Articles
Freemasonry has long been a piece of the fabric of society. Its influence was at its peak during the Enlightenment period of the eighteenth century. Those living during this period were affected by the principles of Freemasonry, whether they belonged to the society or not. Few organizations have had such an influence over the span of three centuries.
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This article examines the historiographical arc of Freemasonry, from the Enlightenment period to the present day. In the years since the Enlightenment, views on such "secret societies" have shifted and, in some cases, members of these societies have had to go underground due to increased scrutiny. This arc is quite complex and it offers new insight into a society that has long been misunderstood.
Once again the topic of Freemasonry is the subject of this analysis, though it is discussed in a different context: Revolution. The American Revolution (1775-1783), and the French Revolution (1789-1799), were both led by men of the Enlightenment period, and as a result, the principles of Freemasonry were heavily prevalent.
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This article examines how the principles of Freemasonry influenced the Revolutions of the eighteenth century. This influence has certainly been overstated by certain scholars and minimized by others. Either way, Freemasonry's influence is undeniable in regard to the Revolutions, and the principles it has espoused since its inception are the leading cause of that.
Washington Irving's, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, has long been seen as fiction. A tale of a vengeful headless ghost with an affinity for chopping off heads may seem far-fetched to those less inclined to believe tales of a supernatural flavor. Despite this supernatural aspect, Irving's tale does contain elements of fact.
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This article examines the facts surrounding a real Hessian soldier who lost his head during a New York battle, in the early years of the American Revolutionary War. These facts give Irving's fictional tale an added layer of excitement and horror for those who believe in the supernatural, as the events could be more fact than fiction.