Seems to me you’ve heard this song before; it’s from an old familiar score....” But, as some of our younger Scottish Rite Masons pointed out to me during the recent Scottish Rite Leadership Conferences, new Masons join the Rite all the time. Those who have joined recently, of course, weren’t receiving the Journal prior to their membership. Several Brethren asked for a list of good Masonic books with ordering information. Thus this column and its listing of those works I consider among the best available on Freemasonry. I’ve tried to list the least expensive source for purchasing the books. The notes on each are necessarily brief, but all of the publications are good. Some are hardbound, others softbound.
NOTE: Several of these books are listed as purchasable from the Southern California Lodge of Research because they have excellent prices and you do not have to be a member to order the books. To save space, I’ll just give the address here and put the note SCRL with the review:
Southern California Research Lodge
P.O. Box 939, Ashland, OR 97520-0032.
Tel. 541-488-8788, Fax 541-488-8789
Shipping and handling is $1.75 for the first book ordered, 50¢ for each additional book.
Also, the Masonic Service Association has some great material. Order from:
Masonic Service Association
8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring MD 20910-4785
Tel. 301-588-4010, Fax 301-608-3457
E-mail: msana@ix.netcom.com
Postage is $2.50 for orders up to a total of $5.00; $4.50 for orders from $5.01 to $10.00 or more. Masonic Service Association offerings will be noted as MSA.
And many important books are available from The Supreme Council. Those books can be ordered from:
Grand Executive Director
The Supreme Council, 33°
1733 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009-3103
Tel. 202-232-3579, ext. 36
Fax 202-387-1843
VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Offerings will be noted as SCSJ.
The Freemason at Work, by Harry Carr. Great book, with more than
200 questions and answers by an outstanding Masonic scholar. Written for
English Masons, but applies to American Masonry as well.
$21.30 SCRL
Allied Masonic Groups and Rites, (booklet). A handy quick guide
to many of the Masonic organizations in the United States. Order #204
$1.50 MSA
The Grand Design, by Wallace McLeod. Highly readable essays by
one of the most important Masonic scholars in North America.
$14.35 SCRL
Artifacts and Gadgets, (booklet). Descriptions and photographs
of Masonic watches, china, etc. Useful to the collector or the person interested
in the physical culture of Masonry. Order #263
$1.50 MSA
Masonic Trivia and Facts, by Allen E. Roberts. More than 600
questions and answers.
15.16 SCRL
A Pilgrim’s Path, Freemasonry and the Religious Right, by John
J. Robinson. An outstanding book by one of Free-masonry’s foremost defenders.
Good to give to non-Mason friends.
$14.36 SCRL
Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. A good
and easy way to learn more about Prince Hall Masonry.
$9.60 SCRL
A Bridge to Light, by Dr. Rex R. Hutchens. Provides a clearer
explanation of the meanings of the Scottish Rite Degrees.
Softbound $10.00; Hardbound $25.00 SCSJ
A Glossary to Morals and Dogma, by Dr. Rex R. Hutchens. An essential
companion to reading Pike’s great work.
Hardbound $15.00 SCSJ
Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbolism, by W. Kirk
MacNulty. A beautiful book with many full-color illustrations. Also contains
some excellent analysis of the first three Degrees.
$12.76 SCRL
Sources of Masonic Symbolism, by Alex Horne. Shows the sources
from which much Masonic icono-graphy comes. Interesting and easy to read.
$10.00 SCRL
There Is No Sin in Symbols, (booklet). Discusses the nature of
symbolism and Masonic symbolism in particular. Useful to give to non-Masons.
Order #BL201 25¢ MSA
Pillars of Wisdom: The Writings of Albert Pike, by Dr. Rex R.
Hutchens. A fine collection of essays which organizes Pike thoughts by
topic rather than Degree. First rate.
Softbound $10.00; Hardbound $15.00 SCSJ
Vistas of Masonry in Language, Symbolism and History, by Raymond
B. Pease. (Booklet) Perhaps my favorite MSA publication. The historic significance
of Masonic language.
Order #242 $2.50 MSA
The Clergy and the Craft, by the Rev. Dr. Forrest D. Haggard.
One of America’s leading clergymen, and a Past Grand Master of Kansas,
shares his views on Masonry and religion.
$8.00 SCRL
Get a Life: Thoughts on Freemasonry and Religion, (booklet).
Information about the relationship of the fraternity and religion.
Order #BL-203 60¢ MSA
Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry? The Methods of Anti-Masons,
by Art DeHoyos and Dr. S. Brent Morris. First-rate discussion about the
truths ignored by anti-Masonic claims.
$7.50 MSA or SCSJ
Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle: Two Centuries of Scottish Rite
Freemasonry in America’s Southern Jurisdiction, by Dr. William L. Fox.
Excellent history of The Supreme Council with parallels in contemporaneous
American history. A must-read for all Masons.
$35.00 SCSJ
Living the Enlightenment: Freemasonry and Politics in Eighteenth-Century
Europe, by Margaret Jacob. A wonderful book, giving great insight by
an outstanding historian into the way Masonry reflected and helped to spread
the Enlightenment’s essential concepts of human freedom and the dignity
of the individual.
$17.56 SCRL
Masonic Philanthropies, A Tradition of Caring, second edition,
by Dr. S. Brent Morris. A comprehensive compilation of contemporary Masonic
charity and a source of pride to all Masons.
$5.00 SCSJ
Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of
the American Social Order 1730-1840, by Steven C. Bullock. An essential
book. An academician and historian investigates the role of Freemasonry
in early America.
$39.96 SCRL
Cornerstones of Freedom, A Masonic Tradition, by Dr. S. Brent
Morris. Special emphasis on the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol, but a
good overall treatment of Masonic cornerstones.
Softbound $8.00; Hardbound $12.00 SCSJ
Freemasonry and Democracy: It’s Evolution in North America, by
Allen E. Roberts and Wallace McLeod. The role played by Masonry in establishing
democracy
in both the United States and Canada.
Order #285 $6.00 MSA
William Preston and His Work, by Colin Dyer. $11.15 SCRL
A Life of Albert Pike, by Dr. Walter Lee Brown. $35.00 SCSJ
Famous American Freemasons, Order #219 $2.00 MSA
Priest and Freemason: The Life of George Oliver, by Richard Sandbach. $21.95 SCRL
Paul Revere and Freemasonry, by Edith Steblecki. $6.00 SCRL
Albert Pike, The Man Beyond the Monument, by Jim Tresner. $12.00 SCSJ
G. Washington, Master Mason, by Allen E. Roberts. $9.20 SCRL
Masonic Membership of the Founding Fathers, by Ronald E. Heaton. Order #238 $3.75 MSA
Brother Truman, by Allen E. Roberts. $11.60 SCRL