John Ferguson Moore papers, circa 1925 -- 1927

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John Ferguson Moore papers, circa 1925 -- 1927

This series is open for research.

0.5 linear feet

This series contains the unfinished typescript of John Ferguson Moore's The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, in which Moore examines Roman Catholic views of secret societies such as the Freemasons, including the Leo Taxil hoax. The typescript includes Parts 1 and 2 of the work as well as the title pages for Parts 3 and 4. This series also contains reports on the Roman Catholic Church that Moore compiled on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., documenting religious conditions in Europe and North America and focusing on the status of Catholicism, as well as bibliographies, lists of interview subjects, and conference notes used as part of Moore's research on the Catholic Church.

This series is arranged in original order.



Box 1 Folder 1-5 The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, Part 1, circa 1927, 5 folders

This file contains Part 1 of The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, in which Moore focuses on Roman Catholic views of secret societies, particularly the Freemasons. Part 1 comprises Chapters 1-12, pages 1-229.


Box 1 Folder 6 The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, Part 2, circa 1927, 1 folder

This file contains Part 2, pages 1-66, of The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, in which Moore examines Leo Taxil's hoax that began in 1884 with his sudden conversion to Catholicism and subsequent exposure of Freemason societies' secret satanic practices. Taxil revealed in 1897 that his revelations and conversion were fabricated with the goal of exposing anti-Masonic fanaticism within the Catholic Church.


Box 1 Folder 7 The Attitude of the Christian Church Toward Secret Societies, Parts 3 and 4 title pages, circa 1927, 1 folder


Box 1 Folder 8 Report on European Religious Conditions , circa 1927, 1 folder

This file contains a report on the Roman Catholic Church that Moore compiled, on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., documenting religious conditions in Europe and North America.


Box 1 Folder 9 Some Tentative Impressions Regarding the Roman Catholic Church , circa 1927, 1 folder

This file contains a report on the Roman Catholic Church that Moore compiled, on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., focusing on the status of Catholicism.


Box 1 Folder 10 Bibliographies, interview lists, and conference notes, circa 1925

This file contains other material compiled as part of Moore's research on the Catholic Church, including bibliographies, lists of interview subjects, and notes on conferences.