Book excerpt: This encyclopedic guide offers a comprehensive overview of the world of secret societies, from the most well-known Masonic lodges to more obscure mystical orders and fraternal organizations. Drawing on extensive archival research and firsthand accounts, Preuss unveils the history and inner workings of these secretive groups, shedding light on the many social, political, and religious movements that have given rise to them over the centuries. An essential reference work for anyone interested in the hidden history of human societies. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.