Featured Book Review

'The Magus of Freemasonry' by Tobias Churton © 2006 Inner Traditions ISBN 1-59477-122-7 320 pages Includes 150 black and white illustrations Paperback $16.95(U.S.)

Is the name Elias Ashmole familiar to you? If you are the "average" American, probably not. If you are British, possibly. If you are a Mason or Rosicrucian, it is more likely. I had run across the name numerous times in my reading and was looking forward to learning more about this sadly neglected individual.

Here is a man who was a founding member of the Royal Society; an antiquarian; a bibliophile; and the founder of the first purpose-built museum in the world. Such a man should be remembered with other Renaissance men, such as Franklin, Michelangelo and others.

It takes some time to give the reader a background to understand Ashmole's world. It was a world on the brink, both politically (the overthrow of the monarchy by the Roundheads) and scientifically (physical science was just establishing its primacy over philosophical science). Shakespeare's plays were modern and judicial astrology was still taught at university. "Public education" did not exist, and almshouses still served the poor. This is a far cry from today's "rationalist" world, and requires an altered perception for the modern reader.

This volume has numerous photographs and illustrations which serve the dual purposes of illustrating points in the narrative, and helping the reader who is unfamiliar with the English landscape to gain some perspective.

The first four chapters are the necessary foundation and background. Those readers who are followers of Wicca will need to be careful in their reading of this book since Mr. Churton refers to the "old religion" and means Roman Catholicism. He refers to "the craft" and means Freemasonry. Obviously, these terms have other meanings for Wiccans and that fact needs to be kept in mind while reading this book.

While I cannot agree with one reviewer (from the "Scottish Rite Journal of Freemasonry," Southern Jurisdiction, USA) that it "Reads like an adventure novel."I have to say that I found it engaging and readable. For a book which touches on topics which may seem, to the casual reader, to be obscure, it is clear and easily understood. It flows smoothly and clarifies the subject nicely.

If, as I was, you are expecting a book which delves deeply into Ashmole's involvement with the Masonic movement, and his esoteric works, you will be disappointed with this book. It is informative (to a certain extent) about his personal life and relationships, in a non-specialist way. However, the references to his alchemical researches; his esoteric associations; and his relationship to the entire subject pf secret societies, are few and far between.

It is a well-told story of a man on the threshold of the "moderns, scientific" world. If you are interested in the time period (the mid to late seventeenth century) or in the life of Elias Ashmole, this book deserves to be in your library. If your primary interest is in the field of Masonry, or secret societies, there is little her to recommend. Oh, there is some unexpected information regarding the appearance of speculative Freemasonry from with the operative ranks. And there is some useful information on alchemy contained herein.

Although I normally do not rate books I review, if I were to do so with this book, I would give it three and a half stars out of a possible five. It wouldn't make it onto my "must have" list, but it is certainly worth the price.

Reviewer: Mike Gleason

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