An exploration of how modern Freemasonry enabled Isaac Newton and his like-minded contemporaries to flourish • Shows that Freemasonry, as a mystical order, was conceived as something new--an amalgam of alchemy and science that had little to do with operative Freemasonry • Reveals how Newton and his friends crafted this “speculative,” symbolic Freemasonry as a model for the future of England • Connects Rosslyn Chapel, Henry Sinclair, and the Invisible College to Newton and his role in 17th-century Freemasonry Freemasonry, as a fraternal order of scientists and philosophers, emerged in the 17th century and represented something new--an amalgam of alchemy and science that allowed the creative genius of Isaac Newton and his contemporaries to flourish. In Isaac Newton’s Freemasonry, Alain Bauer presents the swirl of historical, sociological, and religious influences that sparked the spiritual ferment and transformation of that time. His research shows that Freemasonry represented a crossroads between science and spirituality and became the vehicle for promoting spiritual and intellectual egalitarianism. Isaac Newton was seminal in the “invention” of this new form of Freemasonry, which allowed Newton and other like-minded associates to free themselves of the church’s monopoly on the intellectual milieu of the time. This form of Freemasonry created an ideological blueprint that sought to move England beyond the civil wars generated by its religious conflicts to a society with scientific progress as its foundation and standard. The “science” of these men was rooted in the Hermetic tradition and included alchemy and even elements of magic. Yet, in contrast to the endless reinterpretations of church doctrine that fueled the conflicts ravaging England, this new society of Accepted Freemasons provided an intellectual haven and creative crucible for scientific and political progress. This book reveals the connections of Rosslyn Chapel, Henry Sinclair, and the Invisible College to Newton’s role in 17th-century Freemasonry and opens unexplored trails into the history of Freemasonry in Europe.

Traces of a Hidden Tradition in Masonry and Medieval Mysticism by Isabel Cooper-Oakley is a significant work that explores the connections between Freemasonry and medieval mysticism. Originally published in the early 20th century, the book delves into the historical roots and esoteric influences that have shaped the Masonic tradition.

J. D. Buck explains and demystifies Freemasonry in this illustrated account of the secret society, their ritual practices and use of symbols to communicate their ideas. The author speaks in favor of the ethical principles and ideas of the Masons; their insistence upon moral rectitude and good behavior of its members supports the idea that Masonry aims to cultivate the highest virtues of humankind. Such preservation of humanity's greatest strengths is to be applauded: writing in the early 20th century, the author muses on the social and economic upheavals in a world that has rapidly changed amid industrialization. Addressing public curiosity on the links between Freemasonry and the ancient lore of the occult is one of Buck's primary aims. The various ancient mysteries dating back to the time when Egypt was under the rule of the Pharaohs are examined. We discover how the modern Masonic principles of liberty, equality and fraternity relate and reconcile with the symbology present in the lodges around the world. Together with Masonic texts, the author also spoke with Masons and conducted research into ancient civilizations. Thus, Mystic Masonry is an authoritative and fulfilling guide to the subject.