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Cornelius Moore - The Craftsman and Freemason's Guide (1854)





Containing a delineation of the ritual of Freemasonry, with the emblems and explanations so arranged as greatly to facilitate in acquiring a knowledge of the rites and ceremonies of the several Degrees, from Entered Apprentice to that of Select Master, and the Order of Priesthood.

340 pages, 19.6 MB, PDF. Scan.

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A. S. MacBride - Speculative Masonry, Its Mission, Its Evolution and Its Landmarks (1914)





CONTENTS

PART I: THE MISSION OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY

CHAPTER I: THE MISSION GENERALLY CONSIDERED

1. The Meaning of the Words "Mission" and “Masonry"
2. The Quest of the Ideal
3. The Variation of the Ideal
4. T he Masonic Ideal
5. The Nature of the Mission
6. Is Masonry To-day True to Its Mission?

II: THE LAW OF THE SQUARE

1. The Law of the Square in Nature
2. The Law of the Square in Material Building
3. The Law of the Square in Moral Building
4. The Law of the Square in the Point Within the Circle. ...
5. The Law of the Square in the Cross
6. Summary of the Law of the Square

III: THE QUARRIES, OR THE SELECTION OF THE MATERIAL

1. The Material Suitable
2. The Quarries Available
3. The Process of Selection

IV: THE LODGE, OR THE PREPARATION OF THE MATERIAL

1. The Nature of Its Work
2. Its Relation to Religion
3. Its Relation to the Outer World
4. Its Ideal Plan
5. Its Course of Instruction
6. Its Chief End

V: THE TEMPLE, OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE MISSION

1. Retrospect and Prospect
2. The Temple of King Solomon,
3. The Ideal Temple

PART II: THE EVOLUTION OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY

CHAPTER I: ORIGINS ASCRIBED TO MASONRY

1. The Historical Difficulties,
2. Some of the Theories Advanced
3. Its Evolution Most Likely Along the Lines of Operative Building

II: ANCIENT SYMBOLISM AND MYSTERIES

1. Antiquity of Masonic Symbolism
2. The Ancient Mysteries

III: THE ROMAN COLLEGIA AND MEDIEVAL GUILDS

1. The Roman Collegia,
2. Identity of the Collegia with the Guilds in England
3. Identity of the Collegia with the Guilds in France.

IV: THE FRENCH COMPANIONAGE

1. The Three Organisations and Their Traditions
2. Interesting Customs and Rules
3. The “Wolves" of the Sons of Solomon and the Masonic “Lewis"
4. Similarities of the Companionage and Freemasonry

V: THE GERMAN STEIN-METZEN

1. The Name and Origin of the Organisation
2. The Culdees
3. The German Guilds and Stein-Metzen

VI: THE OLD BRITISH LODGES

1. The Old Charges
2. The Speculative Element in the Old Lodges
3. Degrees in the Old Lodges

VII: SUMMARY

1. Characteristic Points Common to the Organisations Considered
2. Conclusion

PART III: THE LANDMARKS OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY

CHAPTER I: THE NATURE AND DIVISIONS OF THE LANDMARKS

1. What Landmarks Are
2. The Divisions of the Landmarks
3. First Division, Section A.-A Secret Mode of Recognition by Its Members
4. First Division, Section B.-The Tyling of the Lodge
5. First Division, Section C.-The Qualifications of Candidates
6. Second Division, Section C.-The Conditions of Advancement
7. Third Division, Section A.-The Principal Points in “Opening," and in “Closing" a Lodge
8. Third Division, Section B.-The Principal Points in “Entering," "Passing," and “Raising"
9. Fourth Division, Section B.-The Powers and Duties of the Master, and Officers, and of the Lodge

II: MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING THE LANDMARKS

1. That the Landmarks Are Fixed and Unalterable
2. That the Landmarks Fix the Lodge Ceremonies Verbatim et Literatim
3. How Misconceptions Have Been Formed,

III: THE LANDMARKS AND PROGRESS
1. The Landmarks No Hindrance to Progress
2. The Teachings of History and Nature
3. The Temple of Brotherhood and Peace is the Great Landmark

APPENDIX

PART I: THE MISSION OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY

The Law of the Square in the Cross
The Temple of King Solomon
The Pillars

PART II: THE EVOLUTION OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY

The Historical Difficulties
INDEX

292 pages, 18 MB, PDF. Scan.

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Thomas Paine - On the Origin of Free-Masonry (1810)



It is always understood that Freemasons have a secret which they carefully conceal; but from everything that can be collected from their own accounts of Masonry, their real secret is no other than their origin, which but few of them understand; and those who do, envelop it in mystery.

The Society of Masons are distinguished into three classes or degrees. 1st. The Entered Apprentice. 2d. The Fellow Craft. 3d. The Master Mason.

The Entered Apprentice knows but little more of Masonry than the use of signs and tokens, and certain steps and words by which Masons can recognize each other without being discovered by a person who is not a Mason. The Fellow Craft is not much better instructed in Masonry, than the Entered Apprentice. It is only in the Master Mason's Lodge, that whatever knowledge remains of the origin of Masonry is preserved and concealed.

44 pages, 4.54 MB, PDF. Scan.

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[driecken]

Thank you for all of the good work you have done to put this together, I will try to read through this stuff but it will take me a while.

Some of these look pretty rare, at least according to the dates.

Well done.

[jet2marz2012]

wow,thanks for the wealth of knowledge on this subject. thumbs up!

[tehuti]

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You're welcome, lad.

[tehuti]

Ritual of the Independent Order of Good Templars for Subordinate Lodges (1864)



The IOGT Internatinal (formerly known as the International Organisation of Good Templars and International Order of Good Templars and the Independent Order of Good Templars) is an international non-governmental organisation working in the field of temperance. It is based in Sweden, a country which had very strict alcohol policies and laws in the past.

The IOGT originated as one of a number of fraternal organisations for temperance or total abstinence founded in the 19th century and with a structure modelled on Freemasonry, using similar ritual and regalia. Unlike many, however, it admitted men and women equally, and also made no distinction by race.

56 pages, 2.98 MB, PDF. Scan.

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J.S.M. Ward - The Masonic Handbook Series



176 pages, 1.18 MB, PDF.

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Samuel L. Knapp - The Genius of Masonry,

or A Defence of the Order, containing some remarks on the origin and history; the uses and abuses of the science, with some notices of other secret societies in the United States, in Three Lectures (1828)



118 pages, 6.8 MB, PDF. Scan.

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John Sherer - The Masonic Ladder or the Nine Steps to Ancient Freemasonry (1876)





Being a practical exhibit, in prose and verse, of the moral precepts, traditions, scriptural instructions and allegories of the degrees of entered apprentice, fellow craft, master mason, mark master, past master, most excellent master, royal arch mason, royal master and select master.

286 pages, 37 MB, PDF. Scan.

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George Oliver - The Star in the East (1825)



The Star in the East, Shewing the Analogy Which Exists Between the Lectures of Freemasonry, the Mechanism of Initiation Into Its Mysteries, and the Christian Religion.

205 pages, 3.22 MB, PDF. Scan.

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Henry O'Brien - The Round Towers of Ireland (1834)



The Round Towers Of Atlantis/Ireland by Henry O'Brien is the welcome reprint of a long out-of-print seminal work offering a profound wealth of esoteric wisdom and lore. Originally published back in 1834 as "The Round Towers of Ireland", Henry O'Brien's The Round Towers Of Atlantis provides an insightful and thought-provoking inquiry and commentary on the lost civilization of Atlantis, pre-Christian megalithic architecture, ancient secret societies, the history of the Tuatha-de-Danaans, the origins of modern Celtic Christianity, the relationship and connections between Atlantis and Ireland, and much, much more. Enthusiastically recommended reading for students of occult and metaphysical studies, The Round Towers Of Atlantis is a treasury of arcane knowledge is preserved in this profound and meticulous account that has miraculously survived the test of time.

577 pages, 16 MB, PDF. Scan. Very rare!

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Manly P. Hall - The Lost Keys of Masonry or The Legend of Hiram Abif (1924)



The steady demand and increasing popularity of this volume, of which eighteen thousand copies have been printed since it first appeared a few years ago, have brought the present revised and rearranged edition into being. The text can be read with profit by both new and old Mason, for within its pages lies an interpretation of Masonic symbolism which supplements the monitorial instruction usually given in the lodges. The leading Masonic scholars of all times have agreed that the symbols of the Fraternity are susceptible of the most profound interpretation and thus reveal to the truly initiated certain secrets concerning the spiritual realities of life. Freemasonry is therefore more than a mere social organization a few centuries old, and can be regarded as a perpetuation of the philosophical mysteries and initiations of the ancients. This is in keeping with the inner tradition of the Craft, a heritage from pre-Revival days.

The present volume will appeal to the thoughtful Mason as an inspiring work, for it satisfies the yearning for further light and leads the initiate to that Sanctum Sanctorum where the mysteries are revealed. The book is a contribution to Masonic idealism, revealing the profounder aspects of our ancient and gentle Fraternity—those unique and distinctive features which have proved a constant inspiration through the centuries.

Metaphysical/Masonic classic from Manly P. Hall. This is an insightful study of the deeper and esoteric aspects of Freemasonry. Wonderful work for Mason or non-Mason.

128 pages, 9.54 MB, PDF. Scan.

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E.J. Marconis - The Sanctuary of Memphis or Hermes



Do you want to know about the the Masonic Rite of Memphis? Read this book! Marconis was the son of the man who founded the order and includes information not obtainable elsewhere, such as the "universal tyler" which gives all the secret grips, words, and signs of all the degrees of the Masonic Rites of Memphis, the French Rite, and the Scottish Rite, from the First through the Thirty-third degrees inclusive! Marconis also includes the complete ritual of the First degree and the instruction of the 2nd and 3rd Degrees plus important information on Adoptive (androgynous) Masonry and charts of several secret Masonic alphabets.

237 pages, 10.7 MB, PDF. Scan.

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George H. Steinmetz - The Lost Word It's Hidden Meaning

A Correlation of the Allegory and Symbolism of the Bible with That of Freemasonry and an Exposition of the Secret Doctrine





Written for the purpose of delving into the Secret Doctrine of Freemasonry. This work by George Steinmetz is recommended by numerous Grand Lodges, including Pennsylvania. Steinmetz explains the Masonic meaning of the words, Savior, Messiah, etc. Four saviors, including Krishna (Hinduism), Osiris (Egyptian), Hiram (Freemasonry) and Jesus (Christianity) are discussed.

271 pages, 21.7 MB, PDF. Scan.

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Lynn F. Perkins - The Meaning of Masonry





186 pages, 18 MB, PDF. Scan.

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Oliver Day Street - Symbolism of the Three Degrees I-III

Symbolism of the Three Degrees is a discussion of the symbols, legends, and allegories of Freemasonry. It began as a collection of research material for a series of lectures, which were later published in The Builder, a journal of the National Masonic Research Society. Due to their great popularity, they were eventually assembled in book form.

In approaching each symbol of the degrees, the author endeavors to go beyond those explanations provided in the lectures and found within the monitors of Freemasonry. He sought to illuminate each in both practical and historic terms. The topics are arranged by degree and indexed at the back of the book. Originally published in 1922, this work remains a great resource for newly raised Master Masons and anyone seeking more information about the symbolism of Freemasonry. As stated in the forward to the book:

"Masters and wardens and all others entrusted with the exemplification of our marvelous Masonic ritual will find in it such light on all the important symbols of the Three Degrees as will give them and their audience a new interest in the work, and a new appreciation of the inexhaustible wealth hidden away within the heart of Ancient Craft Masonry."

H. L. Haywood (Editor of The Builder, 1922)

Contents:

* Volume I: The Entered Apprentice Degree
* Volume II: The Fellow Craft Degree
* Volume III: The Master Mason Degree

3 volumes, 17.8 MB, PDF. Scan.

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W.L. Wilmshurst - Masonic Initiation





The Masonic Initiation is the powerful sequel to W. L. Wilmshurst's other enduring classic, The Meaning of Masonry. Here, we find the author's most advanced expression as he explores the profound depths of Masonic ritual as a contemplative art, and offers his vision of the future of the Order. Both Freemasons and those who study the Craft from a distance will enjoy these insightful essays. This new edition by Plumbstone has been fully revised and re-set in clear, modern type, and is enriched with extensive notes expanding on Wilmshurst's points, elucidating his sources, and explaining the differences between American and British Freemasonry. Prominent Masonic author Robert G. Davis writes in his Foreword that this edition provides "a new look at a timeless classic which has induced many generations of Masons to feel that, when they are in the sacred space of lodge, they are in the presence of a mystery that goes to the root of their own being."

228 pages, 11.5 MB, PDF. Scan.

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John Yarker - Secret High Degree Rituals of Memphis



The Rite of Memphis aggravated members of "conventional" Freemasonry because it claimed not only to be the true source of Masonic wisdom but to be the ONLY legitimate Masonic system! Its rituals were much more esoteric than those commonly encountered in "regular" Freemasonry. Many colorful personalities allied themselves with this system, including Karl Kellner, Theodore Reuss and Aleister Crowley. In England, the Rite was under the direction of John Yarker, while in the United States, Harvey Spencer Lewis, of AMORC fame, also made use of these degrees. This fascinating book is a reprint of John Yarker's manuscript-"The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis in 95th Degree-Book Third-Series III Consistory and Grand Council." It includes Yarker's last revision of the 34th through 96th Degree rituals inclusive, plus the "secret work".

85 pages, 20.2 MB, PDF. Scan.

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J.D. Buck - The Symbolism of Freemasonry or Mystic Masonry



This Great Secret, this Master's Word, was know to and preserved in the Mysteries of Antiquity, and is embodied and preserved in the traditions and symbols of Masonry today. This fact has been stated repeatedly in the body of this little book, the real purpose of which was to set students, and particularly masonic students, to searching for the real secret. It is the reward of study and devotion, and has never been obtained on any other terms. It has never been conferred in the ritualistic degrees of the lodge, and never will or can be. It is the establishment of understanding in the soul of man between that higher self in him, and the More, and the Beyond self from which he draws his life, and from which his intuitions spring. This is real Initiation: Becoming: At-one-ment." "There are thousands of Masons, who realize that Masonry contains and implies far more than appears in the ritual and ceremonies of the Lodge. There is a very widespread and growing interest in this direction, and it is this that Mystic Masonry, above all else, is designed to foster, encourage, and help."

Contents: Principles of Education and Ethics; Genius of Freemasonry; The Secret Doctrine, Science and Religion, The Septenary Nature of Man, The Sign of the Master; The Great Lodge, An Outline of Symbolism.

175 pages, 16.4 MB, PDF. Scan.

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