A collection of articles by Ronald J. R. Hart, PProvJGD, SLGR, with particular emphasis on his many years of research into the architecture and symbolism of Freemasonry. The book contains chapters on the most ancient Lodge and Temple (Kilwinning), the origins of our Lodge columns, the symbolism of the Past Master’s jewel, myth and legend, glimpses of Royal Arch Ritual and the Vault, some of the symbols of the First Degree, and the symbols of the Second Degree. Do you want to enhance your Masonic knowledge? This book will give you answers to many of the Masonic questions commonly asked. Where does Freemasonry come from? What does the Past Master’s jewel really symbolize? What do the columns in our Lodges signify? What is the symbolism within our Three Degrees? Which Lodge is the oldest? What does the Holy Royal Arch and its Ritual symbolize?

Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2020 With the dramatic rise of Freemasonry in the eighteenth century, art played a fundamental role in its practice, rhetoric, and global dissemination, while Freemasonry, in turn, directly influenced developments in art. This mutually enhancing relationship has only recently begun to receive its due. The vilification of Masons, and their own secretive practices, have hampered critical study and interpretation. As perceptions change, and as masonic archives and institutions begin opening to the public, the time is ripe for a fresh consideration of the interconnections between Freemasonry and the visual arts. This volume offers diverse approaches, and explores the challenges inherent to the subject, through a series of eye-opening case studies that reveal new dimensions of well-known artists such as Francisco de Goya and John Singleton Copley, and important collectors and entrepreneurs, including Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and Baron Taylor. Individual essays take readers to various countries within Europe and to America, Iran, India, and Haiti. The kinds of art analyzed are remarkably wide-ranging-porcelain, architecture, posters, prints, photography, painting, sculpture, metalwork, and more-and offer a clear picture of the international scope of the relationships between Freemasonry and art and their significance for the history of modern social life, politics, and spiritual practices. In examining this topic broadly yet deeply, Freemasonry and the Visual Arts sets a standard for serious study of the subject and suggests new avenues of investigation in this fascinating emerging field.

Learn the Ritual 'Secret Weapons'... In "Learning Masonic Ritual - The Simple, Systematic and Successful Way to Master the Work", author Rick Smith has combined the Secret Weapons of Great Ritualists into a structured process that anyone can follow. Whether you're new to Freemasonry and looking for a jump-start, or you've tried and failed to learn Ritual in the past, this Three-Stage System will show you how to succeed. Most people are capable of learning and performing Ritual, but many simply haven't found the best approach. This book lays out proven techniques and methods that you can integrate into your everyday life. Eliminate the Common Mistakes... The most common mistakes are explained and removed, you are taught how to plan properly, and introduced to Tips and Tricks used by successful Ritualists to make it look easy. Learning Masonic Ritual equips you with a Complete Coaching System, emphasising Competence, Confidence and Sincerity, to achieve your goals in record time. You could spend years developing and learning these techniques by yourself, or you could master the Secret Weapons in a weekend and vastly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of Freemasonry by becoming an active participant in the Ritual of your Lodge. This version is based on English Craft Ritual; however the techniques and methods are equally valid for any Masonic Ritual system. Here are some of the Kindle Reviewers' comments; "Just finished reading this book and was enthralled by the explanation for time keeping and method of learning. I'm far from the best for remembering long passages so this will help and I will put it to the test. I've just passed to 2nd degree & will start on the 1st degree charge just so I know it. As you can imagine it's a fairly long piece and when you're standing there it's a bit daunting. Thank you for writing this and now I can use this method for future reference". - Mr G. 28 July 2013 "I wish this was available when I first joined the Craft! Essential guidance for both the new Freemason who is daunted by the work that may lie ahead, but also the seasoned ritualist whose advancing years have made it more difficult to recall and retain like he used to! Also a useful tool for Lodge Mentors to have in their armoury to encourage the less experienced mason to progress" - Jim Tull, 28th June 2013 "This book was written mostly for brothers working under the Grand Lodge of England, so the terms used for the various parts of the work, as well as some of the officers' titles can be confusing to those of us in the southern U.S., but Brother Smith still delivers a good lecture on both the joys and importance of the ritual, as well as an effective means to help learn and polish your parts. My mentor took me by a slightly different path, but I still recognized some of the things they made me do; this book offered more light on why to do it that way, and some options to improve the process. An excellent essay, and we'll worth the modest price. I'm sure these methods can be applied to all types of learning. Give it a try!" - Thomas E Ezell, July 2nd 2013 Click on Look Inside to read the first chapter FREE

They built some of the first communal structures on the empire's frontiers. The empire's most powerful proconsuls sought entrance into their lodges. Their public rituals drew dense crowds from Montreal to Madras. The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons were quintessential builders of empire, argues Jessica Harland-Jacobs. In this first study of the relationship between Freemasonry and British imperialism, Harland-Jacobs takes readers on a journey across two centuries and five continents, demonstrating that from the moment it left Britain's shores, Freemasonry proved central to the building and cohesion of the British Empire. The organization formally emerged in 1717 as a fraternity identified with the ideals of Enlightenment cosmopolitanism, such as universal brotherhood, sociability, tolerance, and benevolence. As Freemasonry spread to Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australasia, and Africa, the group's claims of cosmopolitan brotherhood were put to the test. Harland-Jacobs examines the brotherhood's role in diverse colonial settings and the impact of the empire on the brotherhood; in the process, she addresses issues of globalization, supranational identities, imperial power, fraternalism, and masculinity. By tracking an important, identifiable institution across the wide chronological and geographical expanse of the British Empire, Builders of Empire makes a significant contribution to transnational history as well as the history of the Freemasons and imperial Britain.

Take the mystery out of the Freemasons Fascinated by Freemasons? Freemasons For Dummies is the internationally bestselling introduction to the Masons, the oldest and largest "secret society" in the world. This balanced, eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rites, to its curious symbols and their meanings. With new and improved content, including updated examples and references throughout, this new edition of Freemasons For Dummies provides the most straightforward, non-intimidating guide to the subject on the market. Updated expert coverage of the basic beliefs and philosophy behind Freemasonry Revised information on the history of the society, including updates concerning its founding, famous historical members, and pivotal events New coverage devoted to the recent influx of younger membership The latest and ongoing controversies and myths surrounding Freemasonry The role of women in a Masonic organization, including opportunities for women to participate in Freemasonry The effects cultural and political changes and worldwide events are having on the organization If you're intrigued by the mystery that surrounds the Masons, get ready to learn the facts about this ancient order in Freemasons For Dummies.

Reveals how the art of memory is the origin of the Masonic method • Explains the classical techniques of the art of memory, how they were reworked by hermetic thinkers during the Renaissance, and how they contributed to the transformation of operative Freemasonry into speculative Freemasonry • Traces the creation of speculative Freemasonry to 1637, one hundred years earlier than previously thought • Explores how the “memory palaces” created with the art of memory enabled access to universal knowledge as well as represented the Masonic temple in its imaginary state In Antiquity, the art of memory was a mnemonic device that allowed an orator, such as Cicero, to recall all the points he wished to make by associating each of them with an image or architectural element in the site he was speaking. When this art was rediscovered in the Renaissance, hermetic thinkers like Giordano Bruno reworked it into a method that allowed them to acquire knowledge with the creation of “memory palaces.” The elements of these memory palaces were not intended to trigger the memory but would actually transform into talismanic objects with knowledge entirely new to the seeker. In this book, Charles B. Jameux shows that this hermetic reworking of the classical art of memory was no mystery to operative Masons, who grafted it onto their own rituals, catalyzing the transformation of operative Masonry into speculative Masonry. He shows how the hieroglyphic writing used during the Renaissance in the art of memory provided the groundwork for one of the most esoteric elements of masonic practice: the grasp of the realm of image by the letter, where symbols were “buried” within words. Using archival evidence from 17th-century Scotland and earlier, combined with the research of modern scholars such as Frances Yates and David Stevenson, Jameux argues that the creation of speculative Freemasonry can be traced back 100 years earlier than conventional history records--to 1637, when the first recorded use of the Mason’s Word appeared and with it, the first known appearance of the symbolic Temple of Solomon. He follows Giordano Bruno’s visit to the British Isles in the late 16th century and the subsequent activities of the men he met there, showing that Masonic symbolism owes much of its current form to early memory palaces, which represented the Masonic lodge and temple in their fully imaginary states. Revealing the pivotal role of the memory palace and hermetic traditions in early Masonic symbolism, Jameux sheds new light on the Masonic questions asked of each initiate and the spiritual importance of the Temple of Jerusalem to Freemasonry.

Meditations on Masonic Symbolism is Master Mason John R. Heisman's reflective, scholarly exploration of the symbolism in the ritual of Freemasonry for Freemasons and non-Masons alike. While there is much to discover about the meaning of the hallmark Masonic symbols, there is nothing secret about Freemasonry's defining love for humanity. What Masonic symbols do reveal about the guiding purpose of a Masonic lodge is brought to light in Meditations on Masonic Symbolism, Master Mason John R. Heisman's reflective exploration of the symbolism in the ritual of Freemasonry that reveals how they illuminate ancient knowledge about mankind's relationship to God. A compilation of articles written for the author's Masonic Lodge, Blackmer Lodge No. 442, in his year as Master, Meditations on Masonic Symbolism sheds fascinating new light on Freemasonry for Freemasons and non-Masons alike about the workings of this worldwide and ancient fraternity. Often described as a secret society, owing to its use of certain symbols, the essays in Heisman's book help demystify Freemasonry for those who are interested in a deeper understanding of its mission. For instance, a variety of charities that are supported by Freemasonry and its millions of men and women are well known and easily recognizable. Children's hospitals are operated by Shriners throughout the world. Speech therapy centers, educational grants, eye care foundations, and homes for the aged are funded and operated by Scottish Rite Masons, Knights Templar, and Grand Lodges everywhere they are situated. Heisman's book explains Freemasonry as a fraternal organization with many groups, several of which are designed for boys and girls. All Masonic organizations have a charity and are devoted to the ideals of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Scholarly and philosophical, Meditations on Masonic Symbolism provides insight on recognizable Masonic symbols, such as the square and compass. From the significance of beauty in its architecture to the pillar of wisdom, each essay in this thoughtful collection reveals in detail the significance of the symbols and how they come together in this intricate and long contemplated belief system. In clear, accessible language, the book explains all manner of Freemasonry principles, including harmony, knowledge, brotherhood, unity, and more. While the rituals of the organization may only be attended by Freemasons, its lessons may be studied by anyone interested in subjects such as philosophy, comparative religion, liberal arts, and geometry. Meditations on Masonic Symbolism is a thought-provoking, elegant addition to any well-rounded library.