Ronayne, Edmond

The Master's Carpet or Masonry and Baal-Worship Identical Reviewing the Similarity between Masonry, Romanism and "The Mysteries" and Comparing the Whole with the Bible [Bound with:] Ronayne’s Hand-Book of Freemasonry, with Appendix, Revised, Enlarged, Complete

Chicago: T. B. Arnold, 1904. Octavo, 406, 283, [4] pages, publisher's original silver gilt-lettered black cloth covered boards. Illustrated in black-and-white. A substantial combined volume containing two of Edmond Ronayne’s most influential anti-Masonic works: The Master’s Carpet; or, Masonry and Baal-Worship Identical and Ronayne’s Hand-Book of Freemasonry, with Appendix. A former Freemason and outspoken critic of the fraternity, Ronayne examines Masonic ritual, symbolism, lodge ceremonies, obligations, passwords, signs, grips, degrees, and secret modes of recognition, presenting them as survivals of ancient pagan mystery religions and especially of Baal worship. In The Master’s Carpet, he compares Freemasonry with Roman Catholicism, occult tradition, ancient religion, and biblical teaching, advancing a forceful Protestant argument against secret societies and ceremonial religion. The accompanying Hand-Book of Freemasonry provides a more practical exposé of Blue Lodge or Craft Masonry, including the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason degrees, as well as lodge organization, initiation practices, ritual language, and fraternal customs. Together, the two works offer an unusually detailed period source on Freemasonry, anti-Masonry, secret societies, fraternal orders, Masonic symbolism, comparative religion, Protestant polemics, occult history, and early twentieth-century American religious controversy. Some minor rubbing and wear, pages a little brittle and age toned, some slight soiling to cloth, else in very good condition. Item #443

Price: $250.00