Secret Societies Their Influence and Power from Antiquity to the Present
by
Michael Howard © 2008 Destiny Books ISBN 978-1594477193-4 262 pages
$16.96 (U.S.)
This is a re-issue of a 1989 book (The Occult Conspiracy Secret Societies
-
Their Influence and Power in World History). It covers many aspects of
secret societies, with a special emphasis on Freemasonry and the
Rosicrucian
movement. There isn't a whole lot of new information contained in this
book. It is mostly a compilation of information which has been scattered
in
various other books. Occult conspiracies are nothing new, and distrust of
Masons and Rosicrucians goes back at least a couple of hundred years.
There is nothing new or startling in the early part of this work, tying
together, as it does, the Masons, the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucians,
and
the Priory of Sion, (all of which are obligatory topics in such a work)
not
to mention Sufi, assassins, and various Christian heresies. It does,
however, bring this all together in an easily accessible place and format.
His treatment of these groups is fairly basic and simplistic, as is to be
expected in any book not devoted exclusively to any one of these groups,
each of which has had dozens (if not hundreds) of books written about
them.
The occult orders and secret societies are seen as the motivating factors
behind the American, French and Russian (Communist) revolutions, the
outbreak of the First World War, and Nazism. These were all motivated ,
it
seems, by a desire to free humanity from oppression by Christianity and
nobility, and to return us to a Golden Age of paganistic beliefs. While
these goals may be admirable, the execution of the actual plans appears to
have suffered in the translation to action.
While attempting to discuss the actual history of occult orders, there is
the problem caused by a simple lack of verifiable facts. Almost every
order
looked at claims an unbroken ancestry of centuries (if not millennia) and
past member****p by some of the greatest thinkers, politicians, and
religious
leaders of by-gone ages. Unfortunately it universally rests on a
foundation
of "tradition" and contact with "Masters" whose presence is not amenable
to
proof.
His understanding of the reasons behind the suppression of the Knights
Templar, in particular, seems overly simplified. Numerous works have
explored the political and financial motives underpinning that
suppression,
but he focuses heavily on the theological angle.
Still, as an introductory (although by no means simple) work on the
subject
of secret societies, this book is invaluable. It is not a definitive
work,
but it is inclusive enough to whet the appetite for further explorations.
If you have the previous edition, there is no need to add this book to
your
collection. If, on the other hand, you are just getting interested in the
topic of secret societies and alternate interpretations of history, this
book is a good starting point.
The only new information contained in this edition is in the3 final
chapter,
which concentrates on events since the publication of the first edition.
It
covers the death of Princess Diana, terrorism, and the threats presented
by
Iran and North Korea.
As with most of the books from this publisher, it is well-written,
contains
some controversial (although hardly outlandish) theories, and is largely
free from those editing glitches which seem to be swelling within the
publi****ng world. It is well worth your investment of time and money.
You
won't be disappointed by your purchase of this book.
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