Go to page content

Brought to Light

Sociology professor writes of world of Freemasons--and his own experience

Research | Books at Memorial

Secret societies are becoming increasingly controversial—thrust into public awareness by popular books, films, the Internet and a host of recent documentaries.

In academia, this exposure finds a parallel in the proliferation of research, institutes and conferences.

Yet the media depictions tend to be caricatures, a playing to pervasive stereotypes for public consumption, while the academic stresses historical and philological matters.

In Brought to Light, associate professor of sociology Dr. J. Scott Kenney moves beyond history and applies the methods and theoretical tools of contemporary sociology to study the lived world of Freemasons in today’s society.

To provide a clear portrait of the patterned experiences of contemporary Freemasons and the issues faced by “the Craft today”, Dr. Kenney draws on qualitative data from interviews with contemporary Freemasons in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, video footage shot for a feature film on contemporary Freemasonry and his own experiences in nearly 15 years as a Freemason.

Brought to Light is a highly original contribution to sociology, Masonic scholarship and the social sciences generally.

Latest News

Our planet, our health

Research and knowledge exchange addressing health impacts of warming planet

Earth stewards

Youth-led Climate Collective empowering next generation

Greener health care

Medicine unit a 'catalyst' for discontinuation of anesthetic 2,500 times more potent than carbon dioxide

Graduation day

Memorial University to confer seven honorary degrees during spring convocation ceremonies

Back on top

Memorial students repeat champs in North American finance competition

Op-ed: Ashley Balsom

Infertility, embryos and EDI: why Canada must take medically assisted reproduction seriously