Its cover is purple and black and gold. It contains some great photographs, antique illustrations, and drawings, very useful information about the ceremonies of the Scottish Rite, and it's free as the air to members of the Scottish Rite Research Society.
The book is Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite, and the cover proclaims the author as our Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°. We can all be proud that he has produced such a fine book, for which there was great need. In 1981, the Supreme Council published Practice and Procedure for the Scottish Rite, a useful book giving instructions for many of the ceremonies of the Rite (opening and closing Lodges, etc.). Over the last two decades, however, practices have changed, and the book has long been out of print. There was need for a new, enhanced, and expanded edition.

Forms and Traditions is much more than an update—it is a reconception of the information and a presentation which is as beautiful as it is useful. It begins with general information about Scottish Rite meetings (and there is much of interest here). Then, in Chapter Two, you will find a great deal of helpful information about the presentation of the Degrees. Chapters Three through Six deal with the four Bodies of the Scottish Rite, with opening, closing, balloting, and other information. Chapter Seven provides excellent information about the Feast of Tishri and how to hold one properly. This chapter alone is worth the book. And Chapter Eight, dealing with the celebrations of the Chapter of Rose Croix, is simply a beautiful and wonderful work. Everything you need to know is here. It includes the complete new "Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal" which is to replace the traditional Extinguishing of the Lights (Maundy Thursday) and Relighting of the Lights (Easter Sunday) ceremonies. By being presented on or near the Vernal Equinox, this new ceremony avoids any conflict with the religious observances of Christian Brethren.

The remaining chapters deal with the presentation of the 14th Degree ring, Installation of Officers, the establishment of a Court of Honour, ceremonies for dedicating a Scottish Rite building, and even a ceremony for burning a mortgage. Finally, the book concludes with the Scottish Rite Funeral Ceremonies. The serious Scottish Rite student will find much good information here. But there is another benefit as well. Brothers John W. Boettjer, 33°, G.C., Managing Editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, and Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian of the Supreme Council, edited the book, and the personnel of the Journal office did a masterful job of desktop publishing the final product. The result is a book which reads easily and has many wonderful illustrations. The book is a pleasure to hold and to look at. I especially enjoy the antique illustrations of Brethren wearing the regalia of the Degrees, and there are some classic photographs of Albert Pike. Also, don't overlook the photographs of Scottish Rite Temples. We have a heritage worth protecting. Thanks to Grand Commander Kleinknecht, on behalf of all the Scottish Rite Masons, for creating this beautiful book. If you are a dues-current member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, the book is already in your hands. If you are not—well, take out a membership today. You'll get this book free of charge, not to mention the other membership benefits. I promise you'll like it.

If you wish only to buy the book or to buy extra copies, beyond the one you received as a SRRS member, send a check for $10.00 payable to The Supreme Council to: The Supreme Council, 1733 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009–3103. Using MasterCard or VISA (with expiration date), you may fax your order to 202–387–1843, call 202–232–3579, ext. 136, or visit the Supreme Council's online store.

Jim Tresner is Director of the Masonic Leadership Institute and Editor of The Oklahoma Mason. A frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal and its book review editor, Illustrious Brother Tresner is also a volunteer writer for The Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason and a video script consultant for the National Masonic Renewal Committee. He is the Director of the Thirty-third Degree Conferral Team and Director of Work at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as well as a life member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, author of the popular anecdotal biography Albert Pike, The Man Beyond the Monument, and a member of the steering committee of the Masonic Information Center. Ill. Tresner was awarded the Grand Cross, the Scottish Rite's highest honor, during the Supreme Council's October 1997 Biennial Session.