Masonic Book Club, Vol. 28A: Freemasonry and Democracy: Its Evolution in North America

The following two stories tracing the development of democracy in both the United States and Canada, and the role that Freemasonry played in this development, have long needed to be told. Allen E. Roberts and Wallace E. McLeod, two of Freemasonry's most prolific and outstanding writers, have contributed their talents to tell the story.

Those readers in the United States have heard about the Constitutional Convention for many years, and have been taught in schools about how democracy came about in this country, but rarely, if ever, has the role Freemasonry played been mentioned. The same is true in Canada.

Also, another fact that has rarely been brought to light is that the American Revolution really helped develop two countries, the United States and Canada. Those who wished to form a Republic free from "Royal Rule" either fought or supported independence from England and remained in this country at the end of the war.

There were, however, many other Americans termed "Loyalists" who wished to remain loyal to the King of England and to remain under Royal Rule. Many of these people emigrated to Canada and there a substantial number of these emigrants became leaders in that country.

It is very important to recognize that one of the outstanding features of the American Revolution was that people who did not agree with the new way of governing were given a very real option.