Studies in Freemasonry and the Compagnonnage

by René Guénon

Rene Guenon (1886-1951) was one of the great luminaries of the twentieth century, whose critique of the modern world has stood fast against the shifting sands of intellectual fashion. His extensive writings, now finally available in English, are a providential treasure-trove for the modern seeker: while pointing ceaselessly to the perennial wisdom found in past cultures ranging from the Shamanistic to the Indian and Chinese, the Hellenic and Judaic, the Christian and Islamic, and including also Alchemy, Hermeticism, and other esoteric currents, they direct the reader also to the deepest level of religious praxis, emphasizing the need for affiliation with a revealed tradition even while acknowledging the final identity of all spiritual paths as they approach the summit of spiritual realization. Studies in Freemasonry and the Compagnonnage is both an attempt to rediscover the lost roots of Masonry and a fascinating look into the many controversies swirling around the subject of Masonry in serious intellectual circles during the first half of the twentieth century. It must also be classed, along with Symbols of Sacred Science, Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power, Traditional Forms and Cosmic Cycles, The Esoterism of Dante, Insights into Christian Esoterism and Insights into Islamic Esoterism and Taoism-not to mention related sections in many of his other books-as one of Rene Guenon's masterful excursions into esoteric myth, symbolism, and secret history. Freemasonry may indeed be, as Guenon ultimately concluded, a largely degenerated and thus no longer strictly 'operative' offshoot of a true initiatory lineage; yet its symbolism, like that of the original Rosicrucians, remains profound, traditional, and therefore ultimately legitimate. And given that the 'Spirit bloweth where it listeth', it is always possible that symbolism of this order may awaken in a receptive soul intimations of the Truth and the Way, which can be of inestimable of value in 'the path to the Path', the quest for a living initiatory spirituality.

Genres: Religion, Occult, Metaphysics

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2004

About the author

René Guénon (1886-1951) was a French author and intellectual who remains an influential figure in the domain of sacred science,traditional studies, symbolism and initiation.

French biography : http://arlesquint.free.fr/rene%20guen...
http://www.index-rene-guenon.org/

Reviews

[Avni Alper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Son derece önemli bir kitap özellikle Rene Guenon’un içinde bulunduğu mason locasında yapmış olduğu çalışmalar ve düzensiz olarak hariçte kaldığı süreçte yazmış olduğu makaleler ele alındığında akademik olarak oldukça önemli bir eser. Ancak çevirmen Halit Bağmancı kitabı Fransızcadan günümüz Türkçesine çevirmenmiş bir İslam Felsefecisinin anlayabileceği bir dilde karar kılmış. Bu noktada bu tür eserleri okuyanlar özellikle Osmanlıca tabirlere aşina olmasına rağmen gereksiz olarak kullanılan “İmdi” ler “ispiritzma” lar “zevahir” ler “zihnilik” ler “rabıta” lar “müptedi” ler havalarda uçuşuyor olması oldukça sinir bozucu. Böyle akademik bir esere Taxil gibi literatüre geçmiş bir yalancının kitabındaki saçma sapan gravürleri koymak akademik olarak etkili olabilecek bir kitaba yazık etmiştir.

[Angel Millar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of essays, not necessarily intended to be read as a book, Guenon's Studies in Freemasonry and the Compagnonnage looks at material often neglected in the English-speaking world. From stonemasons marks and the French trade guild the Compagnonnage, through Catholic intellectual Joseph de Maistre's activities in Freemasonry, to the Rite of the Elu Cohen, this is a strange, fascinating, if a somewhat disjointed book authored by one of the more important French esoteric thinkers of the last century.

[no.stache.nietzsche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the least helpful text we've yet encountered from the Sophia Perennis publications by Rene Guenon, this compilation of essays and articles did have some useful stuff in the first one hundred pages, treating specific topics within Freemasonry. (There is nothing like a general introduction or overview here).

In the middle it devolves into some very persnickety bits about some particularly obscure people that we have no clue who they were, and couldn't find much beyond a few very brief entries online. And then the last one hundred pages or so is just reviews of long out of print French books about Masonic stuff.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically, there’s some evidence of even more secret societies, so all the hullabaloo about Freemasons is not that serious. At least that’s what I got from it.