Freemasonry And The Birth Of Modern Science

While Lomas's previous books have tended to stretch speculation almost to breaking point, this book is built on much firmer foundations. Not long after Sir Francis Bacon wrote, around the year 1600, that knowledge (of Nature) is power (to help humanity), natural philosophers started taking up the quest for this knowledge. Mason-Scientists like Moray, Hooke, Desaguliers, and Franklin, led the way toward the collaborative and systematic form of research we take for granted as science and technology. The investigation of Nature was a dangerous business in the early days. It was only natural that it developed in the bosom of the already secretive Freemasonry of the day. The "Invisible College" were not exclusively masons, but they certainly formed the backbone of the push toward the Enlightenment ideal. The aim was a society of greater freedom, tolerance, and equality, based on rationality, and supported by an understanding of natural forces. This endeavour has been more successful than any of them could have imagined. We tend to think that the World was destined to develop the way it has, but things could have been much different. Civilisation can be fragile, and knowledge can be lost. Tyranny can prevail. We owe our modern comforts, security, and freedoms, such as they are, to the Freemasons and those they influenced around the World. The process continues. Where it goes from here is up to all of us. This book, also published under the title "The Invisible College", brings some of the early and less publicly known history of the modern world into focus.

I found this introduction into the world of Freemasonry an enjoyable tale. It is a recounting of the English Civil War and the Restoration of the throne after Oliver Cromwell the lord protector. I was not that familiar with this part of history except seeing the movie Cromwell with Richard Harris and not understanding all the factions so I thought it was quite fascinating. It tells the story of men whom where on both sides of the conflict in the English Civil War but came together to try to build a scientific society where pure science was the goal and politics and religion were not involved. This began the free exchange of ideas and the idea and publication of scientific journals. This allowed the scientist in the society concentrate on experimentation and the others their monetary assets to fund the experiments instead of the government. The entire membership was interested in science and all tried to contribute their part. The story has a tendency to be pedantic by the fact that he tells the tale through the lives of several of the first members and it becomes repetitive. I don't know if this is a mansonic thing because they have to do great deal of memorization. The book goes into the effect of the society up to the present day. The appendix was quite good in the fact that it gave a much better idea of what freemasonry is all about. Overall, I thought it was a good read for the interesting history and learning more about Freemasonry. I would like to learn more about the subject.

Before readiung this book I was inclined to think that Freemasonry was just a slightly spooky charitable dinning club. Lomas's study of the formation of the Royal Society of London made me realise just how important a society freeemasonry is. This book shows Sir Robert Moray. Charles I and II and Oliver Cromwell in a new light for me. I hadn't realised how Freemasonic ideas had influenced both the growth of science and of American democracy. Keep up the good work Robert. I'll be looking out for your next book to learn more about Freemasonry