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All the myths and rumors about Masonic organizations probably have you wondering "what do Masons really do?" Questions like this one are a natural by-product of being the oldest and largest "secret society" in the world. This book is an ideal starting place to find answers to your questions about the secret and not-so-secret things about Freemasonry.
Now in its third edition, this international best-seller peeks behind the door of your local Masonic lodge and explains the meanings behind the rituals, rites, and symbols of the organization. Along the way the book covers nearly 3,000 years of Masonic history, introduces you to some famous Freemasons you already know from history books, and explains the relationship with related groups like Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Order of Eastern Star, and the beloved fez-wearing Shriners.
Look inside the book to learn:
Written by a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and the Public Relations and Marketing Director for the Grand Lodge F&AM of Indiana, Freemasons For Dummies is a must-read guide for anyone interested in this ancient fraternal order, whether you're looking to join or are just curious about some of the more mysterious aspects of Freemasonry.
Christopher Hodapp 33° has spent most of his adult life as a member of the Freemasons, rising to the status of 33rd degree in the Scottish Rite. His long list of authoring credits includes several books on Freemasonry as well as RVs & Campers For Dummies. He has appeared as an expert on Freemasonry on several shows on the History Channel, Discovery Channel, TruTV, and American Heroes Channel.
Introduction 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 4
Icons Used in This Book 5
Beyond the Book 6
Where to Go from Here 6
Part 1: What is Freemasonry? 7
Chapter 1: Lodges, Aprons, and Funny Handshakes: Freemasonry 101 9
What Is Freemasonry? 11
What Do Masons Do? 12
Conferring the three degrees 12
Meeting in lodges, blue lodges, craft lodges, and more 13
Wearing aprons (Real men do it!) 14
Keeping "secrets" 15
Performing public ceremonies 16
Providing something for everyone 17
Are [Fill in the Blank] Freemasons, Too? 17
Chapter 2: From Cathedrals to Lodge Rooms: A History of the Freemasons 21
Turning Stonecutters into Gentlemen: Freemasonry before 1700 22
Operative Masons: The great builders 22
Speculative Masons and the big change 29
Building Men: The 1700s 32
Founding the first Grand Lodge 32
Establishing Masonry in America 39
Finding favor and persecution during and after the French Revolution 44
Growing, Changing, and Branching Out: The 1800s 45
Reuniting Antients and Moderns 46
Spreading throughout America 46
Surviving and Surging: The 1900s 52
Relieving social concerns in the early 1900s 53
Being cast as villains and heroes in World War II 53
Growing again post-war 54
Declining in the '60s 54
Experiencing the 21st Century: More Changes on the Way 55
The Internet 56
Masonic podcasts 56
Popular culture 57
Changes in Masonic practices 57
Traditional Observance lodges 58
University lodges 58
What's next? 59
Chapter 3: The Philosophy of Freemasonry 61
Defining What Masons Believe In 62
Promoting brotherly love, relief, and truth 62
Adhering to basic principles 64
Establishing a New World Order? 67
Experiencing Mystic Masonry 68
Connecting members through a mystic tie 69
Expressing concepts through symbolism 69
Chapter 4: Politics, Religion, and Freemasons: They Don't Mix 71
Exploring the History of Religion and the Masons 72
Bringing limited religion into the lodge 73
Examining the history of Freemasonry and Catholicism 75
Pairing Freemasons and Protestants peacefully (mostly) 79
Bridging great divides: Freemasonry and Judaism 81
Finding conflict between Freemasonry and Islam (where none exists) 84
Refusing to Play Politics 86
Placing Freemasonry amid the political turmoil of 18th-century Europe 87
Sparking anarchy in French lodges 87
Surviving the revolution 89
Enduring the rule of dictators 92
Continuing to weather distrust 95
Maintaining brotherhood during war 96
Part 2: The Inner Workings of Freemasonry 99
Chapter 5: How the Freemasons Are Organized: Who Does What and Why 101
What's Inside the Lodge? 102
Examining the lodge room 103
Meeting and eating at the lodge 104
Who's in Charge around Here? 105
Officers in the progressive line 106
Officers not in the progressive line 111
What Makes a Grand Lodge So, Well, Grand? 116
The Grand Master 117
The rules 118
What Is a Regular, Recognized Lodge? 119
Which one's legit? Sorting through multiple Grand Lodges 120
Irregular, unrecognized, and all over the place: Lodges out of the mainstream 123
Chapter 6: The Ceremonies of Freemasons 131
Understanding Where Masonic Ritual Comes From 132
The historical medieval guild rituals 133
The written account 137
Performing the Rituals of the Modern Lodge 139
Setting the stage for the ritual 139
Entered Apprentice: Initiation and youth 141
Fellow Craft: Passing through manhood 143
Master Mason: Raising, age, and death 144
Movin' on up! 145
Chapter 7: The Symbols of Freemasonry 147
Symbolizing the Lessons of Freemasonry 148
Deciphering the Key Masonic Ideas 149
The number three 150
Tracing boards: 18th-century PowerPoint 150
Solomon's Temple 151
Square and compass(es) 155
Explaining More Masonic Symbols 156
Scythe and hourglass 156
The 47th Problem of Euclid or the Pythagorean theorem 156
Jacob's ladder 157
Anchor and ark 157
Sun, eye, Moon, and stars 157
Lamb and lambskin apron 158
Slipper 158
Point within a circle and parallel lines 159
Pot of incense 160
Beehive 160
Plumb 161
Level 161
Letter G 162
Five-pointed star 163
Naked heart and sword 164
Tyler's sword and the Book of Constitutions 165
Trowel 165
Handshake 165
Rough and perfect (or smooth) ashlars 165
Pillars 166
24-inch gauge and the common gavel 167
The shovel, setting maul, coffin, and sprig of acacia 167
Chapter 8: Myths and Misconceptions about Masons 169
Digging to the Root of Freemasonry Misunderstandings 170
Debunking Common Myths about Freemasonry 171
Riding the lodge goat 171
Keeping an eye on you with the all-seeing eye and the U.S $1 bill 172
Reading a Masonic bible 173
Worshipping strange gods 174
Pairing up Pike and Lucifer 178
Taking over the world 180
Breaking the law 181
Part 3: When One Lodge isn't Enough: The Appendant Bodies 183
Chapter 9: Introducing the Appendant Bodies: Who's Who, and Who Isn't 185
What Are Appendant Bodies? 187
Concordant bodies 187
Appendant bodies 190
What About These Other Groups? 192
Animal lodges 193
Service clubs 194
Other unrelated fraternal groups 196
Masonic-sounding groups 199
Chapter 10: The York Rite 203
The York Rite System 204
Why York? 205
How it's organized 205
Royal Arch Masonry 207
Mark Master 208
Past Master 208
Most Excellent Master 210
Royal Arch 210
The Cryptic Rite 210
Chivalric Masonry and the Knights Templar 212
The chivalric orders 213
A crash course in Templar history 215
Other York Rite Bodies 222
York Rite College 222
Knight Masons 222
Allied Masonic Degrees 223
Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (SRICF) 223
Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests 225
Knights of the York Cross of Honour 225
Red Cross of Constantine 225
St Thomas of Acon 225
The Operatives 226
The Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales, and Its Provinces Overseas 226
York Rite Charities 227
Chapter 11: The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 229
Surveying the Scottish Rite System 231
Organization: Meeting the departments that confer degrees 231
Membership: Earning degrees in the Scottish Rite 232
Presentation: Raising the curtain and lighting the lights 234
Tracing the Scottish Rite's Origins 236
France: Freemasonry's foundry furnace 236
The Americas: The Scottish Rite's real home 237
Introducing Albert Pike: Sage of the Scottish Rite 238
Pike's life outside of Masonry 239
Discovering Freemasonry 239
Writing and revising rituals, morals, and dogma 242
Putting Pike in perspective 242
Listing the Degrees of the Scottish Rite 244
The Southern Jurisdiction degrees 244
The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction degrees 246
Serving Communities through Charitable Work 247
Chapter 12: Shriners International 249
Getting to Know the Shriners 250
Tracing the History from Partiers to Philanthropists 250
The Knickerbocker boys start the fun 251
So why the goofy hats? 251
The first growth of the Shrine 252
Polio and the first Shrine hospital 252
Depression and growth 253
Greatest philanthropy in the world 253
Putting a Little of the Boy Back in the Man 255
Getting initiated 255
Gathering at the oasis 255
Forming units to suit every Shriner 256
Having fun in little cars 257
Considering the Shrine's Place in Freemasonry 258
Chapter 13: The Extended Masonic Family 261
Bringing Women into the Lodge 262
The Order of the Eastern Star 262
The Order of the Amaranth 267
The White Shrine of Jerusalem 268
The Social Order of the Beauceant 269
Not Just Kidding Around: The Youth Groups 270
DeMolay International for boys 270
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls 271
Job's Daughters 273
Checking Out Lesser-Known Masonic Groups 274
The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm of North America 274
The Ancient Egyptian Order of SCIOTS 275
The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America 275
National Sojourners 276
High Twelve International 277
Widows Sons 277
Investigating Masonic Research Societies 278
Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 278
Philalethes Society 279
Phylaxis Society 279
Scottish Rite Research Society 279
The Masonic Society 280
Lodges of research 280
Part 4: Freemasonry Today and Tomorrow 281
Chapter 14: Why Freemasonry is Still Relevant 283
A Breakdown in Community 284
Isolating individuals 285
Disconnecting from each other 285
Getting shortchanged in social capital 286
Where Freemasonry Fits In 287
Making good men better ones 288
Providing something for everybody 289
Supporting brotherly love 289
Involving people in charitable work 291
Practicing religious tolerance 291
Giving comfort through constancy 292
Chapter 15: Freemasons and the Future 295
Speculating on the Future of the Craft 297
One-day classes 297
Advertising and Masonry's public image 298
Paying your dues 299
Going Back to the Future 300
Reducing Masonic real estate 301
Growing the Observant-style lodge movement 302
Returning to old ways 303
Exploring ancient lessons with new technology 303
"Masoning" on the Internet 304
Freemasonry online 304
Blurring the concepts of recognition 305
Contending with anti-social social media 305
Chapter 16: So You Want to Become a Freemason 307
Examining Why Men Become Masons 308
What's in it for you 308
Hearing from Masons themselves 309
Why I joined 310
To Be One, Ask One 312
Finding a Freemason 312
Finding a lodge 313
Joining a Lodge 314
Qualifying for membership 314
Petitioning to join the lodge 315
Being investigated 316
Balloting 316
Scheduling your degree ceremonies 318
Being welcomed as a Brother 318
Part 5: The Part of Tens 321
Chapter 17: Ten Groups of Famous Masons 323
Founding Fathers 323
Explorers and Adventurers 325
Pioneers of Science and Medicine 326
Actors and Entertainers 326
Incredible Athletes 327
Military Leaders 328
Significant Businessmen 329
Players in the World of Statecraft 329
U.S Civil Rights Leaders 330
Men of Arts and Letters 331
Chapter 18: Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons, and Hoaxes 333
Leo Taxil and the Great Hoax! 333
The Illuminati! 335
Trilats, CFRs, and Bilderbergers, Oh My! 336
The Secret 33rd Degree! 338
Jack the Ripper: A Freemason! 338
The Italian P2 Lodge Scandal! 340
Washington, D.C., Is Satan's Road Map! 341
Aleister Crowley, Satanist and Freemason! 342
Freemasons Founded the Nazis! 343
Masonic Cops! Masonic Judges! 344
Chapter 19: Ten Cool Masonic Places 347
George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Alexandria, Virginia) 348
House of the Temple (Washington, D.C.) 348
Freemason's Hall (Philadelphia) 349
Masonic Temple (Detroit) 349
Grand Lodge of New York Masonic Hall (New York City) 350
Scottish Rite Cathedral (Indianapolis) 350
Freemason Hall (London) 350
Templar Church (London) 351
Rosslyn Chapel (Roslin, Scotland) 351
Musée de la Francmaçonnerie and other Masonic sites (Paris) 351
Part 6: Appendixes 353
Appendix A: The Regius Manuscript 355
A Poem of Moral Duties 356
Appendix B: Anderson's Constitutions 379
The Charges Of A Free Mason 379
i Concerning God And Religion 380
ii Of The Civil Magistrate Supreme And Subordinate 380
iii Of Lodges 381
iv Of Masters, Wardens, Fellows, And Apprentices 381
v Of The Management Of The Craft In Working 382
vi Of Behavior 383
Appendix C: Finding a Lodge 387
Mainstream U.S Grand Lodges 387
Prince Hall Grand Lodges 391
Canadian Grand Lodges 394
Index 397
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