Product Description

Fascinated by Freemasons? Freemasons For Dummies is the internationally best–selling 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. Find out what goes on in a Masonic meeting. You′ll understand the true purposes of Masonic "secrecy" and philosophy, meet famous Masons throughout history, and discover related organizations like the Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Shriners. Explore the controversies and conspiracy theories that swirl around this organization at the center of Dan Brown′s novel The Lost Symbol, and discover the changes coming to the Craft.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36772 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)

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)

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.