MASONIC ENCYCLOPEDIAS: THE SOURCE OF MASONIC KNOWLEDGE
Accurate information about Freemasonry is absolutely essential to anyone
seriously interested in the subject Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia is one of the
best sources of information available to anyone doing research on Masonic
topics. The MSA thanks Allen E. Roberts, a well-known Masonic author, for
preparing this Short Talk on the history of Masonic encyclopedias and the
tremendous effort required in their preparation.
We at MSA strongly support the project of revising Coil 's Masonic
Encyclopedia and urge all Freemasons to encourage and provide input to Allen
Roberts.
Suggestions for change may be sent to Allen E. Roberts,
PO Pox 70, Highland Springs, VA 23075; FAX 804/328-2386. --Editor
The Masonic Service Association recognized the need for a current Masonic
encyclopedia in 1925. Frederick W. Hamilton, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts, was engaged as the Editor-in-chief for the project. But the
job was never completed.
It didn't take long for all concerned to realize compiling an encyclopedia
isn't an every day task. The vast amount of knowledge required about an
uncountable number of topics is stupendous. It takes a special breed of writer,
historian and, literally, slave to bring such a project to completion.
This job is even more difficult where Freemasonry is concerned. The Craft's
history goes back to antiquity. There are millions of facts, legends and myths
floating around. Thousands of books and an uncountable number of articles have
been written on or about Freemasonry. Most can be charitably termed imaginative.
An encyclopedia is no place for fiction, fabrications, fanciful prose, poetry
and unsubstantiated "facts."
This is what far too many of the histories, articles, speeches and early
reference books of the Craft contained.
Then came encyclopedias, or what purported to be encyclopedias.
About 1870 Robert Macoy (1816-1895) published A General History, Cyclopedia,
and Dictionary of Freemasonry. It served its purpose for a time and went through
several editions.
The history of the longest active and best known American Masonic
encyclopedia is indeed interesting. Albert G. Mackey (1807-1881) and Moss & Co.
held the first copyrights of 1873 and 1878. Subsequent copyrights were held by
L.H. Everts & Co. (1884-1906); The Masonic History Company (1909-1946); Macoy
Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc., bought the latter company and with it its
copyrights. Macoy continued to reprint Mackey's revised work.
In 1929 a "New Edition--revised and Enlarged" of Mackey's work received a
copyright. The revising and enlarging was done by Robert I. Clegg, a
professional reviser of several works of history. His able helpers were William
J. Hughan and Edward L. Hawkins, both members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No.
2076, London, England.
The work was again "Revised and Enlarged" (for the last time) and a new
copyright obtained in 1946. The reviser was Harry Leroy Haywood.
Mackey, in his original preface, said he had found "the character of the
Institution was elevated in every one's opinion just in proportion to the amount
of knowledge that he had acquired of its symbolism, philosophy, and history."
Books were expensive so he wanted to produce one book that would serve the
purpose of many. Consequently Mackey furnished the Masonic world with an
encyclopedia. And he made it clear that he had written every word himself.
Silas Shepherd said Mackey had succeeded: "If a Mason would have one book on
Masonry, this would be the most useful one to choose." Other reviewers and
critics agreed. But as the years went by the compliments decreased. Clegg's
revisions eased the criticism for a time, but again objections surfaced. The
next revision didn't fare well. Critics universally condemned it. Noted one
critic: "The less said about Volume III...the better."
E.L. Hawkins' A Concise Cyclopedia of Freemasonry was published in London,
England, in 1908. Lewis B. Blakewood liked it, but he and others felt the
subject matter was too limited.
Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942) published in London what is now called the
New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. He was one of the leading occultists of his
day, and this came through in his work. The Masonic critics were unanimous in
condemning it. Today it can be purchased on the remainder market at an absurdly
high price.
The Freemasons' Pocket Reference Book by Fred L. Pick and G. Norman Knight
isn't an encyclopedia, but it's close. It was first published in 1953. Revisions
were made with each edition. In 1966 Pick died and Frederick Smyth was called on
to take his place. This little book is a valuable addition to the American
Mason's library as well as it is for our English Brethren.
Robert Freke Gould's mammoth The History of Freemasonry is an indispensable
companion for any encyclopedia. It expands on the many facets of the Craft that
an encyclopedia, of necessity, can merely touch upon. It was published in three
volumes between 1882 and 1887. The last revision was made by Herbert Poole and
contained four volumes.
Also not an encyclopedia, but certainly mandatory for the Masonic writer,
author, historian and researcher is 10,000 Famous Freemasons. This four volume
publication was the creation of William R. Denslow and published originally in
the late 1950s and early 60s by the Missouri Lodge of Research. It is now
published by Macoy. Denslow's work, as always, has saved many hours in writing
this story. Sad to say, many writers quote Denslow verbatim and never mention
within their text what they have done. Denslow's work ends in 1961 and
desperately needs to be updated.
In the late 1940s Vee Hansen, the new owner of Macoy Publishing & Masonic
Supply Co., wanted to publish an excellent Masonic encyclopedia. The author for
such a project was all-important, so she turned to Henry Wilson Coil, a
California Freemason and lawyer. He agreed to use his vast knowledge of
Freemasonry and tackle the job. He also enlisted the aid of three other Masons
who had written extensively about the Craft. William Moseley Brown of Virginia,
Harold Van Buren Voorhis of New Jersey, and William Leon Cummings of New York
agreed to work with Coil.
Early in 1961 Macoy proudly made COIL'S MASONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA available to the
Masonic world. It was acclaimed immediately by Masonic historians, writers,
researchers and individuals. Today, almost 30 years later, it is still
considered the best by far of any Masonic encyclopedia.
Harry Carr reviewed Coil's work for the Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati
Lodge for 1961. Carr was never overly-generous in his praise of other authors,
however, in this encyclopedia he liked what he found. Carr said the make-up of
COIL'S MASONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA contained "virtues. . .we are fully entitled to
expect in a well-produced modern book."
Carr continued: "The book claims one characteristic which would distinguish
it from some of its predecessors. After a brief reference to'. . .the ancient
myths and mysteries. . .' which have always featured over-strongly in Masonic
history, Bro. Coil says: 'A major endeavor of the present work has been to
refrain from telling too much, that is, more than is known to be true. A great
deal that has been written about Freemasonry never happened. ..'
"It must be agreed that Bro. Coil has made a wholly praiseworthy effort to
avoid this pitfall. Indeed, this is one of the rare cases in which it may be
said that occasionally the author errs on the side of caution, and that is
perhaps a result of his legal training."
Carr closed his review by writing: "I have found the work well-written, in a
pleasantly informal style, full of well-presented detail, and covering an
enormous range of subjects in a workmanlike and interesting fashion."
With this base to work from, and after a year of contemplation, I agreed to
revise Coil's work of 30 years ago.
Change is all around us. Even as we read this brief item thousands of changes
have taken place. Communism, for example, when Coil's work was published
controlled much of what had once been a free world. This situation has changed
dramatically within the past months. The beneficiaries are those who love
freedom, and especially those Freemasons who believe in the Brotherhood of Man
under the Fatherhood of God.
Coil enlisted the aid of three men; I'm pleading for assistance from hundreds
of Freemasons. Each of us knows something no one else knows. By pooling our
knowledge we can build on Coil's foundation and produce a volume that will stand
the test of time.
Freemasonry deserves the best we have to offer.
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