The Magus of Freemasonry ─ The Mysterious Life of Elias Ashmole--scientist, Alchemist, And Founder of the Royal Society

Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual luminaries of his time: a founding member of the Royal Society, a fellowship and later academy of natural philosophers and scientists; an alchemist; astrological advisor to the king; and the creator of the world's first public museum. While Isaac Newton regarded him as an inspiration, Ashmole has been ignored by many conventional historians. Esotericist Churton's portrait of Ashmole offers a perfect illustration of the true Renaissance figure--the magus. As opposed to the alienated position of his post-Cartesian successors, the magus occupied a place at the heart of Renaissance spiritual, intellectual, and scientific life. Churton shows Ashmole to be part of the ferment of the birth of modern science, a missinglink between operative and symbolic Freemasonry, and a vital transmitter of esoteric thought when the laws of science were first taking hold.--From publisher description.

Tobias Churton is an Honorary Fellow of Exeter University where he is a course lecturer on Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism and teaches in England's first master's program in Western Esotericism. He studied theology at Oxford University and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics as well as several other films on Christian doctrine, mysticism, and magical folklore. He is the founding editor of Freemasonry Today magazine and author of Gnostic Philosophy. He lives in England.