Working The Rough Stone: Freemasonry And Society In Eighteenth-century Russia

Utilizing archival sources previously unavailable, this first study of eighteenth-century Russian Freemasonry to appear in English examines the Masonic lodges and their meaning for the men who were drawn to them. Among the earliest organizations in Russia to open membership beyond social class, the lodges offered the opportunity for social interaction, personal discipline, and a free exchange of ideas. Teaching new standards of civility and politeness, they helped to prepare the way for the birth of a civil society in Russia.

For Smith, Freemasonry is a prism through which to view changes in Russian society. Those who are interested in Russia, the Enlightenment in Europe, and the history of Freemasonry will find Working the Rough Stone rich with insight.