Masons. Popular history: organization, appearance, activity. Karpachev S.P.

Freemasonry is surrounded by a halo of secrets. According to one legends, the Masons are originating from the time of the biblical patriarchs or pagan mysteries, according to others - from the time of Solomon of the Temple or the Crusades. Most researchers believe that the roots of the famous movement were medieval construction guilds of masons and the search for European intellectuals.

What is Freemasonry? When the first orders were created and where were their lodges located? Why did the Masons called their activities "royal art"? At what period of world history, free mason became part of Russian cultural life, and most importantly - who were their famous representatives?

, Sergei Karpachev tries to objectively and impartially understand the essence of this historical phenomenon.