The Brotherhood

by Stephen Knight, Martin Short (Introduction)

"The Brotherhood removes the blanket of secrecy over Freemasonry and permits an objective investigation into a topic of considerable public interest. In Italy, recent scandals have toppled the government, and the echoes of that scandal continue to reverberate.

In this incisive book, Stephen Knight goes behind the scenes of a tightly knit, all-male society, many of whose members hold very influential positions, all of whom are bound by fierce oaths of secrecy. Does Freemasonry discriminate in favor of its members when it comes to jobs, career promotions, and business? How compatible is Freemasonry with Christianity and Judaism? A large number of instances in this book show how and where masonic ideas of morality, charity, and fraternity have been abused.

The secrecy that surrounds Freemasonry has traditionally been its greatest strength. Today it has become its own worst enemy. The revelations in this book will challenge many strongly held beliefs."

Paperback

First published February 19, 2007

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name, see:

Stephen Knight - Thrillers

Reviews

[Kenneth Lambie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in the early 80s this was a brave and groundbreaking book which provoked discussion and news stories during the 80s. Not a history but more about the masons in aspects of British life and institutions. Also good is Martin Short's sequel Inside the Brotherhood. Short took it on when Knight died and was still getting a lot of feedback and letters.

[Steven H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A BRITISH JOURNALIST PROVIDES A “FACTUAL REPORT” ON MASONRY

Stephen Knight (1951–1985) was a British journalist. He wrote in the Prologue to this 1984 book, “[This book] is neither a commendation nor a condemnation of Freemasonry. Nor is it another wearisome and misnamed ‘exposure’ of Masonry’s no longer secret rituals… I am a journalist. From the beginning, I have thought of this investigation into Freemasonry in modern society as an extended piece of journalism. It is a factual report researched intensively over a relatively short period but because I was working without the benefit of a secretary or researchers it does contain gaps.” (Pg. 4-5) He adds, “I began my enquiry with two questions: Does Freemasonry have an influence on life in Britain, as many people believe? And if so, what kind of influence and in which areas of society?” (Pg. 6)

He recounts, "By 1730 when the Roman Catholic Duke of Norfolk was installed (prior to the first papal condemnation of Freemasonry in 1738), there had been nine Grand Masters, six of them nobles… But all the while the royals were being courted to become titular leaders of masonry, the process of transformation of the old masons’ guild continued. The Brotherhood was de-Christianized… Throughout the eighteenth century more and more pagan elements were brought in to replace the discarded faith.” (Pg. 26-27)

He notes, “Freemasonry crossed the Atlantic to the colonies of the old empire very early on: George Washington’s initiation was in 1752. Today, the dollar bill bears not only Washington’s likeness but also the all-seeing eye symbol of Freemasonry. Washington refused to become head of Masonry for the whole of the newly formed United States, and US Freemasonry came to be organized on a state-by-state basis.” (Pg. 33) He adds, “Eight signatories to the Declaration of Independence---Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, Robert Treat Payne, Richard Stockton, George Walton and William Whipple---were proven Masons, while twenty-four others, on less than certain evidence… Seventeen Vice-Presidents including Hubert Humphrey and Adlai Stevenson have also been brethren.” (Pg. 34)

He suggests, “the anti-Mason’s view of any incident can be colored by his prejudices. This goes further than interpreting ordinary events in a masonic way simply because Freemasons happened to be involved---it actually leads people… to INVENT details that turn happenstance into masonic conspiracy.” (Pg. 107)

He states, “The existence of many secret societies is known. What makes them secret is that their inner workings are unknown to outsiders, and their secrets are protected by initiation ceremonies which impose penalties on those who betray secrets. There is usually some ritualistic element to the secret society. These elements in Freemasonry justify the application of the term to Freemasonry just as they do to societies which are generally thought more sinister like the Ku Klux Klan, the Italian Carbonari, or the Chinese Triads, whose ritual has much in common with English Masonry.” (Pg. 125)

He points out, “Masonry’s nationwide organization of men from most walks of life provided one of the most efficient private intelligence networks imaginable. Private information on anybody in the country would normally be accessed very rapidly through endless permutations of masonic contacts---police, magistrates, solicitors, bank managers, Post Office staff… doctors, government employees, bosses of firms and nationalized industries, etc., etc. A dossier of personal data could be built up on anybody very quickly. When the major facts of an individual’s life were known, areas of vulnerability would become apparent.” (Pg. 145-146)

He recounts, “[Some] Masons told me that Freemasonry is no more a religion than are Rotary Clubs or tennis clubs… ‘But,’ I objected, ‘the Rotary Club and the tennis club do not meet in such solemn environs. You have a masonic TEMPLE. You have an ALTAR. You KNEEL before your DEITY, the Great Architect. You swear oaths on your ‘Volume of Sacred Law’—the Bible, the Koran, or whatever is deemed most appropriate. All these are surely religious trappings?’” (Pg. 232)

He states, “The Church of Rome, traditional arch-enemy of Freemasonry, is even more the object of masonic attention than the Church of England… Roman Catholics of the older generation remember pamphlets published by the Catholic Truth Society… about the incompatibility of Freemasonry and Catholicism at every church bookstall. They understood that a long line of Popes had declared Freemasonry illicit and that Catholics who were Freemasons were automatically excommunicated by the mere fact of membership.” (Pg. 245) Later, he adds, “Effectively, then, the true position of the Roman Catholic Church is not unlike that of the Church of England. Faced with the prestige, influence, and prevalence of Freemasonry in British society, both are similarly paralyzed.” (Pg. 254)

He concludes, “[This book] represents barely a glimpse beneath the surface of Freemasonry in modern society. I am still at the start of my investigations, which will continue, and future editions will not only look at the Brotherhood’s influence in fields hardly touched on here---like education, the Civil Service, the Press, agriculture, science and many others---but will include further case histories, and any arguments either in favor or of against Masonry which readers of this edition think relevant and cannot find here.” (Pg. 308)

This book will be of great interest to non-Masons studying Freemasonry.