The Origins of Freemasonry

David Stevenson is Emeritus Professor of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews.

His title, The Origins of Freemasonry offers a compelling account exploring the true origins of Freemasonry, a brotherhood united by secret initiations, rituals, and modes of recognition, all rooted in ideals of fraternity, equality, tolerance, and reason.

While Freemasonry is often thought to have emerged in England around 1700, David Stevenson reveals a more surprising origin: Scotland in the early 1600s. It was there that stonemasons established the lodge system, weaving together mediaeval myths, Renaissance thought, and seventeenth-century history into a unique tradition of secrecy and symbolism.

From its beginnings in Britain, Freemasonry rapidly spread across Europe in the eighteenth century, yet its roots remain a subject of lively debate. Stevenson’s meticulous historical investigation uncovers the hidden story behind one of the world’s most enduring secret societies.

This book is essential reading for anyone fascinated by Renaissance and seventeenth-century history, Freemasons seeking to understand their heritage, and readers intrigued by the mysteries of secret societies—like those at the heart of bestsellers such as The Da Vinci Code.

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Publication Date: 20 September 1990

Page Count: 270

Type: Paperback black and white.