Russian Freemasonry. Symbols, Principles, and Rituals of a Secret Society in the Era of Catherine II and Alexander I

Professor A.N. Pyprin in his research traces the history of Russian Freemasonry from the establishment of the first lodges in the early 18th century to the complete prohibition of the activities of secret societies in 1829. The book, published in 1916 under the editorship of historian G.V. Vernadsky and still relevant today, collects and systematizes invaluable materials on the history of spiritual brotherhoods and orders of the Russian Empire. 

In the essays that make up this work, a tale about Hiram, the legendary builder of King Solomon's Temple, is presented, the ritual of admission to a Masonic lodge is described, the peculiarities of the statutes of freemasons, Rosicrucians, and templars are examined, as well as the evolution of the supreme authority's views on the activities of the lodges.