Masonic Words and Phrases

Masonic Words and Phrases
Author: Michael R. Poll
Publisher: Cornerstone Book Publishers
Total Pages: 115
Release: 2005-04
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1887560114

"Masonic Word and Phrases" is a wonderful collection of the most often used words and phrases in Masonry. Presented in an easy to read and understandable format, this work provides any student of Masonry with a clear understanding of the meaning of our many phrases and words so seldom used outside of Masonry. This work is valuable to the experienced Mason as a quick and handy reference guide. For the new Mason, however, it is an indispensable work and one that should augment any Masonic education program.

The Mason's Words

The Mason's Words
Author: Robert G. Davis
Publisher:
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2013-07
Genre: Freemasonry
ISBN: 9780615853826

Freemasonry is entirely built around traditions. From time immemorial, those who have belonged to the world's oldest and largest fraternal order have metaphorically passed between the pillars of Solomon's Temple to nurture within themselves a harmonious bond between tradition and modernity. This is the story of the Masonic ritual, the language and ceremonial forms that have evolved into the present structure of American Freemasonry, defined its lodge space, and offered its members the same stablizing influence of instruction that has prevailed on every continent for nearly 400 years. The reader will discover that the language of the world's oldest fraternal society has also made its own interesting journey, and been tested by the most powerful and the most humbling of men. The result is, that, in Masonic lodges across America, and, indeed, the world, men from every walk of life, of all ages, every social category and every spiritual and philosophical conviction are able to find a basis for reflection on who they are, why they are here, and what has meaning to them. By its common language delivered in a common culture of fraternal relationship, Freemasonry is enabled to exemplify a univeral brotherhood of man. This is the story of the Mason's words; the history and evolution of the American Masonic ritual. It is an interesting bit of history that is perhaps all the more fascinating because it is so rarely known.

The Book of the Words

The Book of the Words
Author: Albert Pike
Publisher:
Total Pages: 202
Release: 2018-08-28
Genre:
ISBN: 9781781071946

Masonry is permeated with powerful verbal and pictorial symbolism that arouses the mental, spiritual and intellectual life. One of the treasures of the SJ USA Supreme Council's Archives at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., is Albert Pike's manuscript of The Book of the Words. The book was originally printed, in an edition limited to 150 copies, in 1874. This remarkable study is an exploration of the symbolic words in Freemasonry. It gives the correct spelling of, and analyzes all the "significant words" in the Scottish Rite from the 1st through the 30th degrees inclusive. Pike explores and explains their origin (Hebrew, Samaritan, Phoenician and English), meaning, symbolism and relevance to the degrees and gives his insights. In addition to being an etymological dictionary Pike explains why any given word was chosen for a given degree, thereby revealing the hidden symbolism of each word.

Look to the East!

Look to the East!
Author: Ralph P. Lester
Publisher:
Total Pages: 201
Release: 1876
Genre: Freemasonry
ISBN:

The English Masonic Union Of 1813

The English Masonic Union Of 1813
Author: John Belton
Publisher:
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2012-10-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781845495596

The bringing together of the Antients and Moderns to form the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813 was a tricky matter. How all this came about is not just an English tale but an Irish and Scots one as well. Complexities concerning 'union' included what to do about other masonic orders, especially the Royal Arch and the Knights Templar. For the first time ever this account provides a birds-eye view of the issues and personalities behind one of the big events of masonic history still affecting us today. "In this pioneering and stimulating book, John Belton tells with verve and enthusiasm the story behind the events which led up to the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. Providing completely new perspectives on this key event in the history of British Freemasonry, John's book will be of interest not only to freemasons but to all those who are interested in the contribution of Freemasonry to British culture and society." - Prof Andrew Prescott, Kings College London

The Complete Lodge Secretary

The Complete Lodge Secretary
Author: Gordon Hunt
Publisher: Lewis Masonic Pub Limited
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2010-04-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780853183273

A practical and useful guide giving extensive information of all the duties and responsibilities for any Freemason taking on the important role of Secretary within a Lodge. The well-being of a Lodge largely depends upon its Secretary. He has a unique position in it, with multi-dimensional reflections. The Secretary undertakes almost continuous year-long responsibility amidst his numerous livelihood chores. In the past many Secretaries used to be permanent officers of the Lodges, with the benefits that an experienced Secretary would manage the affairs of the Lodge smoothly, but current thinking is that no one should serve for more than two years so that junior members can involve themselves in Lodge affairs. The newcomers to this office often lack experience and this book is written with this background in mind: to provide guidance on the one hand and to help introduce modern management tools on the other. Each major topic which needs some action on the part of the Secretary is given a chapter. Checklists of activities relevant to each chapter are appended at the end of the chapter with cells against each activity to mark the date on which the activity is completed. The general principles in this practical guide hold good for the side degrees as well, with only minor and contextual modifications.

Bible Study for Freemasons

Bible Study for Freemasons
Author: Robert J. F. Elsner
Publisher: Independently Published
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2019-02-19
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9781797553849

Masonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, illustrated by signs and symbols, and embodying ideals that transcend most human barriers. The work of masonry is based upon and filled with scripture, with beauty, and with God's love, irrespective of any one individual's relationship with God. The one requirement of a man who would like to join masonry is that he believes in God. As an evangelist, I want to hear the blessed name of Jesus on people's lips, but as a Mason, my duty is to help men make those decisions for themselves. This volume is designed to help masons and their families to seek light from scripture, whether they have a church or not, whether they are Christian or not. If I have written these scripture studies well, the readers should walk away from this book being better informed and challenged to read more and more scripture, seeking more about God within their traditions, and be more confident believers. People who are more confident in what they believe can have discussions that do not turn to bad arguments, and are not easily offended. Those who can discuss any topic can best work together and best agree. In most instances of this book, I have used the lines from ritual in full context, as too often Masons do not follow through and see where lines come from. At other times, the same Chapter of scripture might contain two or three different passages that are of special import to the Craft, thus are better served integrating them. There are many times when an entire chapter is important to read in order to get one short line that is used in a lecture or prayer or degree.Since not all masonic traditions use the same scriptures, I have endeavored to select scriptures from various masonic jurisdictions around the world, both in the "Blue Lodges" of the first three degrees and those of the Appendant Bodies. I do not identify which degree or source that each scripture reading comes from, as that is for each mason to learn if they do not immediately recognize the verses. All scripture used throughout this book is from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted. There are times when other translations give a better sense of the intentions of why we use the lines in Lodges. It is highly recommended that in any serious study of the Bible, several translations are used. For those interested, there are several websites of note, including BibleHub.com and BibleGateway.com. I often used these two sites to assist in my studies during the construction of this book. If you are interested in Biblical languages, I recommend using the BibleHub.com resources, clicking on Hebrew or Greek to take you to the original languages and helping you see where else each particular word is used as per Englishman's Concordance, Strong's, and several other major reference works. Where I have translated from Hebrew or Greek, it should be stated that the translations are mine, and any errors made are mine and not those of any source from which I sought assistance. I have tried to be faithful to scripture and modern English (American) language. While I had several brilliant Hebrew professors in both Seminaries I graduated from, my abilities do not show their great skill teaching, only my poor abilities learning. Several other works informed the discussions here, including The Anchor Bible Series of Commentaries, the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament, the Story of God Bible Commentary, and many others. I have attempted to bring the benefit of scholarship without the burdens thereof so that this book might be easier to read and use.