The Masonic Book Club, Vol. 5: A Serious and Impartial Enquiry into the Cause of the Present Decay of Free-MasA Serious and Impartial Enquiry into the ... of Free-Masonry in the Kingdom of Ireland

This fifth volume of the Masonic Book Club presents material that is rare and not easily accessible to the average Masonic reader. Dr. D'Assigny's works are not earth-shattering. His literary effort should be read in the light of the days in which he lived. They caused only a faint ripple in a narrow field when they were published, and very promptly dropped from sight, only to be unearthed over a century later. They are curiosities, yet; but most interesting curiosities. His Serious and Impartial Enquiry engages in the usual flights of historical fantasy, after the pattern so well initiated by Dr. James Anderson a few years before. His Answer to the Pope's Bull and his Answer to the Enemies of Free-Masonry may have required more courage than most of us realize today. So let us not underestimate the effect such a strong defense of the Craft might have had upon the readers of that day. Read more