"This remarkable exploration of intriguing people and events in Freemasonry sheds new light on how this brotherhood's practices, symbols and rituals took shape. An extraordinary wealth of documents is found in this pursuit, including parchment manuscripts dating to the 1300s. The roots of Freemasonry are traced to the building of Solomon's Temple, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades in Europe. Masonry's controversial relationship with the Knights Templar and Vatican also takes on new and significant meaning. The emergence of this secretive society in Britain had a strong influence on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and other Masons who helped create a new country in America. All those struggles are seen through the experiences of people who lived through these events--often told in their own words and drawn from remarkable collections of records dating from those times. They reveal Freemasonry to be well-grounded in recognizable events, and show how its members influenced the world around them. Those influences are still felt in our lives today. Forty-five illustrations help bring to life this memorable journey of discovery."--Publisher description.

Its mysterious symbols and rituals had been used in secret for centuries before Freemasonry revealed itself in 1717. But where had this powerful organization come from and why had Freemasonry been attacked by the Roman Catholic Church? Robinson answers those questions and more.

This exploration of the remarkable people and influential activities of the Knights Templar and Freemasonry is truly stunning. It sheds considerable new light on how the practices, symbols and rituals of these two brotherhoods took shape and affected the world around them. "Born in Blood" began this work before its author passed away in 1996. Now historian Sanford Holst has gathered many more discoveries and internal documents that give a deeper look into the workings of the Templars and Freemasons. The roots of Masonry are traced to Solomon's Temple, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades, causing this society's relationships with stonemasons and the Templars to take on new and significant meaning. We come to see how actions by Templars and Masons affected the fall of kings in Europe, the rise of democracy, and the Vatican's loss of its supreme position atop the Christian world. After Masonry emerged into public view in 1717, it had a strong influence on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and other Masons who worked to create a new country in America. These experiences are seen through the eyes of people who lived through the actual events -- often told in their own words and drawn from remarkable collections of records dating from those times. A tantalizing question is asked: what practices among the Templars and Masons still affect our lives today? This well-documented look inside the secretive Templar and Masonic societies provides answers that may surprise you.

The Sworn and Secret Grimoire is a 'Guide to Grimoiring', including explanations of the planetary hours and days, the Olympic spirits, the sixfold process of evocation, and more. Welcome to the Night School.

It's a masterpiece...if you're interested in American Masonry and its impact on our country, this book is for you.—Brent Morris, The Scottish Rite Journal

The mysterious Phoenicians and the ancient Mediterranean are experienced in richer detail than ever before in this well researched and intriguing narrative. Instead of seeing darkness in the years before classical Greece, we now see glimmers of light revealing a continuous parade of remarkable societies, great leaders and epic events. Drawing back the veil of secrecy surrounding the Phoenicians uncovers new glimpses of Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and people of other societies. Sanford Holst is one of the world's leading authorities on the Phoenicians, and appears in the BBC series Ancient Worlds. Elected a member of the prestigious Royal Historical Society for his work in this field, Holst has presented academic papers on the Phoenicians at universities around the world. Working with respected experts, often on-site, he has added photos, sources, and five years of additional research to his previous work. This is a walk through the idyllic ancient Mediterranean you will long remember.