This work by Mirala (U. of Helsinki, Finland) is a political and social history of Irish freemasonry in Ulster, spanning the years 1733, when the Grand Lodge of Ireland granted its first warrant for a lodge to be held within the province of Ulster, to 1813, which generally marks the end of the efforts of Ulster lodges to secede from the Grand Lodge. He examines the diverse connections of freemasonry to Irish political movements, both unionist and loyalist; discusses the social security and dispute arbitration roles of freemasonry lodges; analyzes the class and ethnic backgrounds of Masonic membership; discusses the influence of Ulster freemasonry on the development of Orangeism in the region; and explores the role of Masonic ceremonial rituals within the wider community, in addition to addressing a range of related topics. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)