Looking for something to read, I went back into my library and pulled out a copy of The Autobiography of Mark Twain which I have had since High School. I’ve always been an admirer of Samuel Clemens’ work, but I have to admit I balked at taking his autobiography seriously years ago. This time though, I […]
Continue readingCategory Archives: Reviews
Reviews of books, movies and websites in and around the Masonic nexus.
The Complete Lodge Secretary
Lewis Masonic is one of those publishing houses that seem to pull from a limitless well of ideas to produce work that is both timely and informative and their latest book, The Complete Lodge Secretary, is exactly that: timely and informative. To say its a must have is a difficult for anyone not sitting […]
Continue readingAnd now, for something completely different…
A brother (and author) of this book sent me a note some time back about his new book, and I’ve been sorely remiss in mentioning it, so I wanted to take a minute and share The Festive Freemason. Written and illustarted by Br. Steve Chadburn, he is a long established professional cartoonist, author and illustrator. […]
Continue readingThe Better Angels of Our Nature
In the wake of the most turbulent period of American History stories about the intersection of Freemasonry and the Civil War have been many and profound – fact and fiction have become impossibly merged until now. In an eloquent narrative story telling, Michael Halleran‘s new book The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the […]
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The Family – Jesus Plus Nothing equals P (J+0=P)
What would you say if I told you that a secret cabal of ultra fundamental extremists were secretly at the heart of the American government? And what if I said to you that the very same secret cabal has held power and sway for near on the last century, with its present zenith starting in […]
Continue readingFreemasonry the Reality, a review.
Tobias Churton is a prolific Masonic author and one I’ve come to hold in high esteem. For many, he may not be a regular household name as his work (and residence) come from abroad in the U.K. and in an dense American marketplace of books, his work is less well known here. Nevertheless, its importance […]
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Out of the Shadows
Alton G. Roundtree is a Past Master of Redemption Lodge #24, the largest Lodge in the Washington D.C. Prince Hall Jurisdiction. He has served his Grand Lodge as Computer Systems Officer, Director of Public Relations, Chairman of the Information Management Committee, Assistant Grand Secretary, Director of the Computer Training Center, Editor of the Masonic Digest […]
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Building Boaz by Dr. John Nagy
I have come to find that modern Masonic literature can be compared to the preparation of food. Some Masonic literature is too light to satisfy the appetite and too bland to excite the senses. Other works on the subject of the fraternity are too rich and overpowering to the palate and leave the reader with […]
Continue readingThe Lost Symbol – A Review
This review in two parts, one from a lay reader perspective, and one from a Masonic perspective. The Masonic perspective can be found here. Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol, reminded me of a parable. A parable is a story embellished with perhaps some grains of reality to convey a broader idea of truth. […]
Continue readingThe Grand Lodge of California
The Grand Lodge of Grand Lodge of California is the next stop on the tour of American Grand Lodges. Grand Lodge of California Masonic membership: 68,714 – 2006 66,127 – 2007 gain/loss – -2,587 Data from MSANA State population: 36,756,666 as of 2008 (estimated) About the Grand LodgeDuring the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of […]
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