This is volume one of two. Dr. Robert B. Folger (1803-1892) was a renowned, but controversial Masonic historian and ritualist. In this photographic reproduction of his classic 1862 first edition, Folger provides not only a rare and important look at the history of the Scottish Rite, but over 400 pages of this massive book are dedicated to documents in support of his positions. The ground breaking opinions, conclusions and evident presented in this book have been praised, denounced and discussed to the present day. The work of Robert B. Folger was so significant and noteworthy that his ritual cipher books were recently published by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris in their "Committed to the Flames." This acclaimed and rare work is indispensable to a complete Scottish Rite education.