GOOD MASONIC BOOKS (II)
A Short Talk Bulletin with the same subject
was published in November, 1945. Needing
something more current, M.S.A. asked Worshipful
Brother Cerza, noted Masonic scholar, to provide an
update. M.S.A. is indebted to Brother Cerza for this
effort.
One way of getting more out of your
Masonic membership is to read good Masonic
books. Unfortunately, because of part of the
Obligation, many new members assume there
can be no books dealing with Freemasonry, and
too often they are not told there are good books
available on all phases of the subject.
There are a number of Masonic libraries in the United States (a list is
available from the Masonic Service Association). The member who lives close to
one of these libraries is fortunate because not only can he get guidance on
what he should read, but most libraries will
loan some of their books to interested
members. Some of the Masonic libraries also
loan some of their books by mail, and have a
printed list of books that are recommended. A
visit to the library and a consultation with the
librarian would be helpful. Unfortunately,
there have been published too many books
identified as being "Masonic" which are not
dependable and contain much misinformation.
This Short Talk Bulletin is designed for the
Mason who is in need of guidance in the selection of the Masonic books worth reading.
Masonic authorities do not agree on what
are the "best" Masonic books. In 1938 Norman B. Hickox, of Illinois, asked sixteen
Masonic authorities to select lists of what they
consider the twelve most important Masonic
books. From their replies he compiled the result
of his survey and published a book entitled The
Twelve Treasured Tomes of ~freemasonry. The
books listed represented the combined thought
of the persons contacted, but none of them
wholly agreed with the final result stated in the
book .
The fact that a book is classified as a
"Masonic book" does not mean it is worth
reading. Many such books have been the work
of enthusiastic Masons who relied on their imaginations rather than on research.
Books dealing with the following subjects should be
selected with care: (I) The origins of
Freemasonry; (2) the Masonic membership of
great men; and (3) presenting events in history
as Masonic projects.
Under the first category
there are about twenty-five theories that have
been advanced, most of them are unfounded
and their presentation has been a waste of time.
Under the second category we find such
statements as "all the governors of the original
thirteen Colonies were Masons"; "all of
George Washington's generals were Masons";
and "most of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence were Masons." Each of these
statements is untrue and are gross exaggerations.
Under the third category we note the often repeated erroneous story that the Boston Tea
Party was planned in a Masonic lodge and was
executed by the members of the lodge.
The Twelve Treasured Tomes lists the Holy
Bible as the first book of interest to Masons.
That the Great Book has an important place in
Freemasonry is apparent to all Masons. As an
aid to locating items of Masonic interest in the
Great Book there was published in 1948 a
Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible, by
Charles C. Hunt, which has been out-of-print
for many years. The Masonic Book Club has
published an enlarged page facsimile of this
book making it easier to read.
Each reader will have different subjects in
which he will have an interest. It is recommended that as a first step he secure the current Index
of the publications of the Masonic Service
Association, secure those items which appeal to
him, and study these items. Once he has
become aware of the subjects that interest him,
his choice of books to read will be easier and he
will be ready to expand his Masonic horizon.
The following suggested Masonic books to
read are intended to be a guide for the Mason
seeking to make a daily advance in knowledge
about the Craft.
A good small book to read on the general
meaning of Freemasonry is that Masonry
Means, by William E. Hammond. For an eloquent description of the Craft, every Mason
should read The Builders, by Joseph Fort
Newton, the most widely read Masonic book of
all times. For a comprehensive coverage of
Freemasonry and how it works there are two
books which should be read together as they
were originally planned as one book: The
Newly-Made Mason and More About
Masonry, by H.L. Haywood. Two good books with general information on a variety
of subjects are Facts for Freemasons, by Harold V.B.
Voorhis, and Freemasons' Guide and Compendium, by B.E. Jones.
The history of Freemasonry is a subject of
perennial interest to Masons. The multi-volume
set written by Robert Freke Gould and the one
written by Albert G. Mackey are intended to be
used primarily as reference works. Three good
one-volume histories are Concise History of
Freemasonry, by R.F. Gould; A History of
Freemasonry, by James E. Craig and H.L. Haywood, and Pocket History of
Freemasonry, by Pick, Knight, and Smyth. Pursuit of a Thread, by Deed Vest is an
examination of world history, seeking elements
linked with Freemasonry. Freemasonry in
American History, by Allen E. Roberts, briefly
tells the history of the United States, weaving in
the Masonic events. Many Grand Lodges have
published histories of the Craft in their states;
these will be of great interest to the reading
Mason. A good comprehensive history in two
volumes is Freemasonry Through Six Centuries, by Henry W. Coil, Sr.
On the subject of Masonic symbolism, the
classic Symbolism of Freemasonry, by A . G .
Mackey, is worth reading. Other books on this
subject which have enjoyed a wide readership
are Symbolism of the Three Degrees, by Oliver
Day Street; Symbolical Masonry, by H.L. Haywood; Symbolism in Craft Masonry, by
Colin Dyer; The Craft and Its Symbols, by Allen E. Roberts and Sources of
Masonic Symbolism, by Alex Horne.
For an outline of Freemasonry throughout the world, there is Masonic World
Guide, by Kent Henderson, which is indispensable to a traveler visiting lodges
in foreign lands. On the subject of Masonic ritual, the following books will be
of interest Six Hundred Years of Craft Ritual, by Harry Carr; Commentary on the Freemasonry Ritual, by E.H.
Cartwright .
The following general monitors have
become standard: Illustrations of Masonry, by
William Preston; and Freemasons ' Monitor, by
Thomas Smith Webb. Many Grand Lodges
have printed Monitors.
On the subject of Masonic law, the classic is
Jurisprudence of Freemasonry, by A.G.
Mackey, but his discussion of the Masonic
Landmarks is controversial and has been
criticized. The lectures by Roscoe Pound with
the title, Masonic Jurisprudence, are recommended. For a proper foundation of
the subject one must not overlook the portions of Constitutions of the Free Masons, by James Anderson covering the Old Charges and the
Thirty-Nine Articles. The reader should read with caution the history part of this book.
On the subject of Masonic philosophy, the
best are the lectures by Roscoe Pound entitled
The Philosophy of Freemasonry and The
Teachings of Freemasonry, by H.L. Haywood.
Men make Freemasonry, as the biographies
of Masons are always of interest. The most
comprehensive collection is the four-volume set
10, 000 Famous Freemasons, by William R.
Denslow. Supplementing this fine work is Who
is Who in Freemasonry, by Allen E. Roberts.
Identifying authoritatively famous Masons of
the Revolutionary War period is The Masonic
Membership of the Founding Fathers, by
Ronald E. Heaton.
A good book on the relationships of the
Craft with religious groups is The Clergy and
the Craft, by Forrest E. Haggard.
Masons should be aware of the fact that
there are persons, religious groups, and
political groups that have been and are opposed
to Freemasonry. It has been the policy of the
Craft to ignore attacks by these persons and
groups, and this position has proven successful
over the years. But we should keep our
members informed about these matters for
their benefit and also so they can answer those
critics when friends question them about the
future of Freemasonry. It is recommended that
Let There Be Light: A Study in Anti-Masonry,
published by the Masonic Service Association,
be studied carefully.
A number of good books of fiction with a
Masonic background have been published. The
Man of Mount Moriah, by C.M. Boutelle, is an
old favorite. Others are: The Lion's Paw, by
Carl H. Claudy; The Sword of Solomon, by
R.S. Easter; The lodge of Friendship Village,
by E.V. George; and These Were Brethren, by
Carl H. Claudy.
Two good books of Masonic humor are
Tied to Masonic Apron Strings, and The
Lighter Side of Masonry, by S.M.L. Pollard.
There are a number of volumes that contain
valuable collections of material. The old
reliable is The Little Masonic Library, with the
current edition consisting of five volumes; The
Collected Prestonian Lectures, in two volumes
to date, contain good papers. The Freemason at
Work, by Harry Carr, contains 200 questions
sent to Quatuor Coronati Lodge over a period
of years, with answers. Harry Carr's World of
Freemasonry, consisting of a reproduction of
fifteen outstanding literary items by a great
Masonic writer. Masonic Curiosa, by H. L.
Haywood, and The Essays of H.L. Haywood,
reproduce many items of this popular Masonic
writer. The Masonic Addresses and Writings of
Roscoe Pound, collected in one volume most of
his Masonic items.
For the Mason who wants to have on hand a
handy reference work, there are two books that
are available: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, by
A.G. Mackey, updated from time to time; and
Masonic Encyclopedia, by H.W. Coil, Sr.
Most Grand Lodges publish a number of
items such as their Constitution and By-Laws,
annual Proceedings, Monitors, a Grand Lodge
Bulletin or Newsletter, etc. These items should
not be overlooked. Some Grand Lodges have
educational committees which publish material.
Too often these items are not widely announced
and are overlooked.
A free catalog of printed Masonic material
is available from each of the following: The
Masonic Service Association, 8120 Fenton
Street, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-4785;
Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., P.O.
Box 9759, Richmond, Virginia 23228; Lewis
Masonic Publishers, Terminal House, Shepperton, TW 17 8AS, England, and The Temple
Publishers 8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20910-4785.
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