Unexpected paperback

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting an old friend, Gordon Stuart, in Mississauga, Ontario. As well as being one of the most recognized and decorated Freemasons in Canada, he is also very well read in matters esoteric, and has a wonderful library. Every time I visit he has a number of exotic books waiting for me to examine. And occasionally he has a gift for me!

This visit he presented me with this little paperback. Published in Paris in 1962, it contains articles by Alice Joly and Robert Amadou, two acknowledged experts on the Lyonnaise Freemasons of the late 18th Century, among other things. This book is particularly interesting since it goes into details about one of the peculiar aspects of Lyonnais Masonry immediately prior to the French Revolution.

The end of the 18th Century saw Masons in many countries fascinated with the ‘apostolic succession’ of Freemasonry. This was the era of Chevalier Ramsay’s Discourse about the descent of Masonry from the Knights Templar; of Baron von Hund’s Rite of Strict Observance and their ‘Secret Chiefs’; of Pasqually’s Elus Cohen and his attempts to communicate with the ‘Other Side’.

In the middle of all this, we find the Masons of Lyon chasing spiritual phenomena with gusto. Firstly it was Pasqually’s magic circles and rituals and waiting for a secret sigil to be given to them from beyond. With the demise of this Order, many became involved in Mesmerism and animal magnetism. Even as interest in this fad faded, there was another one just around the corner. Following a mysterious collection of automatic communications delivered to Jean-Baptiste Willermoz from Madame de Valliere, a secret Lodge was established with his most intimate circle, to communicate with l’Agent Unconnu, or the Unknown Agent, which purported to divulge secrets from Beyond.

This book goes into detail on this fascinating period in Freemasonry in South East France. I look forward to reading it, and sharing insights here in the future.