Darkness Visible. A Revelation & Interpretation of Freemasonry.
London: Augustine Press, 1954. Seventh Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 232pp. Original red cloth with gilt titling and rules to spine, b&w frontis & illustrations. The author, William Walton Thomson Hannah (1912 –1966), was an Anglican clergyman who in later life converted to Roman Catholicism. "Darkness Visible", in which Hannah examined the extent to which the overlap of Freemasonry and Christianity is morally and theologically justified (in other words, to inquire whether Freemasonry is compatible with the Christian church) was immensely influential amongst Christians. Whilst often dubbed "anti-Masonic" the work was not really so: he allowed that many Masons had impeccable reputations, and praised Masonry for its charitable works. However, he ventured that a number of Masonic ceremonies - which he details - and the religious aspects of Freemasonry made it fundamentally incompatible with the Christian church. Endpapers and edges of text-block lightly toned, otherwise a tight, clean near-Fine copy in VG+ dust jacket (one small chip and a little chafing to the edges, back panel of the dust jacket a little darkened, price-clipped. Now protected by removable mylar sleeve). Item #71176
Price: $75.00