Syllabus
Module 1: THE ANTIQUITY AND ORIGINS OF FREEMASONIC INITIATION
Initiatic Ritual in the Mystery Reliions of Classical Antiquity
Rites of Destitution and Discalceation
Evidence: Herakles, Medea, Dido, Empedecles
Origin of Stone Masonry
Practice of the Craft Among Egyptians, Persians, Hebrew, Romans
Roman Collegia and Guilds
Comacine Masons
Original English Freemasonry
No Evidence of Initiatic Ritual in Historic Masonry
Where, when, and How did Initiatic Ritual Appear in Masonry?
Module 2: KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AND ROSSLYN CHAPEL
History and Character of the Knights Templar
Alliance with French Companions and Masonic Guilds
Building of Great Fortresses and Cathedrals
Inquisition: Black Friday the 13th
Templar Diaspora: Scotland and Portugal
Continued Building and Alliance with Masonic Guilds
Rosslyn Chapel, Templars, Gypsies, and Masons
Templar Construction and Properties Across England and Scotland
"Apprentice Pillar" and Masonic Legend of Hiram Abiff
Oldest Evidence for Initiatic Ritual in Masonry found at Rosslyn Chapel
Module 3: A TOUR OF ROSSLYN CHAPEL
Rosslyn History
The Sinclair (St. Clair) Clan
Video Tour of the Rosslyn Museum
Video Tour of Rosslyn Chapel
Module 4: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECULATIVE FREEMASONRY
Development Previous to 17th Century
Catholic and Puratin Campaigns against Rosicrucian and Hermetic Sciences
Cromwell's Suppression of Public Gatherings for "Heretical" Sciences
Sir Francis Bacon, Ashmole
Masonic Guilds Induct Templar Nobles as "Non-Operative" Masons
English and Scottish Freemasonry
French Freemasonry
American Freemasonry
Masonic Higher Degrees and Ultramasonic Orders
Attacks on Freemasonry by Catholic and Fundamentalist Christian Right
The Contribution of Freemasonry to the Modern World
Freemasonry in the Context of Initiatic Mysteries
