Despite a long and noble ancestry stretching back to 1500 BC, Freemasonry has enjoyed mixed fortunes in recent times. Banned in some places while flourishing in others, the brotherhood has been vilified and applauded in equal measure.   In The Freemasons Michael Johnstone examines the roots of Freemasonry and its spread around the world. He describes the rites, rituals and ideals of the brotherhood, and focuses on  the influence of Freemasonry on modern notions of democracy and the rights of the individual. Finally, Johnstone outlines the role of Freemasonry in the lives of some of the most famous men in history, including Jonathan Swift, Isaac Newton, Benamin Franklin, George Washington and Winston Churchill.