Foreword
Pierre Mollier , Editor
Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society • Vol . 7 , No . 2 • Spring 2020
This new issue of Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society starts with an exciting article by Andrew Prescott , a landmark paper in the important historiographical debate on the question of the origins of Freemasonry . This debate has become more vigorous among Masonic historians after the various conferences and publications related to the tercentenary of Freemasonry in 2017 . Andrew Prescott challenges a number of methodological assumptions and highlights the fruitfulness of this new view .
In recent years , Masonic historians have been particularly interested in the origins of the high — or side — degrees , their rituals and the legends associated with them , such as the Knights of Orient , the Knights Kadosh , the Knights Templar , etc . With such poetic and mysterious names , when did these Masonic degrees appear ? And where do they come from ? These orders were more associated with chivalry than with the craft by the end of the 1730s in France . In the 18th century however , some circles would little by little show a new interest in the Middle Ages . Men of their time , Freemasons , would eventually integrate a part of this imaginary into their own rituals . From this point of view , Freemasonry is also one of the sources of romanticism .
Another article is about Canon Alexandre-Guy Pingré ( 1711-1796 ), an extraordinary character from the 18th century who was among other things : Clergyman , scientist , explorer , freemason , revolutionary , and founder of the Bibiothèque Sainte Geneviève , one of the most important libraries in France . He considered himself a cabinet man , but his life is a true novel . It is also a wonderful example of the contribution of Freemasonry to Enlightenment .
Prefacio
Este nuevo número de Ritual , Secret and Civil Society comienza con un emocionante artículo de Andrew Prescott , un artículo histórico en el importante debate historiográfico sobre la cuestión de los orígenes de la masonería . Este debate se ha vuelto más vigoroso entre los historiadores masónicos después de las diversas conferencias y publicaciones relacionadas con el tricentenario de la masonería en 2017 . Andrew Prescott desafía una serie de supuestos metodológicos y destaca la fecundidad de esta nueva visión .
En los últimos años , los historiadores masónicos han estado particularmente interesados en los orígenes de los grados altos o secundarios , sus rituales
v doi : 10.18278 / rscs . 7.2.1