Secret Castle Lodge: Masonic Rituals of the 18th Century Habsburg Empire

Central Europe, mid 18th century: Absolutist imperial regimes deny many freedoms to citizens. Retreat into the private sphere is the only way for people to develop their own mindsets.
The privileged are able to carve out spaces that evade the intellectual violence of princes and kings. Among the newly established societies are the Freemasons. Apart from their regular lodges, many "irregular" or private lodges are formed. At times, these lodges deviate from the rules of the grand lodges and their orders of Masonic rites. What rites and rituals, then, do such private lodges follow-and how are they kept secret?
Through the example of a private lodge in the Austrian Habsburg empire, The Secret Castle Lodge introduces Masonic practices, demonstrates how to decipher Masonic symbols and architecture, and provides thrilling insights into the lives of Freemasons in the 18th century.