What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry teaches moral lessons and self-knowledge through participation in a progression of alleg orical two-part plays, which are learnt by heart and performed within each lodge.

Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but imp ortantly Freemasonry also teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.

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Tickets now on sale for the CMRC and CRFF joint-venture conference on ‘The Origins of Freemasonry’

Marking a decade of successful international conferences, The Canonbury Masonic Research Centre is pleased to announce that its Eleventh International Conference, scheduled for 24-25 October 2009, is now a joint-venture project being co-organised with the Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism (CRFF), Sheffield University.

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The Open Door by: Ann Pilcher-Dayton

The sub-title to this book is The History of the Order of Women Freemasons 1908 – 2008 and it’s been published to coincide with the Centenary of the Order. In fact, more than five thousand members and guests, gathered for a special, celebratory meeting at London’s Royal Albert Hall, in June. The author, is the Order’s Grand Registrar and Librarian and she states in her Preface: “This book is not intended to be a critical history of the Order of Women Freemasons but it is hoped that it is as objective as possible.

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The Secret Science of Masonic Initiation by: Robert Lomas with a foreword byJonathan Black

Now, this really is an invaluable book for all Masons. Many go through their initiation, then progress through the other degrees, not really understanding the significance of what they’ve experienced.

But this book looks at all aspects of the three ceremonies in Craft Masonry, including the Tracing Boards, and then moves the reader on to discover in himself, how he can truly make that daily advancement in masonic knowledge.

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Hibiscus Masonic Review by Peter J. Millheiser
Published by iUniverse

Hibiscus Lodge was founded in Miami Beach, Florida in 1948 and so this year, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The name of the lodge was selected because the hibiscus flower in Florida, is the one that most closely resembles the forgetme- not. Created by the Brothers of the lodge, is the Hibiscus Foundation and as part of its continuing masonic education, the Foundation sponsors this publication.

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The Secret Garden of the Soul – An Introduction to the Kabbalah by: Allan Armstrong

Allan Armstrong, has devoted his life to the study of Kabbalah, the metaphysical system which is at the heart of Western spirituality. He has written introductions to a series of books on mysticism, and he is the Prior of the Order of Dionysius & Paul, a religious Order dedicated to a life of contemplation and the study of religion, mythology and symbolism. He’s been the Prior since 1991.

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What Do You Know about Ritual? by: Revd Neville Barker Cryer

This well known and accomplished masonic author takes a look at the ritual and provides an incredibly informative guide to understanding what we all repeat during the various ceremonies. The book explains the meaning behind the ritual and its history, concentrating on the First, Second and Third Degree ceremonies, plus the Charge After Initiation, the Installation Ceremony, as well as the Mark Degree and the Holy Royal Arch.

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The Masonic Magician by: Philippa Faulks and Robert Cooper

The sub-title to this book is The Life and Death of Count Cagliostro and his Egyptian Rite and the Count, a renowned alchemist, healer and Freemason was known throughout Europe during the 18th century. In fact, he was somewhat of a cult figure and was featured in novels by Alexander Dumas, a drama by Goethe and the character of Sorastro in Mozart’s Magic Flute was said to be based on him. Since his death in 1795, clairvoyants have said they’ve been in contact with him and even the author and magician, Aleister Crowley claimed that one of his past lives was Cagliostro. Being somewhat of a celebrity of his day though, did not stop him from being arrested, tortured, tried, convicted and incarcerated in the Inquisition fortress of San Leo in Tuscany, for six years until his death. His crime? Well, the most serious charge was that of being a Freemason. So, who was this man with the noble title?

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The Genesis of Freemasonry by: David Harrison

There is no shortage of histories of Freemasonry but sadly all too often they merely reiterate what has been written before, or they take some partisan position. I can reassure you that David Harrison’s tome is not in that mould. He is first of all a historian and then a Brother, rather than the more traditional starting point of a Brother turned historian. The emergence of Freemasonic history from the straightjacket, largely self imposed, of “traditional Masonic thinking”, was led by Professor David Stevenson and followed up by Jessica Harland-Jacobs and Andrew Prescott. Nowadays, it’s becoming the norm to place Freemasonry in the social context of the time. Harrison’s volume feels as though it marks the coming of age on this concept by the younger generation.

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Invisibles : The True History of the Rosicrucians by: Tobias Churton

The subtitle to this book is The True History of the Rosicrucians and here, writer and film maker Tobias Churton brings us the facts behind the “invisible” Brothers of the Rosy Cross.

Born out of the pain of war and religious confusion, and allegedly founded by “Knight of the Golden Stone” Christian Rosenkreuz, it is claimed that they possessed the secret of Man and God and that they could turn metal into gold. Also that they have tried to govern Europe in secret, and most amazingly, that they are under the influence of extra terrestrial powers.

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