Stephanie Jane reviewed On the origin of free-masonry. by Thomas Paine
A historical curiosity
3 stars
I downloaded On The Origin Of Free-Masonry by Thomas Paine when it was the ForgottenBooks free daily download as much to read something by its illustrious author as to gain any insights into the famously secretive organisation. This turned out to be fortunate as Paine doesn't actually give much away! In the thirty-page pamphlet, originally published posthumously in 1810, he briefly discusses Masonry's orientation of Lodges, the sun worship and the Druidic roots of the religious practices, and explains the probable cause of the Masonic famously fanatical secrecy. This isn't a great book to actually learn much, but as a historical curiosity I found it interesting.