Freemasonry and Its Ancient Mystic Rites

Rating:
Summary: Atlantis, here we come!
Review: Good old Leadbeater! You can always count on him to liberally mix fact and fantasy until the final product is better entertainment than education. If one wishes to learn the true meaning and history of Freemasonry, there are much better books out there. We did not come from Atlantis, and we did not descend from Egyptian mystery schools.

Because of Leadbeater's influence in some esoteric organizations, it's a good idea to get this book just so you can learn more about the man behind the strangeness.

Rating:
Summary: Atlantis, here we come!
Review: Good old Leadbeater! You can always count on him to liberally mix fact and fantasy until the final product is better entertainment than education. If one wishes to learn the true meaning and history of Freemasonry, there are much better books out there. We did not come from Atlantis, and we did not descend from Egyptian mystery schools.

Because of Leadbeater's influence in some esoteric organizations, it's a good idea to get this book just so you can learn more about the man behind the strangeness.

Rating:
Summary: If one wants to know history of freemasonry
Review: I read this book long time ago; I referred to an older edition.
This book will be very good for any one whom would like to know about freemasonry in general. The reader could get a pretty good idea of what freemasonry is allabout, i.e. deferent secret societies going back to Egypt, Crete and Greece. Although if the
Reader will be interested in freemasonry and be enlighten the Masonic lodge will be the right place to start... just ask one to be one, LV., MM.

Rating:
Summary: Freemasonry and Its Ancient Mystic Rites
Review: I was quite amused by the candor of information by Leadbeater, however there still where some areas that left unanwered questions. Leadbeater seemed to ramble during his discussion of "alternate" mysteries. Yet, overall the book is very informative for someone trying to see down a hallway.

Rating:
Summary: Nonsense from the lunatic fringe
Review: Leadbeater follows in the tradition of charlatan lunatics like Saint Germain and Cagliostro when it comes to Freemasonry. Unfortunately, most of the books out there either follow the "mystical" lunatic line like this one, or the "paranoid" demented line of conspiracy theorists.
In any case, authors from both genres are the ones who end up profiting from the gullibility of those who take this sillyness seriously.

Don't waste your time or money on this book if you truly want to learn something about Freemasonry. Some serious scholars and historians are out there like Margaret C. Jacobs.

Rating:
Summary: Leadbeater's book
Review: The gentleman who states so dismissively that masons didnt come from the Ancient Mystery Schools of Egypt should note that in Oregon many tend to style themselves as a sort of Rotarian club in regalia. I hope that you do not spend your entire life with such limits placed on your understanding of things. The corporate posturing of a few does not speak for all practicing builders. If you leave the beefsteak dinner scene alone for minute and actually travel to Egypt, you'd be surprised what you find on the walls. In the meantime, readng with such a closed mind shows an alliance with the I-ness of one's self and ego. This will inevitably cut you off from any true enlightenment. None of this validates Leadbeater's admittingly eccentric ways and writings by the way. (smile)

Rating:
Summary: Freemasonry and Its Ancient Mystic Rites
Review: Within the confines of the explained secrecy of the Mystic rites of Freemasonry, Leadbeater, shares many insights although this book was written in 1925, when much less of the mysteries were being revealed. He goes into explanation of various rites in some detail with beautiful visual descriptions including color and imagry. He covers masonic groups from various countries and explains their connections. Taking us as far back as the connection to the mystic rites of the pyramids of Egypt and beyond. This book left me with a new understanding of the purpose of the masons as people pledged to bring light into the world.