Ancient Mysteries and Modern Masonry
Ancient Mysteries and Modern Masonry is a book by American Universalist clergyman Charles H. Vail. First published in 1909, it consists of a series of lectures, first given in Pullman Memorial Church, Albion, New York. The purpose of these lectures was to consider the origin and nature of the ancient mysteries and to show the relation which they bear to modern day Freemasonry. The lectures include: The Origin And Object Of The Ancient Mysteries; The Egyptian, Hindu, And Persian Mysteries; The Druidical, Gothic, Grecian, And Jewish Mysteries; The Christian Mysteries; The Meaning Of True Initiation; The Origin And History Of Freemasonry; The Origin And History Of The Knights Templars And The Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite; and, The Symbols And Legends Of Masonry.
Illustrations of Masonry
Fully illustrated, this is one of the first published accounts of US Freemasonry in the early 19th century. This book has a controversial backstory which is part of the mythology of anti-Freemasonry. William Morgan, the author, was a disappointed Freemason in Batavia, New York. Rejected by the local lodge, he announced that he was going to publish a work exposing Masonic rituals and secrets. Shortly before publication in 1826, he disappeared, and three Masons were later convicted of kidnapping him. Although claims were made that Morgan had been murdered, some say that he was forced to leave the US. Either way, it was good publicity for this book, which was published in 1827, but bad for the Masons. The incident led to widespread protests against Freemasons in the US, and eventually an anti-Masonic Party, which at its height in 1832 got seven electoral votes for William Wirt for President.
