The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century, 1590-1710

by David Stevenson

The origins of freemasonry are traced to Scotland in this account of the creation of an international movement through a blending of medieval mythology and late Renaissance intellectual influences.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Philosophy

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

David Stevenson is Professor Emeritus of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews.

Stevenson was born in Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland and studied in Dublin and Glasgow. He was a lecturer (1970-1980), senior lecturer (1980-1984), and reader Scotland, (1984-1990) at the University of Aberdeen. He was Professor of Scottish History at the University St. Andrews, Scotland (1991-1994), and has been honorary professor Scotland, since 1994. He was Chairman of the Company of Scottish History, 1991-1994.

He was a Member of the Scottish Records Advisory Council, Scotland, 1989-1994.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevenson, professor emeritus of history at the Uni of St. Andrews, argues that Masonic history ought to be treated like any other kind of history: with objective analysis of the available evidence taken in context of the wider history in which it occurred. When he set out to take on the subject, he discovered to his surprise that the available evidence overwhelmingly points to modern freemasonry having developed not in England, as is generally claimed, but rather in Renaissance and early modern Scotland. Not a Mason himself, Stevenson wrote with the full cooperation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the resulting book, though academic in tone, is worth reading for anyone with an interest in Masonic history, in medieval and early modern Scottish history, or in historiography.

[Pedro · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very thorough piece of research about a fascinating topic. Too often freemasonry is relegated to the realm of conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated mythology. Stevenson gives development of freemasonry in Scotland a sober historical treatment which I appreciate.

Thanks to him I've really taken a liking to the early Freemasons. They are a guild of hardworking craftspeople preserving a rich body of oral traditions along with useful geometrical skills and stone carving techniques. They are dedicated to improving their craft and justifiably proud of its roots in the ancient science of geometry. Their links to Platonism and mystical traditions just make them even cooler. The parts of the book dealing with Rosicrucianism and Hermeticism were by far my favorites even if they were mainly comprised of educated guessing.

However, seeing as the Freemasons were a secret society there is very little source material for the early years of their existence. This leaves me with a book which is mostly composed of broad speculations assembled from a few pieces of circumstantial evidence. I appreciate the work done here, but trying to pull a narrative out of 17th century documents only tangentially related to the topics at hand is incredibly frustrating to read through. On top of this the author doesn't have much of a knack engaging his audience.

I just want to emphasize how many potential angles there are for studying freemasonry. You can trace the development of the enlightenment and modern science from quasi-magical hermetic traditions. You can do a comparative study of the different branches of freemasonry and their respective nationalism's before and after the creation of Great Britain. You can examine the development of religious tolerance within freemasonry. You can examine their roles as either politically subversive or obedient during every crises in early modern English and Scottish history.

Honestly I wish I had a month and about twenty more pages to cover this topic. If I can find enough sources I may well come back to this for a thesis.

[Tyler Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevenson's book is an unbelievable piece of historical research. First, because it is so deeply researched and supported. And second, because in a field with a thousand books, so many of which claim exactly what he demonstrates: he is the only writer (that I've encountered) that actually takes the time to offer any substantive proof.

So many books on "masonic history" say it: "Freemasonry developed from the lodges of operative masons in the 17th and 18th Centuries." Well, bullshit. I've always scorned the statment, and not unjustly so. Left at so facile and imbecilic a level, the assertion is nonsense. Sure: dukes and gents and Royal Society types couldn't wait to go study philosophy at the feet of callus-handed, burly working men, most of which would have been illiterate and lived in squalor compared to their students. In an age only fractionally past the medieval strictures of noble v. serf, this surely makes fantastic sense.

Enter David Stevenson. Uncover Renaissance confluences of Hermeticism, political upheaval, and the destruction of religious fraternalism. Add a few key figures who were placed in positions allowing them to definitively influence the organizational and educational structures of the working masons. Get everybody riled up about Vitruvius and start talking about Temples. Now see where you are.

Intensely interesting for scholars of Masonic origins and philosophy.
Written by a bona fide historian, how novel.

[Alessandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want an accurate history (not a mythology) of Freemasonry in the 17th century (before the premier Grand Lodge) then this is the book to read.

[Clinton A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written by a non-Freemason gives a great historical account of Freemasonry without all of the conspiracy theories and silliness. If you are interested simply in the actual documented history of the Craft, meaning speculative Masonry as it is practiced all over the world today, then you will enjoy this read. If you want goofy theories about the occult and secret societies, it's probably not for you.