Freemasonry

The article analyzes the main aspects of the historical and philosophical concept of I. A. Fessler. His views on the position of historical science in relation to other types of knowledge and forms of spiritual culture, the problematic of historical fact and truth, the concept of reliability and plausibility, the nature of knowledge, the driving forces of the historical process, the profession of a historian, the relationship between the author and the reader are considered.

The article examines the events of the Masonic history of pre-revolutionary France. The author focuses on the formation of national structures of French Freemasonry. The participation of the ruling dynasty in the process of transformation of the “English” lodges into the structures of the Grand Orient of France is noted. The efforts of Masonic leaders on the eve of the French revolution are characterized.

In Russian and European historiography D. V. Gorbachev’s article presents the first example of a critical analysis dealing with memoirs of I. A. Fessler, being a German thinker, public and religious figure, writer and freemason. The author purposes to estimate the reliability of information about Fessler’s stay in Saratov Volga region in 1810–1820th which is described in these memoirs. In connection with this aim author ascertains the subjects, which are passed by Fessler over (circumstances of his journey from St.