Ok, I think I've decided on my "project" for 2010. I want to expand our Library at the Lodge. I'm going to see when I can next access the library and get a list of titles we have, and then off to search for other texts. If anyone could suggest some titles, I would be grateful. Thank you, Jason
Boy Jason, wish I could help, I can't offer any suggestions. I am suprised that your lodge has a library, unfortunately ours doesn't have. Best of luck on your search though.
Robert E Allen's "The Craft and it's Symbols" . It's a great little book for new Master Masons . And John J. Robinson's "A Pilgrams Path" . It's great that your lodge has a library , my does not either . It will when I am gone though because all of my Masonic books are to be left to the lodge along with some other Masonic paraphernalia .
From what I've heard, it is not much of a Library. I have not actually seen it yet, was told more or less its just a small room with some books. I would like to try and expand on it, and am trying to come up with ideas. I'm wondering if two or three of the same books would be better for popular books. I figure between that, and setting up a Christmas party, I will have my hands full.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to have 2 or 3 copies of books like "The Craft and it's Symbols" , they are about $9.00 a piece on Amazon , so if you Raise 3 Master Masons in one day they could each read it at the same time . This is a great little book . Just hit Amazon.com , they have many , many books on Freemasonry and used books can be found on there by individual sellers on the cheap . The last time I bought some books on there the most I spent on any of the books was $ 5.00 ( not including S & H) .
I was thinking hitting up Amazon.com and Ebay.com. The thing that worries me however, is buying books that are false. Not sure how else to put that, but I would hate to buy books for the Lodge that are Anti-Masonic, or just full of falsehoods.
On Amazon you can just read the feedback/comments section , a lot of Masons and anti's post their comments and it will give you an idea of which way the author leans . If we are touting it , then it is good to go . If the anti's are claiming how true it is , then you may want to avoid it . But it's not a bad idea to have a few anti-Masonic books . It will give Masons an idea on the lengths that the anti's will go to stretch the truth and/or outright lie for their own agenda . I have read a few myself .
Personally I find the idea of having Anti-Masonic books in a Masonic library to be of great benefit. We cannot cut out the opposition to us, but we can counter it when we know what is being said and written and what the standpoint of these people is. We have a very small library here in my Lodge - maybe 120 books in all - but it includes works which offer an alternative point of view as much as those which are from and for Masons. Many of the older works on Masonry are being republished in facsimile copies by Kessinger, the last time I looked they had over 1800 titles on offer.
The Grand Lodge of Nebraska had an education committee that puts on the education breakfast at Annual Communication as well as doing many other things. They have a list of suggested books for Masons in Nebraska to read and have had for about 10 or 12 years. They are available on the NE Masonic Education website (nebraskamasoniceducation.com) under the resources link in the left-hand column. Many of the old stand-bys are good to have -- any of the books by Pike and Mackey still hold as true today as when they were written in the 1800's. The newer books by Christopher Hodap and others are good for any Mason. I did a search at Waldon Books a couple of years ago on books about Masonry, it came up with a list of about 1200 or so books (both pro and con) available from them. When I sat in the East several years ago, I started a lending library of sorts in our lodge, brothers who had Masonic books would bring them to the lodge, we would put a plate in the book identifying the owner and then lending them out for brothers to read and return. The only thing we asked was that they treat the books as if they owned them, so far we have not had any trouble. Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" has been passed from brother to brother and we should get another copy so more than 1 brother can read it at a time.
I have a 1K book library in my home, not to brag, but to simply point out that we haven't bought a hard cover book (except proof copies of what I write) in a year. All of our titles are accessed on a Nook (Barnes and Nobel's version of a Kindle). Titles are cheaper ... and you don't have to dust them. For lodges without library space, the technology may be the answer.
Jason, I'm going to be doing the same thing to our library. I plan on building more shelves to hold the books we do have, and inventory the titles. There are a number of books that should be staples. I would look at the titles listed in the Florida Grand lodge Masonic Education manuals that are approved for use. I can get you a list if you want. Also, The Scottish Rite website has some interesting volumes in their web store as well. After talking with Art Dehoyos (Grand Archivist and historian), He recommended Albert Pike's Esoterika to me. It goes over all the deeper stuff in the Blue Lodge degrees. I'm a bibliophile, so I'm ALL about this thread...LOL Tell you what, you help me build some shelves for our library, and I'll help you get your library squared away too...
Well someone else at our Lodge did the library. I did just add these to my library at home though: Amazon.com: The Alchemical Keys To Masonic Ritual (9781435704404): Timothy Hogan: Books Amazon.com: Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840 (Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American ... History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia) (9780807847503): Steven C. Bul Amazon.com: A View To Masonic Education: The Blue Lodge (9781425912475): A. Keith Jones: Books Amazon.com: Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol (Art & Imagination) (9780500810378): W. Kirk MacNulty: Books Amazon.com: Freemason's Guide and Compendium, New and Revised Edition (9781581825602): Bernard E. Jones, J. Heron Lepper: Books Amazon.com: The Early History and Antiquities of Freemasonry: As Connected with Ancient Norse Guilds, and the Oriental and Mediæval Building Fraternities (9781147194418): George Franklin Fort: Books Amazon.com: Masonic Lifeline: Leadership (9780935633115): Allen E. Roberts: Books Amazon.com: The Golden Builders: Alchemists, Rosicrucians, First Freemasons (0824297633297): Tobias Churton: Books Amazon.com: The Freemasons Key - A Study of Masonic Symbolism (9781887560979): Michael R Poll: Books Amazon.com: The Lost Keys of Freemasonry (Also Includes: Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians / Masonic Orders of Fraternity): Manly P. Hall: Books
My copy of Esoterika should arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to that. Other than that one I only have The dummies guide to Freemasonry , and Duncan's Ritual and Monitor (I bought the Duncan's Monitor for comparative study after I became a MM). After looking at some of the titles you listed, I may have more purchases on the horizon...
Gary , look into getting yourself a copy of "A Pilgrim's Path: Freemasonry and the Religious Right " by Bro. John J. Robinson . It is a wonderful book that debunks and/or refutes all the claims leveled against Freemasonry from the religous standpoint . Also "The Craft and It's Symbols" by Allen E. Roberts is a great book for the new Master Mason and the old Master Mason looking for a refresher course .
I have a whole bunch more, but some have been packed away. Maybe soon I can get you a complete list if you like.
I have quit a few titles here in my living room . Jason I am still working my way through "Morals & Dogma:For the 21st Century . A good read , just taking my time with it because it is set up to do a side by side comparison with Pike's original work .
There's also The Masonic Book Club ( Masonic Book Club ) which has been around a long time and has a great reputation.
I can only suggest one book, the others were already mentioned but the book I am suggesting, for newly made Master Masons is The Complete Idiot's Guide To Freemasonry by S. Brent Morris, PH.D., 33 Degree. It's a great book, in it the reader will see, a fact filled overview of the birth and beginnings of Freemasonry, simple explanations of the agreements that help define and regulate Freemasonry and the history behind Masonic philanthropic efforts and youth groups. The author has been on plenty of the shows regarding Freemasonry on either The History Channel or The Learning Channel, sometimes as a counterpoint, debunking those who claim Freemasonry is a bad thing. He is the managing editor of the Scottish Rite Journal and he is the only American member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, London England, the premier Masonic research lodge.
A must have! The Meaning of Masonry by W.L. Wilmshurst. This book will take one into the deepest reaches of the meanings behind the degree rituals and the Holy Royal Arch. It could stand alone as a Temples training manual and is undoubtedly one of the most important works available today. I would urge every Mason to study this text for it is the pathway to the " house of the Lord " .
