more light #274
Reference Books
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
Dear Masonic Student,
I was asked just today; is there a good book for definitions of words used in
Freemasonry? There is, in fact there are a couple I always have within reach:
C. Bruce Hunter’s Masonic Dictionary from Macoy Publishing ISBN 0-88053-083-9
and A Glossary of the Craft and Holy Royal Arch Rituals of Freemasonry by A.C.F.
Jackson. Published by Lewis Masonic ISBN 0-85318-190-X
These are excellent reference books to have handy, and they are small pocket
size books that are easy to take along when you’re away from home.
Another good book of the same size is the Masonic Letter G by Paul Foster
Case, also from Macoy ISBN 0-88053-066-9 There are some books that are small
enough that you could read them cover to cover in a short time, and this is one
of them. But to read it that way will short change the reader because, this is
also a book that to really understand the contents of the book you will read it
slower to study what the author has written, and it is a book you will read in
and over many times in the future and always get a little bit more out of it.
Another pocket size book you can read quickly and easily, but never tire of
reading again and again, and will always gain something every time you read it
is; As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. You can get this book from many places in
either hard or soft cover. The copy I carry with me in my back pack is soft
cover and comes from DeVorss and Company; www.devorss.com if you request it they
will send you a catalog of the books they have to offer. It is a good source for
self-help and inspirational books. As a Man Thinketh is not a Masonic Book, but
it is a classic that many Masons would love to have and learn from.
A very good source for small inexpensive, but very good books on Freemasonry
is The Masonic Service Association of North America (MSA), which is located t
8120 Fenton Street Silver Spring, MD 20910. The MSA publishes some wonderful
reading and research material for the Masonic student: In addition to
recommending to you its Short Talk Bulletins I also recommend their books and
booklets. Three of their small booklets I have with me much of the time for
reading and learning are the ‘Pocket Encyclopedia of Masonic Symbols’; ‘What is
Freemasonry?’: and ‘One Hundred and One Questions about Freemasonry.’ For the
Mason who would like to know more about Freemasonry there are a number of books
/ sources, which are very low to no cost available to him, and which take up
very little room to have on hand.
One final book I would like to mention is Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike.
The book itself is not a small book, but it is a book well worth reading and
learning from: There is a wealth of knowledge and information that can be gained
from reading and studying in this book. If you would like an electronic version
of this book there is a great copy available at:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/md/index.htm this is one of the best
e-publications of this book I know of.
Here is something on “Leadership” from the MSA booklet ‘What is Freemasonry?’
I mentioned above. I think you might enjoy reading it:
“A leader must be a man of good will toward his associates, and ethical in
his relationships with them. He must be charitable toward those in need, and
honest in his approach to those problems which confront him. It is essential
that he be moderate in all things, yet fearless in the face of adversity. In his
contacts with others, he must be diplomatic, tolerant, and fair in the decisions
he is called upon to make. He cannot be egocentric, but must be aware of his
limitations as a human being, and humble himself unashamedly in seeking Divine
guidance to strengthen him as a man. Since the traditional teachings of Masonry
encompass the values of friendship, morality, brotherly love, relief, truth,
restraint, fortitude, prudence, justice, and reverence, it follows that the
Craft can instill these intrinsic qualities of leadership in those who will
accept and practice its fundamental principles.”
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