will also assess the fermentation of Freemasonry as it transmuted from the ‘operative’ society into a more ‘speculative’ one during the seventeenth century. Precious little academic work has been published on this aspect of the society, and this study will analyse the contributions of Christopher Wren and Isaac Newton on the development of the Craft, concentrating on their emphasis upon the search for the divine measurement of Solomon’s Temple. The later changes to the Masonic ritual reflected their work, displaying themes for the search of lost ancient knowledge set against the backdrop of the construction of Solomon’s Temple. In this Masonic quest the ethos of Freemasonry became shaped by fashionable and attractive concepts of the ‘New Science’ merging with the ‘Old Science’ of magic and alchemy. These concepts which became appealing in the light of the social and political atmosphere of the Whig Oligarchy of early eighteenth century England, will also be discussed, the study concluding with an examination of the overall contribution of the Masonic Enlightenment on English society.
There are literally thousands of Masonic references to be found in the ancient city of York; from the mysterious medieval Masons loft in the Minster (which incidentally has hundreds of masons marks, Masonic stain glass windows and Masonic symbols on display) to the beautiful Masonic Hall at Duncombe Place. York has traces of Freemasonry in abundance; Duncombe Place is also the location of all the rare manuscripts for the Grand Lodge of All England held at York, and this new Masonic guide book of York will include never-before-seen photos of the rolls, manuscripts and artefacts of this early independent Grand Lodge.
The book will look at old pubs and places where the ancient St. John’s Lodges met, such as the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the Punch Bowl Tavern, and the early Masonic symbolism that decorates some of the beautiful Georgian town houses of York, many of which had links to famous Freemasons of the day such as Sir Robert Fairfax and Charles Bathurst. The work will act as a companion piece to the recent Lewis Masonic guide book of London, and is both educational and entertaining; filled with new photos and easy-to-understand references and maps, all aimed at assisting the reader in discovering the Masonic mysteries of York and the county of Yorkshire, both from the past and the present.
ISBN 978 1 84549 760 6