Product Description
For more than a century, Freemasons have held fast to the belief that Masons did not murder William Morgan; rather they deported him to Canada. In "Morgan: The Scandal That Shook Freemasonry", author, journalist and Freemason Stephen Dafoe disassembles that myth while reassembling the trail of evidence that remains to uncover the facts behind this 183-year-old Masonic cold case. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Morgan Affair
Dafoe has certainly tried to get to the bottom of this now very old cold-case file that continually still surfaces from time to time and presented one or two new ideas on the topic, which is alot better than others have tried to portray it.

Definitive work on the subject -- and a real page-turner to boot!
Brilliant! Stephen Dafoe presents a level-headed, thorough analysis of the evidence and legends surrounding one of the most controversial chapters in Masonic history. Dafoe, author of several definitive books on the Knights Templar (both medieval and Masonic) again shows his usual attention to detail and talent for sifting through the layers of stories to find the grains of truth. I expected the book to be interesting, but was pleasantly surprised by how EXCITING a read it is turned out to be. Using a narrative structure -- with "dialogue" pulled right out of existing documents -- Dafoe crafts a real page-turner of a suspense story. It's written in short chapters, so I kept telling myself, "Just one more before bedtime, just one one more before bedtime..." Before I knew it, I had finished all 400+ pages. While the book is a quick read, it is by no means a superficial experience. The huge number of primary documents sourced, scholarly footnotes, etc., reveal Dafoe's book to be the culmination of many year's work. Highly recommended for Masonic scholars and history buffs alike.

Hard, honest look at the Morgan affair
Stephen Dafoe produces an honest and engaging look at the disappearance of William Morgan, an event that haunted Freemasons for years to come and perhaps continues to do so today. His excellent narrative style offers a readable and intriguing mystery. The book is, however, not a work of fiction. It is backed profusely with factual documentation given in the book, yet in a fashion so as not to disrupt the enjoyment of the story. Dafoe's suppositions are rare and only created with solid documentation. His conclusions on what possibly occurred to Morgan are well-reasoned in light of the facts and face up to possibilities some may find uncomfortable. Truth is more important than comfort for Stephen, which makes this a very readable and enjoyable examination of the available facts. A great treatment of this controversial subject!

You are there
After years of careful study, Stephen Dafoe's recently released, "Morgan: the Scandal That Shook Freemasonry" offers one of the most provocative retellings available of an incident that changed the North American political landscape.

"This book is the story of William Morgan, his associates and the book they proposed to publish," Dafoe explains in his Introduction to "Morgan". "It is the story of how a handful of young, impetuous members of the Masonic fraternity took matters into their own hands to prevent its publication and how their plans took a deadly fork in the road, nearly exterminating the very organization they sought to protect."

For anyone who doesn't know already, what became known as "the William Morgan affair" was the September 1826 disappearance of Morgan because he'd authored a detailed expose of Freemasonry. All agree he was abducted by Freemasons and was never heard from again. This spawned nationwide outrage, a backlash against the Craft and a political movement, all of which are still studied today.

It's a story Dafoe told in the 2007 Heredom, Volume 15 of the Scottish Rite Research Society's annual transactions. There, Dafoe gave us "Batavia to Baltimore & Beyond: A Re-examination of the William Morgan Story and It's Effect on Freemasonry."

Prior to that, Dafoe wrote a four-part series on the Morgan affair for quarterly Masonic Magazine, fall 2005 thru summer 2006, "using as many primary sources as I couls lay my hands on."

Those primary sources are key. Contemporary and afterward documentation on the Morgan affair is HUGE in quantity and impressive in its conflicts. It takes a serious scholar to plow thru it all and come up with a well studied, readable tome.

Which is part of what makes "Morgan" quite unique among the histories written of the period. Dafoe clearly did his homework but he didn't just dump his notebook into the pages of this book. In "Morgan", the reader gets more than names, dates and locals. In "Morgan", the reader gets to be "there".

To do this, Dafoe skillfully wields the narrative form. This mode of writing, attempted by only a few historians and poorly handled by most who do try, offers the sort of continuity more common histories cannot approach. The reader receives the story as it happens, complete with thoughts and dialogue - culled from contemporary documents - and, for a time, can suspend whatever prior knowledge they may have had.

In this way, even the most knowledgeable student of the antiMasonic period gets to be something many long to be: a fly on the wall.

The reader is there:

-to share the grief between Morgan and his wife, Lucinda, at the lost of their child and the comfort he derives among his Brethren during his salad days in Freemasonry.

-recognize and empathize with those same Brethren who rejected him and yet still sympathize with Morgan for his anguish, which leads to his fatal decision to expose the Secrets of the fraternity.

-in lodge when the state's governor's letter is read out, calling upon the Brethren to "suppress the secrets of Masonry at the expense of blood and treasure"; and promising "if you are detected, you shall be protected. If you are convicted, you shall be pardoned, for I have the pardoning power."

-reading the appeal for moderation in Henry Brown's letter to the editor in Republican Advocate and watching, helplessly, as it is ignored.

-observing Morgan's initial arrest for stealing clothing he'd actually borrowed, cleared of that and then immediately arrested again on a debt of less than $3

-gazing out the second-floor window with Susan Green as the "armed mob of Masons" march up the street to the office of Morgan's publisher, David Miller, and abducts him in broad daylight.

- is with Miller's equally passionate mob of friends who rescue him from the Masons and, thus, unsilences his pen to shout murder to all the world.

-blinded with Morgan, his eyes too-tightly bound with his own handkerchief, as he's rowed in a boat across the Niagara to Canada; and hears his appeal to his Brothers turned captors: "Gentleman, I am your prisoner, use me with magnanimity"; only to feel a pistol in his chest and a promise "You say one more word, Morgan, and I'll shoot you."

-huddles with Morgan the last hours locked in an unlit, windowless cell in the powder magazine of a fort on the US side of the border with Canada. And then . . .

How does Dafoe handle the conflicting stories of Morgan's death or exile? That much I will not give away.

I will say Dafoe's "Morgan" leaves the reader with a gut wrenching helplessness that the majority of those who lived thru it must have felt at the time. Being there means the reader observes, but cannot change, the events as they unfold. And so watches as the Craft in the United States, by the rash and passionate actions of the Masons who claim to be saving Her, is almost snuffed out in the US.

What is more, Dafoe drives home a powerful lesson here, that there are no real villains or "good guys" in this story. Other historians too often portray the tragedy of Morgan's disappearance and the period that follows as a saga with heroes and villains. Dafoe's "Morgan" tells it as it is and was. There is no one good here who is completely good; and no one bad who is completely bad.

The message is clear: sometimes good people, with all the best of intentions, do the worst of things. For which all are made to suffer. ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Product Description
Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that arose from obscure origins (theorized to be anywhere from the time of the building of King Solomon's Temple to the mid-1600s). Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, with around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland alone, and over 2,000,000 in the United States.

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1925. Brief history of organized Masonry; Who rules the Lodge? What to say and do in Lodge; Masonic dinner; What to read; Lodges of instruction; Higher degrees in Masonry; Masonic charities. ... Read more

Product Description
John Yarker provides a valuable resource for the lectures and catechisms of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Freemasonry. Lectures of the Chapter, Senate, and Council, according to the forms of the Ancient and Primitive Rite, but embracing all Systems of High Grade Masonry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

George H> Steinmetz, a Mason who loved Masonry
I have been a member of the Masonic Order for fifty years.I met George H. Steinmetz, Alex Horne and Manley P. Hall shortly after I received my degrees in the Scottish Rite. As a member of the Masonic Research Group of San Francisco, I can remember hearing Bro. Steinmetz speaking to the members.He was one of the greatest scholars of Masonry. His book is meant to give every Mason, who reads it, a complete understanding of the Masonic Order. I highly reccomend this book to all newly raised Masons as one of the best books about the degrees of Masonry. ... Read more

Product Description
Book Description:

"This is a general survey of Masonic origins, history and philosophy. It was at one time given to every new Mason in Iowa, probably a better choice than Morals and Dogma, which is almost three times as long and much more difficult reading. This is a scholarly but approachable treatment of Masonry and will be enlightening both to practicing Freemasons and a general audience.

Newton is a rationalist and deflates claims of an ancient origin for Masonry per se; rather he illuminates the historical precedents of the group. He starts with ancient Egypt, not because he believes that the Egyptians had functioning Masonic lodges, but because that is where monumental architecture began. He covers the ancient mystery religions, and the true origin of Masonry in organizations of medieval stone-masons. After a period of decline, a London meeting held in 1717 at the Goose and Gridiron Alehouse united the remaining four Lodges of England, and started modern Freemasonry. The two-tier organization proliferated into three, and then multiple degrees, during the 18th and 19th centuries, eventually resulting in modern Freemasonry.

Masonry, which had started as an underground association of building trade workers, evolved into a fraternal group which included both members of the English royal family and American revolutionaries. Despite his rational stance, Newton is rhapsodic about the progressive influence of the Masonic movement and philosophy, both for individuals seeking 'the lost word', and for society as a whole. Newton claims that the world has benefited greatly because of the Masonic ideals of liberty, fraternity and equality. The Builders tells the Masonic side of this story. " (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

Table of Contents:

Publisher's Preface; The Anteroom; Prophecy; The Foundations; The Working Tools; The Drama Of Faith; The Secret Doctrine; The Collegia; History; Free-masons; Fellowcrafts; Accepted Masons; Grand Lodge Of England; Universal Masonry; Interpretation; What Is Masonry; The Masonic Philosophy; The Spirit Of Masonry; Bibliography; Endnotes

About the Publisher:

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.org

Forgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Builders
This was a GREAT read! I could not believe this book was first published in 1914. It has been around for a very long time and apparently out of circulation. Thanks for re-publishing. Clark Z. Overbey

A thoughtful reflection on the World's best known Fraternity
Take your time in reading this author's words - they are written with great care and from a very wise man of the mid 20th century.

Having laid down his working tools on 01/25/1950, Brother Newton writes, "Man was not meant to be a cringing being, eaten up by anxiety, shut up a prisoner in silent loneliness, living in blind cruelty.He was meant for great adventures, if he has the insight to see the laws of life and the key of kindness to unlock the doors; and in his quest for the best in others he will discover something in himself not guessed before.For each of us, though we may not be clever or commanding, but only average and unknown, life can be winged and wonderful, full of meaning and music, if we have the faith to trust the God who made us, and the wisdom to live, love, and learn."

Go on and read this small book from cover to cover and if your life's search leads you to the outer door of a Masonic structure have the courage to knock and begin your journey toward enlightenment and wisdom!

Moral Dogma and Masonry
A slow read about moral dogma and Masonry.Mr. Newton, an ordained Minister, attempts to explain the moral teachings behind Masonry. Accurate in most of his explanations, but a bit dry.Does a good job of showing Masonry as a support of morality and benevolance in society.Correct in information, dry in presentation.But at least it is correct, unlike most Masonic books.A must read for the Masonic collector. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Nothing contained within this book is exclusively applicable to Freemasonry. Its principles are everywhere and it is adapted to all the world, accordingly extending all over the world where civilization extends. The same symbols can be found everywhere, with the same meaning and for the same purposes. There is no subject within this volume which is not of equal interest to the members of the Brotherhood in one part of the world as in another. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Brilliant and Well-Situated
This is such a good book! What a tremendously complicated thing to well -situate, so to speak, the golden age of the Masonic building boom in terms that lead the reader to further insight and seriousness about Masonry itself. Instead of into platitudes, or their opposite.I notice that Mark Tabbert mentions Clawson's book in his review here, I assume referring toher Constructing Brotherhood, in praising this one. Actually, I think comparing them is very useful for pointing out the special character of Moore's . Clawson'sis a good book in some ways, but its rather blunt and dated-sounding social analysis (almost Marxist in tone) , is nothing like the thepurposeful subtlety of this one.What is wonderful about this one is that he conveys Masonic philosophy without rigid academic reflexes, but with academic rigor. And I can vouch for that particularly because this book was useful to me fairly recentlyin writing an academic paper on Masonry on a topic not specific to Temples per se. Thus, a very useful book, all the way around.

Great Book
I had been very anxious to read this and finally got a hold of it through the library (I just have TOO many books), and read this fairly quickly as I found it to be very, very interesting.

Lots of nice photos, very good recap of Blue Lodge Masonry and other concordant bodies, also their history and how they related to the membership at the particular time of the organizations heydays.

I got a better perspective of how Masonry related to America at that period of time and see where it needs to go today to remain functional and with purpose in our day and age.I think it will.

Among the best Masonic schoalrs
Prof. Moore has for many years been one of the best academic scholars of American Freemasonry. His reseach is now at long last in published form. I can not recommendthis book high enough. He now offically joins such other great academicscholars as Bullock, Jacob, and Clawson. This is what Masonic history ought to be and how it should be written.

This is a pivotal title recommended for any collection which already holds some more general Masonic titles
MASONIC TEMPLES provides an excellent introduction to the structures American Freemasons erected over the sixty-year period from 1870 to 1930, analyzing their design, construction, and history and considering the surrounding milieu of Masonic sects and American culture of the times. This is a pivotal title recommended for any collection which already holds some more general Masonic titles: it offer analysis of four sets of Masonic ritual spaces and provides fine details on Masonic beliefs, rituals and architecture.

revealing analysis of architecture and interiors of Masonic temples
Masonic temples with external and internal features to evoke King Solomon's temple in ancient Jerusalem built throughout New York state from 1870 to 1930 were intended to "anchor [Freemasons] within a cognitive framework as they faced the existential crisis of being American men" in this period of profound, challenging, and often perplexing cultural change. New York state serves as an instructive example of the architecture of Masonic temples throughout the United States and the types of rituals and other activities they were built for because of this state's diversity embracing urban, suburban, and rural areas. The author is also familiar with New York Freemasonry from his one-time position as director of the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library in New York City, though he is not himself a Mason. This Masonic Library also contains an incomparable amount of Masonic literature for study. The main chambers of a Masonic lodge are built and furnished to define--and thus to anchor--different facets of masculinity as these are recognized by the different stages of Freemasonry's initiations and rituals. The four principle chambers known as the Masonic lodge room, armory and drill room of the Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, and the Shriners' mosque correspond respectively to the masculine facets of the heroic artisan, the holy warrior, the wise man, and the jester. Moore moves back and forth from physical aspects of these rooms, the relationship of these aspects to the different facets of masculinity, and how Masonic rituals, lore, values, and practices work to define these aspects and keep them in proper balance in the formation of the ideal Freemason. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subtitle: Containing a Definition of All Its Communicable Terms, Notices of Its History, Traditions, and Antiquities, and an Account of All the Rites and Mysteries of the Ancient World; Original Published by: Moss in 1860 in 540 pages; Subjects: Freemasonry; Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / General; Social Science / Freemasonry; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Kindle Version stinks.
If you are a Freemason go ahead and get the traditional book, the Kindle version is only semi-functional.There are allot of scanning errors, and the images are two small to be of use to someone with less then perfect eyesight. ... Read more

Product Description
GUIDE TO THE THREE SYMBOLIC DEGREES OF THE ANCIENT YORK RITE AND TO THE DEGREES OF MARK MASTER, PAST MASTER, MOST EXCELLENT MASTER, AND THE ROYAL ARCH.The purpose of this work is not so much to gratify the curiosity of the uninitiated as to furnish a guide for the neophytes of the Order, by means of which their progress from grade to grade may be facilitated. Every statement in the book is authentic, as every proficient Mason will admit to himself, if not to be public, as he turns over its pages. The non-Masonic reader, as he peruses them, will perhaps be puzzled to imagine why matters of so little real importance to society at large should have been so industriously concealed for centuries, and still more surprised that society should have been so extremely inquisitive about them.Complete with over 100 illustrations showing the signs, emblems, handshakes, postions, ect... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent
This is a perfect item for personal use or to give as a gift to any Mason.

Great for Masons!
To begin, this book helps explain the first 3 degrees in Freemasonry (and more, Royal Arch degree etc.). It gets 5 stars for its concise account!

My review should be helpful because my reasons for purchasing this book are likely similar to many.

I purchased this book before becoming a mason and was intrigued to learn about what exactly goes on within a lodge. At first, Duncan's gave me a superficial understanding. Though admittedly, it was rather dry and boring to read, as I will expect most non-masons will find.

However, having entered a lodge and re-reading Duncan's Ritual, it becomes a fascinating book. This is because it provides one with an account of the experiece he just went through. For this reason alone it is fascinating.

With that said,

1. if you are a non-mason and have no intention of ever becoming one this book probably isn't for you. You will just become bored (in my opinion). Although, it should satisfy your curiosity of what goes on inside a lodge.

2. If you're a non-mason and are considering joining a lodge I don't recommend this book either. Like the prior example, you'll likely find it boring. Further, you might spoil the mystery when you do get your first degree. I can vouche for this myself.

The following analogy might give you an idea of why this book will be boring to the non-mason.

It is like reading a finely composed musical score on paper, for instance Mozart (a mason, if you didn't know). The music doesn't really come alive until one hears the experience. The same goes for receiving your degrees in Freemasonry.

3. If you are a mason, and especially if you have just gone through your three degrees, this book is invaluable. It will help you reflect on what you just went through. You'll be able to put a face (from your own lodge) to the officer positions described in this book. Wow! To me that is half the fun.

-----

Overall, this book is most useful to masons looking to reflect on their own experiences in the lodge. Non-masons probably won't find it exciting.

There are, give or take, some small details that are specific to the time and location (New York 1920s?) when this book was first published. Nevertheless, 98% of the book should remain accurate.

Another book I recommend to masons is "The Meaning of Masonry" by Whilmhurst. Its a bit antiquated in its style, but its lectures provide deeper insight which I found enlightening.

McCoys Dictionary of Freemasonry was also helpful in self-study. Mackeys is good too.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (43)

Great Insightful Book
This book is an absolute must have for anyone that wishes to gain deep insight into the rituals and rites of the Masonic Order. A very long read for a paperback book made even longer considering the print is medium-small sized, but don't let that deter you from reading this great compilation. Definitely worth buying

Great Book!!!
This is a great book for those who want to learn the ritual!!!

One Brother from MA-USA

Mixed Feelings
I have to start out by saying, I am glad that it has helped several people join a order I love dearly, and maybe I should be satisfied that it has helped in that decision making. It's also disturbing that the things that we as Masons hold so sacred (not secret) are available for everyone to see, without strict trial, and due examination, to see if you are worthy of this information. As someone mentioned earlier not every affiliation uses the Duncan, but some do, along with our guide and rule the Holy Bible. Most of us as Masons never was privileged to this information when we decided to join, nor during our travel in search for more light in the higher degrees until we got to that degree, and only then were we able to see the information pertaining to that degree, and no more. So I truly hope that with this ritual being available to everyone, it helps destroy the bad claims about our organization, and get good men to continue to join, to become better men. It is good reading, thanks to all of you that have had good things to say about the studies of the art Masonry.

So Much for Secrecy
I am not a Mason, but have an interest in what they are and why there is so much secrecy surrounding their proceedings.Reading Duncan's book is like being in the Lodge while these initiations, rituals and other processes are going on.

The book is very thorough, including footnotes, to explain the significance of certain words orthe history behind some of the rituals. Great reference book.

Excellent compilation of the "York" or US Freemasonic Rite
This compilation of rituals is basically intended for those duly initiated into the so-called "York" or US free-masonic rite. This rite much resembles the "Standard Rite of Scotland" (not to be confused with the so-called "Scottish Rite"!). Given the purpose of the book, this reviewer does not find it appropriate to criticise the US Rite as such in this context.

Of course the reader should be aware that there are several rites and variants thereof practised in Freemasonry, some, e.g. the Emulation Rite practised in England and the French Rite, more "adogmatic"; others, e.g. the Scandinavian and Rectified Scottish Rites, on the other hand even more closely frameworked to the Christian Tradition than the "York" Rite.

The size, quality, typeface, paper, binding, etc. of the book are simply excellent for the stated purpose. The explanations and comments are very useful and well balanced.

Problematic may well be the availability of this book to the general public. It is not a substitute for proper initiation and cannot, as can no book, convey the real essentials of Freemasonry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

On Target
Anyone who says that this book is not well researched or written I would have to guess is a Mason and is protecting the image of Freemasonry.It's quite clear that the quotes in the book are from Freemasonry's teachings.They are the word of Pike who is the father of American Freemasonry.It's apparent that members were and are deliberately misled into believing false doctrine.I think it's sad that men choose to defend this garbage instead of standing up and denouncing an organization that is an obvious lie.Very sad how gullible these guys are. The authors supporting Ed Deckers position are the authors of Freemasonry.It doesn't get much clearer than that.

Why not to waste your time with this book
When I was young an adult friend discovered my grandfather was a mason and provided this book in an attempt to thwart my interest in the organization. I read it and was quite disturbed. I actually attempted to spread Decker's filth because I foolishly believed him. I spent nearly 5 years researching freemasony during which time I satisfied myself that my loving grandfather who was also a pastor in the first christian church wasn't a part of some "Godless Cult". I am now quite ashamed that I contributed to his twisted attempt to chastise masons. He seems to have a grudge against Mormonism, but I am still not sure how he dragged us into it. I am now a master mason myself after much prayer and research pertaining to my decision to be initiated. And much to my pleasure I have found masonry to be an organization of quite moral and, in my geography, christian men who have quite a fear and respect for God and his teachings through Jesus. Freemasonry is no religion or cult or whatever Decker and his SaintsAlive group claim it to be. However, masonry has bestowed upon me a much clearer view of what it means to be a christian through its teachings of friendship, morality, and brotherly love. I strongly encourage anyone thinking about reading this book to please, please form your own opinion of masonry and not to mix Decker's knowledge and desecration of Mormonism with such an honorable group as freemasons.

He truly has misinterpreted masonry and I admonish the public when reading other masonic literature, not to look upon it as a religion, but a system of morality whereby a man may discover truths through which he may live a life that is pleasing in God's eyes, and resist tipping the balance of his life towards evil.

If it must be associated with religion let it not be a religion itself nor an antagonist to religion, but a complement to religion through which men may carry out their own religous beliefs in their own society.

Decker proved to me that he has no true knowledge of masonry.
I really don't know much of Mormonism, but the book seems to be more of a story he made up than anything factual.It is odd that the title says nothing of Mormonism, but the inside is a constant struggle to link masons to mormons.And for the sake of this review, this is one of the few books that I would throw in the fire.

The Dark Side of Freemasonry
EXCELLENT BOOK

Well written.Well documented.Very well explained association of Freemasonry with paganism and the occult.

The Dark Side of Freemasonry
EXCELLENT BOOK

Well written.Well documented.Very well explained association of Freemasonry with paganism and the occult.

Decker's Sad Attempt to make a living.
First off, don't even waste your money on this book or any work by Ed Decker.The man makes a living off bashing Freemasonry by writing books and speaking and promoting himself.

Moromons happen to be Decker's other target for bashing and attacks in once again, a sorry way of making living and promoting himself.He happened to be a Mormon himself but was tossed out after it was found that he comminted adultry.

Decker just uses the same old tired arugments againest Freemasonry that others used in the past.However these objections were never fully reserached, some are half truths, while other are just outright lies.

Decker doesn't write books and speak about Freemasonry or the Mormon Church to inform people, if he wanted to do that, he'd be honest with them, he only does it for it profit and futher to promote himself. ... Read more

Product Description
The Evolution of Freemasonry an Authentic Story of Freemasonry and The Master's Assistant: A Complete Treatise on Freemasonry. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Freemasons; Body, Mind ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
I was disappointed to find out that there are two versions of this book and the one I needed was under the exact title but it is the esoteric version. The two versions are quite different is some stratigic ways.

M&D
I love this book! It is full of good advice and wisdom. This book should be required reading for college. Anyone intrested in Freemasonry should pick this book up ASAP.

Deep contemplative work
This work was originally an internal textbook of the Freemasonry degrees which was not supposed to be read by non-members.If you get a really old copy, you will see on the copyright page "Please return on death of owner."This book was designed to teach Freemasons about Freemasonry, not to teach outsiders.More properly it was intended to teach Freemasons how to be good Freemasons, rather than to teach about Freemasonry per se.

Each chapter is dedicated to one degree in the Scottish Rite.The chapter is meant to be studied and contemplated by a mason at that degree.Each contains relatively profound statements about how to live the good life.It is a slow read and a big book so it is not a book you should expect to get through in a week or even two.

There is a great deal of material here for contemplation.I would recommend the work to anyone.

Morals and Dogma
Product arrived on time; as agreed.
Book, reprint, is excellent. One does not need to be a Freemason to read this. The lessons contained in the variouis degrees is applicable to everyone. A timeless classic.

Give me a break.This teaches almost nothing about Freemasonry.
Albert Pike was a brilliant scholar.Morals and Dogma is brilliant scholarship which is so esoteric that it's nearly useless.(Exception:Explaining the Scottish Rite doctrine rejecting temporal and religious tyranny in the 30th degree, Knight Kadosh.)Pike writes with unexplained Latin and Greek passages, and strange references to Egyptian mythology.(He later explained that he used Egyptian examples because he figured that wouldn't offend any of the modern religions.)

If you're looking to learn about Freemasonry, this ain't the book for you.In fact, no book will tell you very much about Freemasonry.I could write about skydiving, describe the rush of the air into the plane, the hesitation stepping out, the freedom of free-fall, and so forth, but unless I've done it, I have no way to REALLY understand it.If you want to understand it, you really have to go through the experience.To be a Mason, ask a Mason.

RC ... Read more