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The Rosslyn Hoax?

(Viewing Rosslyn Chapel from a new perspective)

by Robert L D Cooper

383 pages. Paperback - 230mm x 150mm. £7.99

52 plates. Numerous in text line drawings

ISBN: 978-0-85318-281-8

Available late June 2007

The first edition of the book: The Rosslyn Hoax? was published in 2006 as a hardback (case bound) but had sold out by early March 2007. The publisher, Lewis Masonic, decided that as this title was one of their best ever sellers a second edition in paper back (B5) was appropriate. This is quite an accolade as only a small percentage of hard back books make into the more popular paper back format.

For those visitors who are not familiar with the content of the book the details, very briefly and therefore rather inadequately, are as follows:

During the last twenty five years books have been published in the public domain, which claim that Freemasonry in Scotland is closely connected with Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar, the St. Clair family and a host of associated subjects. This hypotheses began with the enormously successful book: The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln (Jonathan Cape, 1982.) Following on from that success a huge number of books on the same theme were published. For a fairly comprehensive list of such books see the Rosslyn Templars web site particularly the page which lists these books.

The Rosslyn Hoax? 'follows' these books since 1982 and the author reveals that none of the authors of these books were Freemasons yet claim to be 'experts' on the subject. In addition to examining, in minute detail, the various claims made by the likes of Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, Keith Laidler, Tim Wallace-Murphy, Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince, Andrew Sinclair, Maurice Cotterall and assorted others (none of whom were or are Freemasons), the author examines the Masonic sources glibly quoted, but not examined, or analysed by popular authors such as those previously mentioned. These sources are, for example, the Schaw Statutes, the St. Clair Charters and the earliest Lodge records in the world. The author provides many as appendices. Exactly how these popular authors can discuss, in great detail, these documents without ever having examined them is something that Cooper takes issue with.

The scope of this book is enormous. That is not surprising given that the author attempts to examine the complete range of writing by popular author on these, his specialist subjects.

The chapters are:

Chapter 1  Introduction

Chapter 2  The 18th Century and earlier

Chapter 3  The 19th Century

Chapter 4  The St Clair family

Chapter 5  A Description of Rosslyn Chapel

Chapter 6  Rosslyn Chapel

Chapter 7  The Kirkwall Scroll

Chapter 8  Other 'Evidence'

Chapter 9  Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix 1   First Schaw Statute (1598)

Appendix 2   Second Schaw Statute (1599)

Appendix 3   Schaw Tomb Translation

Appendix 4   Charter Granted by the Masons of Scotland to William St. Clair of Roslin in 1601

Appendix 5   Charter Granted by the Masons of Scotland to William St. Clair of Roslin in 1628

Appendix 6   Deed of Resignation of William St. Clair of Rossline, 1736

Appendix 7   Charter of Lodge Kirkwall Kilwinning, granted 1st December 1740

Appendix 8   Ramsay's Oration 1737

Appendix 9   A Funeral Lodge, Edinburgh, 14th February 1778, In honour of William St. Clair of Roslin

Appendix 10 Extract of the Lay of the Last Minstrel

Appendix 11 The Knights Templars of Scotland by Chevalier James Burnes (1837)

Index

This book is certain to become a standard work of reference on subjects such as Freemasonry (especially Scottish Freemasonry), the Knights Templar, the St. Clair family, the Kirkwall Scroll (because of the minute and comprehensive analysis) the early documents relating to Scottish Freemasonry and, of course, Rosslyn Chapel.

At 383 pages this is pretty hefty for a paperback. However, this is well worth purchasing not least because a number of errors have been corrected and a much improved index has been added.

We are told that the Grand Lodge of Scotland online shop has pre-publication copies available so if you want it now that is the only place to get it - with the added advantage that all copies purchased from the Grand Lodge of Scotland will be signed by the author.

The paperback book can be purchased from Amazon see the link below:

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