Product Description

At last, a plain–English guide to Freemasonry–the secret society that′s reportedly at the center of Dan Brown′s forthcoming novel The Solomon Key

With Freemasonry featured prominently in The Da Vinci Code as well as the hit movie National Treasure, it′s no wonder that more and more people are curious about this ancient organization, and interest is sure to intensify when Dan Brown′s new blockbuster appears. This balanced, eye–opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rites to the veiled symbols and their meanings. The book profiles famous Freemasons throughout history including many of America′s Founding Fathers as well as prominent politicians and business leaders offers a balanced assessment of the many controversies and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around Freemasonry. For anyone who wants an evenhanded overview of Freemasonry′s past, present, and future, this guide is the key.

Christopher Hodapp (Indianapolis, IN) is a Mason who has traveled extensively reporting on Masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He is currently a Past Master and a Master of his lodge. Hodapp edits the lodge newsletter and has written for the Grand Lodge magazine, the Indiana Freemason.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138892 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Review
"...a delight; no masonic prudery here, no academic dry ... simple readable style that encourages one to read on...great value..." (The Square, March 2006)

Synopsis
At last, a plain-English guide to Freemasonry - the secret society that's reportedly at the center of Dan Brown's forthcoming novel "The Solomon Key With Freemasonry" featured prominently in "The Da Vinci Code" as well as the hit movie "National Treasure", it's no wonder that more and more people are curious about this ancient organization, and interest is sure to intensify when Dan Brown's new blockbuster appears. This balanced, eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rites to the veiled symbols and their meanings.The book profiles famous Freemasons throughout history including many of America's Founding Fathers as well as prominent politicians and business leaders offers a balanced assessment of the many controversies and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around Freemasonry. For anyone who wants an evenhanded overview of Freemasonry's past, present, and future, this guide is the key. Christopher Hodapp (Indianapolis, IN) is a Mason who has traveled extensively reporting on Masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He is currently a Past Master and a Master of his lodge.

Hodapp edits the lodge newsletter and has written for the "Grand Lodge" magazine, the "Indiana Freemason".

From the Back Cover
Covers Masonry′s origins, purpose, and symbols

Your plain–English introduction to this ancient organization

Fascinated by Freemasons? This balanced, eye–opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rights to the veiled symbols and their meanings. You′ll understand the Freemasonry philosophy, meet famous Masons throughout history, explore the many controversies and conspiracy theories that swirl around the organization, and discover the changes coming to the Craft.

Discover how to

• Get a handle on how this fraternal order operates
• Understand the degrees and groups of Freemasonry
• Gain knowledge of the Freemason degrees
• Recognize misconceptions about Masons
• Find a lodge

Customer Reviews

USA biased
This is a 'good' book as far as it goes. I, like other reviewers, can see that this is a book about Freemasonry as practiced in the USA. It has little relevance to Freemasonry as it exists in Europe. The belief that Freemasonry across the world is the same is quite wrong but this book reinforces that incorrect view. Even within the UK Freemasonry is substantially different. For example there are substantial differences between Freemasonry as practiced in Scotland compared that in England. People in Britain (and Europe) would be far better advised to buy the books: Cracking the Freemasons Code or The Rosslyn Hoax? which contains a huge range of material relating to Freemasonry in the United Kingdom. However, anyone wishing to understand the different kinds of Freemasonry that exist are recommended to buy this particular book.

More for US Masons
Although this book has some interesting information for the new and soon to be Mason, 75% of it relates only to Masonic Lodges in the USA. Apart from the 1st, 2nd & 3rd degree stuff, the rest is not relevant and actually misleading to anyone who is about to become a Mason in the UK. That apart, it does offer some useful pointers, just be aware that most of the information given about American lodges means absolutely nothing to someone joining a U.G.L.E Lodge.

Freemasons for ME!
I found this very helpful. It brought more clarity to a journey i have just begun.