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

Speculative manipulators of numbers make much of the number 9. Mystics have assigned to it everything from predicting catastrophe to foretelling prosperity. But for me, the magical number 9 is Volume 9 of Heredom, recently off the press.

Heredom is, of course, the annual transactions of the Scottish Rite Research Society - the most rapidly growing Masonic research group in the world. Wonderfully edited by Dr. Brent S. Morris, 33°, G.C., well printed on acid-free paper, and hardbound for permanence, the books are a essential part of a good Masonic library. The volumes of Heredom will give pleasure and Masonic knowledge for generations to come.

It is widely conceded among Masonic scholars that the Scottish Rite Research Society is publishing the finest body of information in the Masonic world today. Yet even in this vein, Volume 9 is a special treat. In the space available, I can only give a sentence or two about the contents of each article, but those of you who are members of the Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS) already have the book in hand and are fully aware of its value. For those who are not yet members, information on how to join is at the end of this column. If you are not a SRRS member, this particular volume, as well as past volumes of Heredom, can be bought for $35.00, s/h included.

"Masonic Membership Myths Debunked" by Bro. John L. Belton, P.M.

This very useful article should by read by every Lodge member and Grand Lodge officer who is interested in the survival and future of the Fraternity. Bro. Belton destroys five popular myths about membership trends: 1. The popularity of Masonry reached an all-time peak after World War II; 2. The peak memberships of post-WW I and WW II were due to men returning from the armed forces and seeking a similar environment in which to socialize; 3. The major cause of the current loss of members is death; 4. The cause of today's smaller Lodges is the shortage of Candidates and is due to the state of the economy, a bad press for Freemasonry, etc., etc.; 5. Our problems are not the same as those (insert the name of any Lodge, District, Province, or Grand Lodge). It's axiomatic that if you want to solve a problem, the first step is to know what problem you're trying to solve. This article is a major help in that effort.

"The Egyptian Influence on 19th-Century Freemasonry" by Bro. Paul Rich, 32°, SRRS Fellow, & Mr. David Merchant

From the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., to the Scottish Rite Temples in Denver, Guthrie, and many other locations, Egyptian art and decorative motifs have played a very important role in Masonic surroundings. Bro. Rich and Mr. Merchant provide some clear suggestions as to why this was true, as well as some very good illustrations, many in color, to illuminate this article.

"The 'Jack the Ripper' Murders: An Examination of Alleged Masonic Connections" by Bro. Paul M. Bessel, 32°, K.C.C.H.

From time to time, interest in these old murders resurfaces, and, in the recent past, various authors have alleged Masonic involvement based on circumstantial evidence. Bro. Bessel lists the men (and women) who have been accused of being Jack the Ripper (it takes half a page of fairly small type just to list them). He then sets out the circumstantial evidence used to suggest Masonic involvement and shows, impartially, just how very weak such arguments are. The article is well researched and well written. Especially in light of the recent movie, From Hell, based on the Ripper murders and alleging a Masonic involvement, Masons need to read this material in order to answer questions from the uninformed.

"The Early Years of the Grand Consistory of Louisiana (1811- 1815)-A Rejoinder" by Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°

In the last issue of Heredom (vol. 8), Bro. Michael Poll, 32°, presented an article "The Early Years of the Grand Consistory of Louisiana (1811-1815)." In that article, he examined the early days of the Scottish Rite and the development of "Cerneauism," a competing version of the Scottish Rite, which lasted for most of the 1800s. Ill. de Hoyos, the Grand Historian and Grand Archivist of the Supreme Council, argues that some of the evidence is subject to a different interpretation, and he presents arguments to support his case. If you are interested in the early history of the Rite, this article makes fascinating reading.

"A Few 'Rejoinder' Comments" by Bro. Michael Poll, 32°

In this article and in a fraternal spirit of fairness, Bro. Poll responds to the criticisms of Ill. de Hoyos. The issues are far too complex to be reduced to a few sentences in a review. I urge you to read both articles. I certainly learned a lot, and I suspect you will, too.

"King Solomon & the Temple Builders: A Biblical Reading of Giorgione's Painting 'The Three Philosophers'" by Bro. Neil K. MacLennan, 32°, & Mr. Ross S. Kilpatrick

This is, quite literally, a beautiful article, heavily illustrated with color details from paintings. In short form, the question might be asked "Do the three figures in the painting represent King Hiram, King Solomon, and Hiram Abif?" You will have to decide that question, but, whichever way you lean, I think you will find this interpretive article one of the major delights of this issue of Heredom.

"Service Over Secrecy: How Lodge-Style Fraternalism Yielded to Men's Service Clubs" by Mr. Clifford Putney

"As for uniforms, ritualistic pageantry enabled clerks and accountants to exchange their drab, workday clothes for colorful gowns and curving scimitars. It enabled them to wear, within the sanctuary of the Lodge hall, outfits which on the street would likely have occasioned their arrest." I love that passage, one of many delightful bits from this article. But humor is only one of the virtues of this serious and well-written study of the changes in society and the American cultural scene, which favored the rise of service clubs as opposed to fraternities. This is another good article for study by those who are concerned with membership trends, and it makes enjoyable reading as well.

"The Spurious Rites of Memphis and Misraim" by Ill. Albert Pike, 33°, & Ill. William L. Cummings, 33°

How could I, a confirmed fan of Albert Pike, not love an article which lists Pike as co-author? It is a compilation of Pike's and Cummings's papers and remarks on the Rites mentioned, including the paper by Cummings, written in 1936, which has never been published in full until now. For an excellent history lesson, written by those who lived it, this is first rate.

"An Evaluation of Grand Masters Classes in the District of Columbia" by Bro. Paul M. Bessel, 32°, K.C.C.H.

Grand Masters Classes (classes in which Candidates receive all the Degrees of Craft Masonry in a day or day and a half) stir heavy debate and partisanship in the Fraternity. Are they the wave of the future and a reasonable adaptation to the realities of today's society, or are they a cheat and a fraud, claiming to make Masons without actually doing anything for the man at all? Are they valuable or valueless? Finally, some facts cast light on the subject. This is a fine job by Bro. Bessel and well worth an open-minded reading.

"Freemasonry as a Source of Jewish Civic Rights in Late Eighteenth-Century Vienna and Philadelphia" by Bro. R. William Weisberger, 32°

The author compares and contrasts two entities-True Harmony Lodge of Vienna and the Lodge of Perfection in Philadelphia. Both were protective of the status of their Jewish members and involved with elevating the status of Jews as full members of society. The differences in approaches and methods as well as the similarities, make for most interesting reading. For those who wonder if Masonry ever makes a difference in the world, this article is a must-read. It is well researched and well presented.

"Scottish Definitions and Transitions" by Ms. Lisa Kahler

One of the most challenging questions for Masonic historians is the vexing problem of just how and when Masonry changed from an operative Craft (that is to say an organization of men who actually worked with stone) to a speculative Craft, which worked in symbols and allegory to teach lessons in character rather than methods of construction. In this informative article, Ms. Kahler explores the various theories, showing their strengths and weaknesses, and leads the reader to some remarkably reasonable conclusions. Her notes and references are also helpful for further study on your own.

"Johann August Starck: The Templar Legend and the Clerics" by Ill. Alain Bernheim, 33°

This is a fascinating article about a most remarkable man and Mason. Bro. Starck was one of the leading intellectual lights of the 18th Century, a gifted theologian, and a tireless worker in Freemasonry. He is most identified with the Rite of Strict Observance. The material here, written in a style both clear and easy to read, takes us through the life and work of this man and the Templar associations of his time. The article easily doubled my knowledge of this interesting period of Masonic history.

"UNESCO of the Eighteenth Century: La Loge des Neuf Sœurs and Its Venerable Master, Benjamin Franklin" by Mr. Nicholas Hans

One of my favorite soapbox topics is that Masons were never intended to be stodgy old reactionaries. Through most of Masonic history we have been the rebels, shouting "What can we try that's new!" not moss-backs muttering "We can't do that, we've never done that before!" You could hardly find a better example than the French "Lodge of the Nine Sisters." There is no really equivalent organization in the world today, although, as the title of the article suggests, UNESCO comes close. The leading scientists and thinkers of the world were members of the Lodge of the Nine Sisters, and it was a center of intellectual ferment. Imagine going to your Lodge and, during a meeting, hearing the world's leading expert on cancer announce that a cure had been found (and you heard it in Lodge first), or hearing another expert mention that a long-buried city in Egypt had just been discovered, or learning about a new investment, or being the first to hear a new piece of music which was about to hit the charts. That, in the terms of its day, was a daily happening at the Lodge of the Nine Sisters. And the Lodge was dedicated not only to discovering knowledge but also to spreading it as widely as possible. Read about it here and share in the pride of our history.

Heredom is published by the Scottish Rite Research Society every year, plus there is a lively quarterly bulletin, the Plumbline. You really ought to be a part of this great organization, and 2002 dues are very low: $30 Annual Membership and $500 Life Membership (individuals only). Here's how to join. Send checks payable to Scottish Rite Research Society to: Scottish Rite Research Society, 1733 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009-3103. VISA and MasterCard are accepted by calling 202-232-3579, Ext. 136, or faxing to 202-387-1843. Finally, you can apply online.