Heather K. Calloway
Dir. of Internships & Coord. of Library/Museum Services, Supreme Council, 33°

These basic reference books, found in the House of the Temple Library, can be the core of your personal Masonic library.

True Masonic bibliophiles, like the Knights of the Round Table, are ever-searching for the “Holy Grail,” that one great addition to crown their personal library. For some it may be a rare handwritten manuscript, a unique ritual, or a first edition of Jeremy Cross’ The True Masonic Chart or Hieroglyphic Monitor (1819), the first illustrated American monitor. If you’re like most Masons, however, you just want to know what book to read when there isn’t anything good on TV or when the wife’s at the mall.

While rare Masonic books may be an asset to your personal library, a collection of reference works is much more practical. Many readers predictably start with books on Masonic history. Caveat emptor—let the buyer beware! This might not be the place for you. One can only read so much about operative and speculative Masons, old charges and constitutions, and the crusading knights of yore before their charm fades. Are you interested in philosophy and symbolism? If so, start there. You might then wander into studies on ritual and degree work, which may lead you down the by-paths of Masonic exposés, controversies, and even (gasp) anti-Masonic literature. If you’re an attorney (or aspire to become Grand Master!), don’t overlook books on Masonic Jurisprudence, a topic I find about as interesting as reading the ingredients on a bottle of shampoo. There are so many subjects, that I can only mention a few of the “must haves” for your reference shelf, all of which have been reviewed from the House of the Temple Library. You can begin reading where you choose, but the important thing is to begin.

Encyclopedias

Perhaps the single most valuable item is a good Masonic encyclopedia; some are better than others. Although it is inexpensive and has several good articles, I wouldn’t recommend A. E. Waite’s garrulous A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (1921). Its material is so disorganized it is nearly impossible even for scholars to use. The easiest to read is Albert G. Mackey’s celebrated An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences (1874). Known simply as “Mackey’s Encyclopedia,” it is the most popular and successful work in this genre, though not the most accurate. The work collates almost every conceivable topic directly or indirectly related to Masonry and in so doing, addresses many with only a peripheral connection. It began as a small dictionary, Lexicon of Freemasonry (1845), and grew by leaps and bounds. When quoting Mackey, make sure you’re actually citing his words (from the original one volume edition), because the expanded two- and three-volume sets include much material by revisers Charles T. McClenachan and Robert I. Clegg.

The most modern Masonic encyclopedia is Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia (1961). A second edition appeared in 1996 but it failed to meet the standard of the first edition. Great claims have been made respecting the accuracy of this book, and it is indeed probably the most accurate English-language Masonic encyclopedia in print, but it is not error free. For example, Coil says that the Masonic symbol of the letter G within the square and compasses was originally a jeweler’s design and dates from the 1850s. However, Masonic historian Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, has noted that the symbol appears in the Past Masters Degree as published by William Finch about 1800, and republished by William Carlile in his Manual of Freemasonry (1825). De Hoyos has noted that about 100 such errors and omissions were not corrected in the 1996 revision.

Another type of encyclopedia is William R. Denslow’s four-volume set, 10,000 Famous Freemasons (1957). It provides brief biographical information and Masonic affiliations for famous personalities. Sadly, it is incomplete and has never been updated, but the retrospective information is invaluable.

Ritual and Ceremonial

The most widely owned and cherished type of book a Freemason possesses is a Masonic monitor. New Master Masons are traditionally given their own copy, because it aids in the memorization of degree work. The first American version was Thomas Smith Webb’s The Free-Mason’s Monitor; or, Illustrations of Masonry in two parts (1797). Although this monitor set the standard, most of the fifty-one American Grand Lodges have subsequently issued their own versions, and collecting them can be a great hobby.

If you are interested in Masonic rituals in general, the annual volumes of Collectanea are the best source. This is privately printed each year by the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America, which meets during Masonic Week in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this group is to “preserve the history and rituals of defunct and inactive Masonic orders.” Get your hands on these little volumes, and you’ll be able to read the rituals of the rites of Memphis, Misraim, the Free and Accepted Architects, Martinism, and more.

The modern Voltaire, that notorious philosopher Rex R. Hutchens, has written some of the best known Masonic books to date. I recommend his A Bridge to Light (1995) covering the Scottish Rite degrees. Most Masons can’t fathom Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma (1871), so Bridge to Light was offered as an easy-reading introduction. Arturo de Hoyos has recently completed Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of Freemasonry: Albert Pike’s Esoterika (2005), a first-ever printing of a little-known Albert Pike manuscript.

Historical and Biographical

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, now in its 117th publication year, is one of the most important sources of Masonic history in English. Its weakness for Americans, however, is that it is Anglo-centric. Margaret C. Jacob’s scholarly Living the Enlightenment: Freemasonry and Politics in Eighteenth Century Europe (1992) and her The Radical Enlightenment: Pantheists, Freemasons and Republicans (1981) cover early European Freemasonry. For early American Masonic history, see Steven C. Bullock’s Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840 (1996). It underscores the importance of the Fraternity in the early republic. Ronald A. Heaton’s Masonic Membership of the Founding Fathers (1965) was most recently updated in 1997 and provides interesting facts about the founding fathers.

There are countless accounts written on the appendant bodies of Freemasonry. Earlier histories of the Scottish Rite include Charles Lobinger’s The Supreme Council, 33° (1931) which covers the Southern Jurisdiction, while History of the Supreme Council, 33° (1938) was compiled by Samuel Harrison Baynard, Jr. and covers the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. William L. Fox’s labor-intensive Lodge of the Double-headed Eagle (1997) covers more recent history of the Scottish Rite, S.J. For York Rite history, you must be careful to check your sources, or you’ll find yourself in the midst of Dan Brown-like fiction. For solid, detailed histories, see Turnbull and Denslow’s three-volume History of Royal Arch Masonry (1956) and Hinman, Denslow, and Hunt’s History of the Cryptic Rite (1931). The history and lore of the Knights Templar has influenced and encouraged numerous legends. Peter Partner’s The Knights Templar and Their Myth (1990) covers early history, while J. M. Upton-Ward’s The Rule of the Templars (1997) lists the regulations of the monastic and military order. Sadly, an authentic history of the Masonic Knights Templar does not yet exist, and books by the likes of Knight and Lomas, and Baigent, Leigh, and Lincoln, parade as Masonic history, but are actually fictional entertainment.

Sometimes young Freemasons wonder whether all the “famous Freemasons” are really dead. Not so! We can look forward to biographies of Bob Dole, Michael Richards, and others. While a great deal of time is spent honoring Brethren past, some of the “honorable deceased” (yes, I mean “dead guys”) really do warrant attention with captivating life stories. Biographies about Washington, Mozart, and Truman can be quite fascinating. Want a suggestion? You might wish to check out Brother Truman (1985) by Allen E. Roberts.

Exposés and Anti-Masonry

Did you know that America was thrown into political and social upheaval because of a Masonic exposé? It’s true! It might surprise the new Mason to discover that his beloved rituals have been written down countless times and sold for profit. But in fact, Masonic controversy and excitement swept America from 1826–42 during the so-called “Morgan affair.” If you would like to read the book that began it all, find a copy of William Morgan’s infamous exposé, Illustrations of Masonry by One of the Fraternity (1826). Reprints are readily available.

The best-selling English-language book on the anti-Masonic problem is Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry? (2004) by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris. De Hoyos and Morris are known for their humorous approach (I suggest you read Leo Taxil’s hoax for a chuckle) on a quite serious topic (the long-standing attack on Freemasonry). Another anti-Masonic book you might peruse is The Antimasonic Party in the United States 1826–1843 (1983) by William Preston Vaughn.

Illustrated Tomes

If you like Masonic ephemera or collectibles, the illustrated books authored by those affiliated with Masonic museums are excellent resources. The National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts, has several publications with colorful works on Masonic memorabilia. Bespangled, Painted and Embroidered: Decorated Masonic Aprons in America 1790-1850 (1980) and Fraternally Yours (1986) by Barbara Franco showcase early textiles, regalia, and the symbols depicted on them. Material Culture of the American Freemasons (1994) by John D. Hamilton highlights Masonic artifacts. The current curator of the museum’s fraternal collections is Mark A. Tabbert, who just published American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities (2005). It is extensively illustrated with images from Masonic libraries and museums from around the world and includes a history on the development, expansion, and current state of Masonry in America.

Reference and Beyond

There are other Masonic books you might not think of that are superb as a reference. At the top of the list is the yearly publication List of Lodges, Masonic (2005). Don’t let this little publication’s size deceive you. It may look small, but it is a comprehensive directory of Masonic grand and constituent lodges worldwide. You may not sit down and read this, but if you ask your Grand Secretary what Masonic book is most useful to him, he’ll likely reply, “the Pantagraph.” (This is the publisher’s name, which is slang for the book.)

Entire bibliographies could be written on suggested resources for a little Masonic library. I’ve only touched on a few items you might enjoy. It actually depends on your preference of subject matter. There are excellent bygone periodicals such as The Builder (1915–30). Perhaps you might enjoy one of my dad’s favorite books, The Lion’s Paw (1944) by Carl H. Claudy; or some of Claudy’s other narrative accounts, Old Tiler Talks (1925), Old Past Master (1924), or Masonic Harvest (1948), which all use Masonic teachings in creative ways. Personal accounts of joining the Craft include the frequently recommended A Pilgrim’s Path (1993) by John J. Robinson.

The Library of the Supreme Council, 33°, at the House of the Temple is a national treasure, but it may be too far away for you to visit. However, your local Masonic library is waiting for you to get out of your recliner and open its door. Masonic librarians are happy to assist in your research. Despite stereotypical notions about librarians, we are not all sweater-and- glasses-wearing-bookworms who tell you, “Be quiet.” Rather, we’re here to make your reading experience a pleasure. Do a librarian a favor; the more books you use, the less we have to dust!

By the way, there are less than twenty known copies of the 119 originally printed The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734) by Benjamin Franklin. This was the first printed Masonic book in America and was also the first song book in America. Are there elusive copies waiting to be discovered? This is my Holy Grail! It might be in an attic, a basement, a garage, or even a secret vault, but there is no doubt that there is another one out there. Find it! And when you do, just remember that my birthday is on January 10. Happy reading!

Heather K. Calloway, a native of Albuquerque, is Coordinator of Library and Museum Services and Director of Internships at the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J. She received her B.A. in Religious Studies and Political Science in 1997 from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Theological Studies in 2001 from The Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado, and a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Maryland in 2005. She has been a guest lecturer at various Masonic bodies, including the Allied Masonic Degrees and the New Mexico Lodge of Research.