Knights Templar And Freemasonry: The Hidden Connection

The Freemasons are the world's most famous secret society with millions of members on every continent. They claim to be descended from the Knights Templar, absorbing secret knowledge and rituals from that medieval order of holy warriors. Tony McMahon investigates these masonic claims and uncovers a web of political intrigue, scandal, violence, and some larger-than-life characters. As the story unfolds, the mysteries of Freemasonry are revealed. The Templars were crushed in the 14th century, but did not disappear. According to masonic historians, the knights escaped to Scotland, where they regrouped in secret, behind closed doors. Local stone masons gave them sanctuary, inducting them into their clandestine rites. Over time, the knights and masons blended to form Freemasonry. In this fast-paced journey through history, we meet popes determined to eradicate the Freemasons; American presidents who donned the masonic apron; and Victorians frantically digging in Jerusalem to prove the Templar-Freemason hidden connection. In public, Freemasons play down their roots among the Templars. But it's another story in private. Read on to discover the jaw-dropping truth. AUTHOR: Tony McMahon is an author and historian who appears regularly on TV in documentary series such as Truthseekers (History) and Secrets of the Royal Palaces (C5), as well as on live news broadcasts. This is his third book on the Knights Templar for Pen & Sword. He is a former BBC news producer who lives in London and is of mixed Irish and Portuguese heritage. 30 b/w illustrations