title: Secret Societies: Their Influence and Power from Antiquity to the Present Day
author:  Michael Howard 
description: With the multitude of books and websites published on secret societies, it is refreshing to find one so balanced and well documented. Michael Howards chronology of the influence of the occult tradition and secret societies on world history is alone worth the price of the book. Highly recommended. (<i>Robert R. Hieronimus, Ph.D., author of Founding Fathers, Secret Societies: Freemasons, Illuminati, R</i>)<br /><br />" . . . a most valuable contribution to contemporary understanding of the role played by many covert forms of spiritual and political activity." (<i>Reg Little, New Dawn</i>)<br /><br />"This book took the 'theory' out of 'conspiracy theory'. . . . a well-documented account of events that date to Egyptian times." (<i>Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide magazine, Oct-Dec 2009</i>)
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  SECRET SOCIETIES
  
  A Discussion of Their Character and Claims
  
  by
  
  REV. DAVID MACDILL, JONATHAN BLANCHARD, D. D., AND EDWARD BEECHER, D. D.
  
  'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
  them.' --EPH. v: 11.
  
  CONTENTS.
  
  I. A TREATISE BY REV. D. MACDILL.
  
  CHAPTER I. THEIR ANTIQUITY.  
  
  
  CHAPTER II. THEIR SECRECY.  
  
  
  CHAPTER III. OATHS AND PROMISES.  
  
  
  CHAPTER IV. PROFANENESS.  
  
  
  CHAPTER V. THEIR EXCLUSIVENESS.  
  
  
  CHAPTER VI. FALSE CLAIMS.
  
  II. SHALL CHRISTIANS JOIN SECRET SOCIETIES?  
  
  
  BY JONATHAN BLANCHARD, D. D.
  
  III. REPORT TO CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS.  
  
  
  BY EDWARD BEECHER, D. D.
  
  CHAPTER I.
  
  THEIR ANTIQUITY.
  
  1\. Secret associations are of very ancient origin. They existed among the
  ancient Egyptians, Hindoos, Grecians, Romans, and probably among nearly all
  the pagan nations of antiquity. This fact, however is neither proof of their
  utility nor of their harmlessness. Slavery, despotism, cruelty, drunken
  falsehood, 