The Magus of Freemasonry

A comprehensive look at the life of Elias Ashmole, who represents the historic missing link between operative and symbolic Freemasonry
• Explores the true role of occult and magical studies in the genesis of modern science
• Explains the full meaning of the term magus, which Ashmole exemplified
Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) was the first to record a personal account of initiation into Accepted Freemasonry. His writings help solve the debate between operative and "speculative" origins of Accepted Freemasonry, demonstrating that symbolic Freemasonry existed within the Masonic trade bodies. Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual luminaries of his time: a founding member of the Royal Society, a fellowship and later academy of natural philosophers and scientists; alchemist; astrological advisor to the king; and the creator of the world's first public museum. While Isaac Newton regarded him as an inspiration, Ashmole has been ignored by many conventional...