1909. Modern Freemasonry evolved from secret societies and within this book the author attempts to pick out the truth from the fantasy among various writers who had written on the topic of secret societies. He hopes he has succeeded in this volume. A sampling of the topics he includes are: Knights Templar, Roman builders, Eleusinians, Pythagoreans, Vehmegerichte, Essenes, Gregorians, Gormogons, Orange Society, and many others.