The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry by Morris, S. Brent -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Dedication Copyright Contents Introduction Part 1: The Basic Organization of Freemasonry

1 What Is Freemasonry?

The Fraternity’s Real and Imagined Presence Documentary Evidence: 1390–1850 The Transition from “Operative” to “Speculative” Masonic Secrets Masonic Ritual The Organization of American Freemasonry

Local Lodges and State Grand Lodges The York and Scottish Rites Eastern Star, DeMolay, Rainbow, and Job’s Daughters Shriners and Other Fun Groups

What Goes On in a Lodge?

Typical Layout of an American Masonic Lodge The Officers and “Going Through the Line” Lodge Meetings: Degree Work, Philanthropy, Education, and Sociability

2 The Birth of the Masonic Fraternity

The Creation of the Premier Grand Lodge, 1717 The Codification of Masonic Tradition The Evolution of Masonic Ritual

The Appearance of the Third Degree Preston’s Illustrations of Masonry, 1772

The United Grand Lodge of England, 1813

The Appearance of the Ancient Grand Lodge, 1751 The Importance of the Royal Arch The Rivalry Spreads into the Colonies Reconciliation and Union in 1813

3 The Beginnings of American Freemasonry

The First Evidence of Freemasonry in America The First Written Records Provincial Grand Masters

Loyalists vs. Patriots Masonic Coordination of the American Revolution? Masonic Participation in the Boston Tea Party? Freemasonry in Action During the Revolution

The Failure of a National Grand Lodge The Emergence of State Grand Lodges Freemasonry and the Presidency The Morgan Affair

Masonic Ritual and Morgan’s Proposed Exposé Masonic Secrecy The Abduction, Trials, and Aftermath True Convictions or Political Expediency?

Freemasonry Reemerges

4 African American Freemasonry

Prince Hall of Boston

Sergeant Batt and Lodge No. 441, 1775 African Lodge No. 459, 1784 A Declaration of Independence, 1827

The National Compact Grand Lodge The Current State of Prince Hall Masonry

5 Masonic Regularity

The Importance of Recognition Legitimacy of Origin Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction Adherence to the Ancient Landmarks

French Masonry Belgian Masonry

Everyone’s Regular to Someone

Part 2: The Eastern Star, the York Rite, and the Scottish Rite

6 Women and Freemasonry

Early Examples of Women Freemasons

Elizabeth St. Leger Aldworth, Ireland, Around 1710 Mrs. Bell, England, 1770 Mrs. Havard and Mrs. Beaton, Hereford, England, 1770 Hannah Mather Crocker, Boston, 1778 Catherine Babington, North Carolina, 1815

The French Rite of Adoption The Eastern Star and Sister Organizations

Order of the Amaranth White Shrine of Jerusalem

Female Organizations for Other Masonic Groups Marie Deraismes and Co-Masonry Female Grand Lodges

7 The York Rite

Capitular Masonry: Royal Arch Masons

The Royal Arch Degree The Other Degrees in an American Royal Arch Chapter

Cryptic Masonry: Royal and Select Masters Chivalric Masonry: Knights Templar

The Degrees of the Knights Templar

The Creation of the York Rite

8 The Scottish Rite

High Degrees in France

The Most Secret Mysteries

The Invention of Stephen Morin The First Supreme Council: Charleston, 1801 The Second American Supreme Council: New York, 1806 The Innovation of Fraternal Theater Scottish Rite Operations Today The Scottish Rite Degrees The Thirty-Third Degree and Other Honors

Part 3: Building Higher, Having Fun, and Doing More

9 Even More Masonic Organizations

York Rite Invitational Organizations

Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine Knights of the York Cross of Honor Allied Masonic Degrees Knight Masons York Rite Sovereign College

Research Lodges and History Societies

Quatuor Coronati Lodge Philalethes Society American Lodge of Research Grand College of Rites, U.S.A. Phylaxis Society Scottish Rite Research Society The Masonic Society

Other Masonic Groups

Royal Order of Scotland Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis National Sojourners Society of Blue Friars

Other Masonic Rites Around the World “Masonic Week” in Washington, D.C.

10 Masonic “Fun” and Youth Groups

Setting the Stage for Masonic “Fun” Groups Shriners

How the Shrine Operates Yet More for Shriners to Do

The Grotto Tall Cedars of Lebanon Masonic-Sponsored Youth Groups

DeMolay for Boys Job’s Daughters International International Order of Rainbow for Girls Other Youth Groups

11 Masonic Philanthropies

Local Support Statewide Charities

Orphanages and Retirement Homes Masonic Colleges

Regional and National Philanthropies

Scottish Rite Hospitals for Children Shriners Hospitals for Children Masonic Service Association Scottish Rite Speech and Language Disorders Clinics Knights Templar Eye Foundation Dental Care for Children with Special Needs Camp Chicota

Part 4: Masonic Myths and Misunderstandings

12 Albert Pike: Sovereign Pontiff of Masonic Mythology

A Brief Biography Taxil’s Invention of the “Sovereign Pontiff of Lucifer” Tarring Pike with the KKK The Elusive Mazzini Letter

13 Searching for Hidden Masonic Symbols

The Street Plan of Washington, D.C.

The Cornerstone of the District of Columbia Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant George Washington and Thomas Jefferson The Inverted Pentagram The House of the Temple

The Great Seal of the United States

The First Committee The Second and Third Committees

Rolling Rock Beer

14 Masonry in Plain Sight in Washington

The House of the Temple, Washington, D.C.

Motivation for the Temple Construction of the Temple Interior of the Temple

The George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.

Andrew Jackson Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Charles Hector, Comte d’Estaing Jean-Baptiste de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron von Steuben

Statues Elsewhere in Washington

15 Masonic Mythology: Knights Templar and Egypt

The Historical Knights Templar

Philip the Fair, Clement V, and the Fall of the Templars Escaping Arrest and Going Underground in 1314 Turning the Tide at Bannockburn

The Oration of Chevalier Ramsay Other Connections to the Templars

16 Religious Concerns About Freemasonry

The Religious Language of the Gothic Constitutions The First Religious Attack Papal Pronouncements Against Freemasonry Canon Laws Against Freemasonry Who Speaks for Freemasonry? General Religious Concerns

The “Worshipful” Master The Secret Worship of Lucifer Salvation by Works The Prevention of Evangelizing Praying to the Great Architect of the Universe Freemasonry Is a Religion

Part 5: A Field Guide to Masonic Symbols and Jewelry

17 Masonic Symbols

Working Tools Architectural Features of King Solomon’s Temple Other Symbols

18 Masonic Regalia

Aprons—Masonry’s Unique Badge Awards for Past Service Lapel Pins and Other Personal Jewelry Car Badges Headgear: Hats, Fezzes, and Chapeaux Knights Templar and Other Uniforms Similar Emblems of Other Groups

Appendixes

A Glossary B Further Reading, Websites, and Contact Information C Masonic Rituals D Famous Freemasons E Freemasonry in Books, Plays, and Movies

Index About the Author

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