Freemasons For Dummies
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Covers Masonry's origins, purpose, and symbolsYour plain-English introduction to this ancient organizationFascinated by Freemasons? This balanced, eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rights to the veiled symbols and their meanings. You'll understand the Freemasonry philosophy, meet famous Masons throughout history, explore the many controversies and conspiracy theories that swirl around the organization, and discover the changes coming to the Craft.Discover how to Get a handle on how this fraternal order operates Understand the degrees and groups of Freemasonry Gain knowledge of the Freemason degrees Recognize misconceptions about Masons Find a lodge\\
Introduction1About This Book2Conventions Used in This Book2What You're Not to Read2Foolish Assumptions3How This Book Is Organized3Icons Used in This Book6Where to Go From Here7Part IWhat Is Freemasonry?9Chapter 1Lodges, Aprons, and Funny Handshakes: Freemasonry 10111What Is Freemasonry?13What Masons Do14The three degrees14Lodges, blue lodges, craft lodges, and more15The public ceremonies of Freemasons16Real men wear aprons!17A "secret society"17So is it a charity? A church? A social club?18Are [Fill in the Blank] Freemasons, Too?19Chapter 2From Quarries to Lodge Rooms: A History of the Freemasons21The Great Builders: Freemasonry before 170022Operative Masons: The great builders22Speculative Masons and the big change28The 1700s: Builders of Men30The first Grand Lodge31Masonry in America36The French Revolution and beyond40The 1800s: Growth, Change, and Branching Out42Antients and Moderns reunited43Masonic America43The 1900s: The World Wars and Beyond49Social concerns in the early 1900s50World War II50Growth again51The decline of the '60s51Y2K and Beyond: More Changes on the Way52Chapter 3The Philosophy of Freemasonry55What Masons Believe In56Brotherly love, relief, and truth56Basic principles58A New World Order?60Mystic Masonry61The mystic tie62Masonic symbolism62Chapter 4Politics, Religion, and Freemasons: They Don't Mix63Religion and the Masons64Freemasonry and Catholicism65Freemasonry and Protestants72Freemasonry and the Jews73Freemasonry and Islam76Politics and the Masons78Political turmoil in 18th-century Europe79French anarchy81Revolution!81Dictators and Freemasonry84The distrust continues86Brethren at war87Part IIThe Mechanics of Freemasonry: How It Works91Chapter 5How the Freemasons Are Organized: Who Does What and Why93What Is a Lodge?94What Do Masons Do at the Lodge?96Who's in Charge around Here?96Officers in the progressive line97Officers not in the progressive line102What Makes a Grand Lodge So, Well, Grand?106The Grand Master107The rules108What Is a Regular, Recognized Lodge?108Multiple Grand Lodges: So who's legit?110Irregular, unrecognized, and all over the place112Chapter 6The Ceremonies of Freemasons117Understanding Where Masonic Ritual Comes From118The historical medieval guild rituals118Put it in writing121The Work of the Modern Lodge123The Entered Apprentice: Initiation and youth125The Fellow Craft degree: Passing through manhood127Master Mason: Raising, age, and death128Movin' on up!129Chapter 7The Symbols of Freemasonry131The Role of Symbolism in Freemasonry132Masonic Symbols132The number three133Tracing boards: 18th-century PowerPoint134Solomon's Temple136Square and compass138More Masonic Symbols139Scythe and hourglass139The 47th Problem of Euclid or the Pythagorean theorem140Jacob's ladder140Anchor and ark140Sun, eye, Moon, and stars141Lamb and lambskin apron141Slipper142Point within a circle and parallel lines142Pot of incense143Beehive143Plumb143Level144The letter G144Five-pointed star146Naked heart and the sword146Tyler's sword and the Book of Constitutions146Trowel147Handshake148Rough and perfect (or smooth) ashlars148Pillars148The coffin, shovel, setting maul, and sprig of acacia14924-inch gauge and the common gavel151Chapter 8Myths and Misconceptions about Masons153Why Freemasonry Is Misunderstood154Common Myths about Freemasonry154The lodge goat155The All-Seeing Eye and the U.S. $1 bill155The Masonic bible157The Freemasons and Satan158Uncle Albert and Lucifer161The Freemasons and world takeover163The Freemasons and breaking the law164A Few Words about the Rosicrucians164The ballad of Christian Rosenkreutz165American Rosicrucians168Modern Rosicrucianism169So what about Masonic Rosicrucians?170Part IIIKnights, Swords, Fezzes, and Dresses: The Appendant Bodies173Chapter 9Introducing the Appendant Bodies: Who's Who, and Who Isn't175What Are Appendant Bodies?176The-concordant bodies177The appendant bodies180So What about These Other Groups?181The animal lodges182The service clubs183Other unrelated fraternal groups184Masonic-sounding groups187Chapter 10The York Rite191The York Rite System191Why York?192How it's organized193Royal Arch Masonry195Mark Master196Past Master196Most Excellent Master197Royal Arch198The Cryptic Rite198Knights Templar200The chivalric orders201A crash course in Templar history203Other York Rite Bodies209York Rite College209Knight Masons209Allied Masonic Degrees209Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis210Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests210Knights of the York Cross of Honour210Red Cross of Constantine211York Rite Charities211Chapter 11The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite213The Scottish Rite System215Presentation: Curtain up, light the lights215Organization: Crosses, knights, and princes216France: Freemasonry's Foundry Furnace218The Scottish Rite in the United States219Albert Pike: Sage of the Scottish Rite220Early life220Pike discovers Freemasonry220Rituals, morals, and dogma221Pike and the rest of the Masonic world222The Degrees of the Scottish Rite223The Southern Masonic Jurisdiction degrees223The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction degrees225The Scottish Rite and Charitable Work227Chapter 12The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine229All Shriners Are Freemasons230The History of the Shriners230The Knickerbocker boys230So why the goofy hats?231The first growth of the Shrine232Polio and the first Shrine hospital232Depression and growth232Greatest philanthropy in the world233Putting a Little of the Boy Back in the Man233Hot sands of the desert234Temples: Domes and minarets234Units: One to suit every Shriner234What's with the little cars?235But Is It Freemasonry?236Chapter 13The Extended Masonic Family239Women in the Lodge240The Order of the Eastern Star240The Order of the Amaranth244The White Shrine of Jerusalem246The Social Order of the Beauceant247The Youth Groups247DeMolay International for boys248The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls250Job's Daughters250Lesser-Known Masonic Groups251The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm of North America251The Ancient Egyptian Order of SCIOTS252The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America252National Sojourners253High Twelve International253Masonic Research Societies254Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076254Canonbury Masonic Research Centre255Philalethes Society255Phylaxis Society255Scottish Rite Research Society256Lodges of research256Part IVFreemasonry Today and Tomorrow257Chapter 14So Is It Still Relevant?259That Which Was Lost260Our solitary society260Disconnected from each other261Where Freemasonry Fits In262Making good men better ones263Good for you, and tastes good, too263Brotherly love264Relief264Truth265Timelessness266Chapter 15Freemasons and the Future267The Future of the Craft268One-day classes269Advertising270Dues270Back to the Future271Small is good271Everything old is new again273Ancient lessons, new technology273The Internet: Breaking Down Barriers274Chapter 16So You Want to Become a Freemason275Why Men Become Masons276What's in it for you276Hearing from Masons themselves277Why I joined278To Be One, Ask One280Finding a Freemason280Finding a lodge281Joining a Lodge281The qualifications for membership282Petitioning the lodge to join283Being investigated283Balloting285Scheduling your degree ceremonies285Welcome, Brother286Part VThe Part of Tens287Chapter 17Ten Groups of Famous Masons289Founding Fathers289Explorers and Adventurers290Science and Medicine291Actors and Entertainers291The World of Sports292Military Leaders293The World of Business294The World of Statecraft294U.S. Civil Rights Leaders295Arts and Letters295Chapter 18Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons, and Hoaxes297Leo Taxil and the Great Hoax!297The Illuminati!299Trilats, CFRs, and Bilderbergers, Oh My!300The Secret 33rd Degree!301Jack the Ripper: A Freemason?!302The Italian P2 Lodge Scandal!303Washington, D.C., Is Satan's Road Map!304Aleister Crowley, Satanist and Freemason!305The Nazis Were Founded by Freemasons!307Masonic Cops! Masonic Judges!308Chapter 19Ten Cool Masonic Places309Freemason Hall (London)309
