Jim Tresner, 33°, G.C.
P.O. Box 70,Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044–0070
Book Reviews Editor, The Scottish Rite Journal

It warms the cockles of my heart (not that I know what a heart cockle is) to see the number of established writers outside the Fraternity who have been taking a serious look at Freemasonry over the past few years. For decades, almost everything written by non-Masons about Masonry has been hysterical, monster-under-the-bed retellings of long-disproved conspiracy theories. Thus, it is very welcome to see such scholars as Steven C. Bullock and Margaret C. Jacob writing top-notch studies of Freemasonry. They, like the following two authors, look at the real history and accomplishments of Masonry.

Jasper Ridley, The Freemasons: A History of the World's Most Powerful Secret Society, Arcade Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1559706015, 352 pages, $27.95

This is a delight-one of those books in which you mark passages to show your friends and to quote whenever possible. The author, an English historian, takes the reader through much of the history of the Fraternity, showing how Freemasons and Freemasonry have interacted with society at various times. I don't normally quote from dust jackets in this column, but the notes on this one sum up the story pretty well: "In this much-needed reassessment, Jasper Ridley offers a substantial work of history that sifts the truth from the myth as it traces Freemasonry from its origins to the present day…. In shining a light on a society cloaked in mystery, The Freemasons provides balance, fluid writing, meticulous research, and a thoughtful perspective. But one of the pleasures of this book not to be overlooked is that it also comprises a compendium of notable Freemasons throughout the centuries, a Who's Who of prominent politicians and other leaders, writers, businessmen, thinkers, and artists."

You may find, as I did, a few things to disagree with in the book. For example, the author undervalues ritual and its enormous importance in Masonry. But such cavils are minor. It's a great book, and I think you'd enjoy it greatly.

Arthur Versluis, The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance, Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0195138872, 234 pages, $45.00

Arthur Versluis is Associate Professor of American Thought and Language at Michigan State University, and he has written a fascinating book which has received high praise among academic reviewers. It is also one of the very few I have read which provides a clear definition of esoteric. The "American Renaissance" is the term applied to the great and sudden flowering of American literature and culture in the mid-1800s. It was a remarkable time during which Thoreau, Emerson, Melville, and Hawthorne (to name a few) did their best writing. We have seen nothing like it since. In his discussion, Versluis includes the role of Freemasonry as it emerged from the esoteric traditions and contributed in major ways to American culture and life.

Because Masonry uses the word esoteric to mean two different things, a brief explanation may help here. Versluis is not using the word to mean "that which isn't written down and has to be learned mouth to ear." Rather, he is using the term in its philosophical/cultural sense, and he identifies six elements of the western esoteric tradition, which might be paraphrased as follows: 1. There is a close relationship between humanity, nature, and the divine; 2. A kind of life exists in nature; 3. Inspiration and meditation are critical tools for both self-development and working on esoteric levels; 4. We have the ability to change reality by how we perceive it; 5. There are many paths, each with its own insights, but only one goal; 6. One learns by initiation and study. (Consider the Middle Chamber Lecture or almost any of the Scottish Rite Degrees for examples.) The author shows how this esoteric awareness shaped and transformed American culture and literature. It is an interesting book, well written and carefully researched.

The two books above are from outside the Fraternity. But I'd also like to call your attention to a great magazine and CD-ROM which are very much inside the Craft.

"Ya dinna hae ta be a Scotsman to love Scotland," a Scots friend, Eric, told me many years ago. "All ya hae ta be is a man." He was right, and I admit to a great love for the scenery, culture, and people of this land, which I have experienced only second hand. In keeping with their strong Masonic tradition, the Scots publish one of the most interesting magazines in Masonry, The Ashlar, published by Circle Publications Ltd.

The magazine is issued three times a year. It has articles about Scottish Masonry, of course, but also articles from around the world. I especially enjoy the color photographs of the interiors of Lodges. There are articles on current events, Masonic traditions, biography, history, and much more. It is a fine publication and one I think you'd enjoy. The best way to order a year's subscription (three issues) is to e-mail to macash@btinternet.com. Give your name and address. The cost, given the rate of exchange at the time of this writing, is $16.75 (£11.50). If you pay by VISA or MasterCard, the credit card company will convert the payment for you. You can also fax an order to 011-44-1436- 674325. All proceeds from The Ashlar are donated to Scottish Masonic Benevolent Funds. Address: Circle Publications, 19 Upper Glenfinlas St., Helensburgh, Scotland G84 7HE

William Preston's Illustrations of Masonry. CD-ROM from Academy Electronic Publications (www.aepubs. com) PO Box 1973, Sheffield S10 1WT, United Kingdom, e-mail m.piddd@ aepubs.com. Fax 011-44-114-2668291. The Preston CD can be ordered online by secure server ($44 US), or by order form (order forms can be downloaded from the web site or requested by e-mail from sales@aepubs.com).

The Preston CD is the first in a series of CD-ROMs (called "Documents in Freemasonry") which will reproduce books, manuscripts, visual materials, and other primary sources of outstanding importance for investigating the social, historical, and cultural impact of Freemasonry. The CD-ROMs conform to the highest scholarly standards. The series is a collaboration with the Centre for Research into Freemasonry at the University of Sheffield, directed by Prof. Andrew Prescott (the Centre's web site is at http://www.shef.ac.uk/~crf). Gould is the next CD planned.

William Preston's Illustrations of Masonry (1772) is one of the most influential descriptions of Masonry ever published. It is a vital text for anyone seeking to understand the character and ideology of Masonry in the English-speaking world. The present CD-ROM includes: 1. The text of nine editions produced in England during Preston's lifetime 2. Intuitive interface for browsing and searching the editions 3. Exploration of the text's evolution across the nine editions 4. Introductory analyses and digitized images of the 1788 edition.

All the texts are completely searchable, allowing the user easily to access the mass of information in the different editions of Preston's work on subjects as varied as Masonic ritual, the use of music in Masonic ceremonies, and the early history of Masonry in America and Britain.