Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society - Volume 2 - Number 2 - ������ 201�
Ritual , Secrecy and Civil Society : Issue No . 4 , Winter 2014
Freemasonry , Symbolism and Society Foreword by Pierre Mollier , Editor-in-Chief
Ritual , Secrecy and Civil Society aims to provide a bridge between European and
American Masonic research . This is why our review is heavily involved in the major international masonic history conference which will take place in Paris , in the prestigious setting of France ' s National Library , on May 29 and May 30 , 2015 . It will be an important event , bringing together the world ' s key players in Masonic studies . We hope to see you there !
The conference will focus particularly on the history of rituals , and especially on the sources of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . In preparation for this work , this issue begins with a study of a French manuscript which lies at the origin of the Francken Manuscript . Dated 1764 , the " Santo-Domingo Manuscript " presents the rituals and the Masonic system spread by Stephen Morin in the Caribbean at the very beginning of the Rite of Perfection . In particular , it includes the oldest ritual , with a magnificent trestle board for the Degree of the Royal Secret , of which we publish a transcript . This is followed by an in-depth study on the sources of this astonishing trestle toard of the Royal Secret , by Dominique Jardin . This analysis clearly shows how Freemasonry re-used old material to create a new symbolic tradition .
Our review pays especial attention to the way in which Freemasonry has influenced society . The Orders and decorations of different states have a dual nature , both political and symbolic . The French example stands out for us , because the Freemasons were very active in the foundation of the Legion of Honor , the famous decoration created by Napoleon .
Finally , Freemasons have always taken an interest in the Orient . This is firstly because their rituals explain that " Light comes from the East ." It is also because since the Renaissance , Westerners have been convinced that the Ancient Orient is the birthplace of the idea of initiation . Thierry Zarcone shows us the links between Freemasonry and the foundation of modern Orientalism at the end of the eighteenth century and start of the nineteenth century . He begins by presenting to us the figure of the linguist and philologist , Antoine Sylvestre de Sacy ( 1758 – 1838 ), a highly atypical Mason and one of the fathers of Orientalism .
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