It may be in anticipation of the release of the movie of The Da Vinci Code, or perhaps it is a reflection of the rebirth which many of us believe Freemasonry is experiencing, but for whatever reason there has been a wonderful increase in the number of books about Masonry and related topics being written and printed. Several are noted here. Special note: Dr. S. Brent Morris, 33° Grand Cross, editor of the Journal, has completed a new book about Freemasonry for the non-Mason, entitled The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry. Anticipated publication date is April 2006. Watch for it. I’ve read an electronic copy, and it is GOOD.
Christopher Hodapp, 32°, Freemasons for Dummies: Your Key to the History, Beliefs, and Rituals of Freemasonry, Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2005, softbound, 368 pages, illustrations, ISBN 10-07645-9796-5 cover price $19.99 available on the Internet from $13.59 new [$11.95 used]. (N.B. If you search on the Internet, be sure to search for *Freemasons* for Dummies, not *Freemasonry* for Dummies.)
This book is a very good quick reference guide to matters Masonic. It’s also a lot of fun to read. Brother Hodapp treats the topic with honesty and sincerity but not with a cloying reverence. He covers the Blue Lodge, the Rites, and several of the Appendant Bodies. There is a great chapter entitled “The Part of Tens” which includes “Ten Groups of Famous Masons,” “Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons, and Hoaxes,” and “Ten Cool Masonic Places,” which does a fine job of explaining where the anti-Masonic charges came from. There are discussions of the joining process, the work of Masonry, why it is still relevant today, and much more. It is a good book to loan a friend who has questions about the Fraternity. Highly recommended, especially for the new Mason.
Thomas Keightley, Secret Societies of the Middle Ages: The Assassins, the Templars, and the Secret Tribunals of Westphalia, Boston: Red Wheel, Weiser, Conari Book Publishers, 2005, softbound, 408 pages, illustrations, cover price $18.95, available on the Internet for $12.98 new [from $11.37 used].
This is a reprint of a book originally published in 1837 by Thomas Keightley (1789–1872). It is an enjoyable read on its own, but it is especially valuable because it reflects what was known of the Templars and the Tribunal of Westphalia at the time the Scottish Rite Degrees were being written, and therefore, of course, the information both Pike and the candidates brought to the process. Templar references appear from time to time in the Degrees, and the 21st Degree is set in one of the secret tribunals of Westphalia. Reading the book gives you a good background from which to gain a deeper appreciation of some of the Degrees of the Rite. I’d recommend it for anyone interested in the history of the Degrees or who acts in or directs the Degrees of the Council of Kadosh.
Walter J. Klein, 32°, KCCH, He Ain’t heavy, he’s my BROTHER ZEB, Raleigh, N.C.: The Grand Lodge AF&AM of North Carolina, 2005, hardbound, 133 pages, illustrations, ISBN 0-9771115-0-4, cover price $15.00 + $4.00 shipping per order, order from Grand Lodge of North Carolina, 919-787-2021 or rcarter@ grandlodge-nc.org.
Zebulon Baird Vance was one of the most important figures in the South during and after the Civil War. A great many books have been written about him (do a Google search on his name and you will be amazed at the number of entries). He was Governor of North Carolina in the terrible years following the war, and his private papers, long since published, are regarded as essential materials by students of the war. Yet in all those pages of print there is no reference to the fact that he was an enthusiastic and very active member of Freemasonry, even when historians are discussing themes in which Masonry obviously played a part. Brother Klein has remedied that fault in this easy-reading and informal book, which paints a lively picture of Brother Zeb. For those interested in the Civil War or in the biographies of famous Masons, this is a very good book. And it’s a good adventure story in its own right.
Michael Johnstone, The Freemasons: The Illustrated Book of an Ancient Brotherhood, New York: Gramercy Books, 2005, hardbound, large format [8.5” 12”], 144 pages, heavily illustrated with beautifully reproduced paintings, engravings, and photographs, ISBN 0-517-22666-9, available on the Internet for $12.91 (which is a remarkable bargain).
This is a “must own” if you enjoy books which are well printed and beautifully illustrated. Johnstone has created a real treat for you. He deals with the history of the Craft, tracing it through the documents which exist, and turns it into a lively story indeed. You get an overview of the book from the chapter titles: In the Beginning; Built for the Glory of God; Emergence; Around the World; Crossing the Atlantic; Rites and Rituals; Famous Freemasons; Women in Freemasonry. It does not claim to be an exhaustive history; that would be impossible in less than several volumes. But it gives a good overview with some of the best art I ever have seen.
Bobby J. Demott, Ph.D., 33°, The Rationale of Freemasonry, Knoxville: Thriftecon Publications, 2005, softbound, 238 pages, ISBN 1880258080, cost is $20.00, which includes shipping. Order by writing to Bob Demott, 1501 Equestrian Way, Knoxville, TN 37921.
M.W. Richard E. Durham, Sr., Grand Master of Masons of Tennessee, 2004, writes of this book: “In this manuscript, Brother Demott has made simple the teachings of Masonry. It is so interesting, once you start to read it, you cannot put it down. Anyone, whether they are a Mason or not, will gain a useful knowledge of Masonry and how Masonry made an impact on the forming of our great country, The United States of America.”
It really is an interesting book. Brother Demott reviews the writing of several modern Masonic scholars in explaining the meanings of the degrees and symbols of the fraternity, and presents it all in a clear and lucid style. This is another good book to give to a new Mason, or a friend who is interest in Freemasonry.
Stephen Dafoe, Everything I Needed to Know about Freemasonry, I Learned as an Apprentice, Hinton, Alberta: Templar Books, 2004, softbound, 104 pages, illustrations, ISBN 0-9731536-0-1, cost is $15.00 + $5 shipping. To order, visit the store at www.templarhistory.com.
I like this little book. For one thing, the illustrations are unusual and interesting. But more than that, it is the story of a man’s experience in the Craft at a very personal level. Worshipful Brother Dafoe reminds us of the little things we experience as Masons which add up to the rich experience of Masonry. I don’t mean to suggest the book is “cute,” or the sort of thing John Chardi once called “Aunt Jane with a bluebird in her hair” writing. It is not “gooey.” But it does remind us of the basic lessons of Masonry, and how those make a difference in our lives. It is a good way to re-center our Masonic thinking, and to remind ourselves of what is really important.
Jim Tresner, 33°, Grand Cross, From Sacrifice to Symbol, Lancaster, Va.: Anchor Communications, softbound, $18.95, to order, go to www.goanchor.com and click on “Book Store.”
I’ve been asked by several Brethren to tell them where they can order a copy of this book. It deals with the symbolical and real acts which were traditionally a part of building. Slaves, noblemen, saints, criminals, nuns, children, warriors, athletes—over the course of human history, all have been slain or buried alive when a building was erected. Human sacrifice was as necessary as the stacking of stone on stone. More necessary; for stories from Ireland to Transylvania tell of walls which would not stand until the sacrifice was performed.
Collectively, the rituals and sacrifices made at the beginning, the completion, and dedication/consecration of buildings are known as Stability Rites. They are among the oldest rituals of which we have evidence. We can trace their evolution from superstitions of blood and bone to the sophisticated Masonic cornerstone ceremonies of today. But today’s rituals contain symbolic echoes of humanity’s long struggle to rise above fear and demon-haunted nights into a balance of spirit and reason in the human psyche. It is the story of the building cornerstone and the movement from sacrifice to symbol.
