THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF FREEMASONRY ON THE MODERN WESTERN WORLD. THE CANONBURY PAPERS, VOL. 1. Edited by M.D.J. Scanlan, Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, London, 2002. Hardback, 185 pages, £17.50. ISBN 0-9543498-0-6. Available from CMRC, Canonbury Tower, Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ

For most of the last fifty years in Britain masonic research has been insular and mainly carried out by dedicated amateurs rather than academics or professional historians. It has also been written up as though Freemasonry has existed in a vacuum neither affecting nor being affected by the society in which it exists. That in itself is a reflection of the masonic milieu of the period, Freemasonry having in the period of and after the Second World War taken itself out of the community and allowed the mythology of secrecy to grow.
    The November Conferences of the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre provide a golden opportunity to bring together academics interested in Freemasonry, whether they are Freemasons or not, to spend a couple of days concentrating on a masonic theme. This volume, the first I hope of a long series, covers the second Conference ‘The social impact of Freemasonry on the modern western world’ held on 4 – 5 November 2000.
    The nine papers given at the Conference concentrated mainly on the 18th century in the British Isles, Sweden, Germany and France. Topics covered included Human Rights, John Wilkes, the Swedish Rite, Scottish Masonic processions, politics and Freemasonry in Ireland and the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799. The final three papers relate to France, giving an overview of French Freemasonry, its influence on 19th century politics and involvement in the French Resistance 1939 – 1945. The volume begins with a bonus paper, given at the first Conference in 1999, on the development of masonic ritual on which, as its title includes my name, I will forbear to comment.
    The fact that these papers have been written by academics should not put off the general reader. The papers are readable, clear statements on their themes and demonstrate that Freemasonry has never existed in a vacuum but has always been a vibrant part of society, and that masonic principles and individual Freemasons have had an impact on the development of western society. Much of the information presented will be new to a British audience and is all the more welcome for it.
    John Hamill