SMITH, CAPTAIN GEORGE . - The Use and Abuse of Free-Masonry; A Work of the Greatest Utility to the Brethren of the Society, to Mankind in General, and to the Ladies in Particular. by Capt. George Smith,

London: Printed for the Author; And Sold by G. Kearsley, No 46, Fleet-Street. 1783. [Price Eight Shillings in Boards.]. 0. "Captain George Smith: Inspector of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich; Provincial Grand-Master for the County of Kent; and R.A.". A very good half leather binding (probably 19th Century). 8vo. 9.0" x 6.0" x 1.25". [2pp.]/pp.5-28/pp.399 . Blue calf spine and corners over marbled boards. Later brown leather title label to spine. Library label to verso of the front board: Lodge of Harmony No. 309 (Fareham, Herts). Presented by Wor. Bro. Forbes. Half-title absent. Printed title with engraved diagram (upside-down!). Clear English text throughout, just the odd brown spot or blemish from previous use. Early carefull repairs to pp.161-168. A very good copy of this scarce book. * Referenced by: ESTC T98248. ** "Captain George Smith was a Freemason of some distinction during the latter part of the 18th century. Although born in England, he entered the military service of Prussia (being connected with noble families of the kingdom). During his residency in the kingdom he was initiated in one of the German Lodges. On his return to England he was appointed Inspector of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, and published The Universal Military Dictionary in 1779, and Bibliotheca Miliaris in 1783. Captain Smith, in 1783, published a work entitled The Use and Abuse of Freemasonry: a work of the greatest utility to the Brethren of the Society, to Mankind in general, and to the Ladies in particular. The interest to the ladies consists in some twenty pages, in which he gives the "Ancient and Modern reasons why the ladies have never been accepted into the Society of Freemasons," a section the omission of which would scarcely have diminished the value of the work or the reputation of the author. The work was published without the sanction, and the Craft being wiser than their representatives in the Grand Lodge, the edition was speedily exhausted. In 1785 Captain Smith was expelled from the Society for "uttering an instrument purporting to be a certificate of the Grand Lodge recommending two distressed Brethren." - See Masonic Network.

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