Is 'The Symbolism of Freemasonry' Mackey's best book?

I recently finished reading an excellent old book on freemasonry called “The Symbolism of Freemasonry” by Dr. Albert G. Mackey, 33°, pictured at right.

Published in 1882, this book, which is considered a fundamental work on the subject of freemasonry, seeks to illustrate and explain freemasonry’s “science and philosophy, its legends, myths and symbols.” I found the book extremely interesting and will likely read it again some day.

I downloaded a free copy of the book off Project Gutenberg’s Web site at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11937 for my e-reader, and you’ll probably still find it there in multiple formats today.

Topics in the book include discussions of the Noachidae, primitive freemasonry in antiquity, spurious freemasonry in antiquity, the union of speculative and operative masonry at the Temple of Solomon, the traveling freemasons of the middle ages, the symbolism of Solomon’s Temple, the symbolism of the cornerstone, the legends of freemasonry and many others.

Unlike many books on freemasonry, this 130-year-old book was written by a well-known scholar (of his day) as well as a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mackey, who died in 1881, was a medical doctor, who is still best known for his books about freemasonry. He was a Grand Lecturer and Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of South Carolina and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.

Mackey wrote a number of books during his life and all most all of them dealt with freemasonry. What follows is a list of his books (and, where possible, the year that each was published):

- Ancient Ceremonies of the Masonic Order
- Book of the Chapter or Monitorial Instructions in the Degrees of Mark, Past and Most Excellent Master
- Customs of the German Stonemasons
- Dionysiac Artificers
- The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. I (1873)
- The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. II (1878)
- Famous Legends of Freemasonry
- Freemasonry and the Ancient Mysteries
- General Regulations of Freemasonry
- The History of Freemasonry: Its Legends and Traditions (1906)
- An Introduction to the Symbolism of Freemasonry
- Jurisprudence of Freemasonry
- Legend of the Third Masonic Degree
- A Lexicon of Freemasonry (1845)
- A Manual of the Lodge
- Mystic Tie
- The Principles of Masonic Law (1856)
- The Symbolism of Freemasonry (1882)
- A Textbook of Masonic Jurisprudence

In the end, how many of these books have you had a chance to read? What did you think of them? Which did you like or dislike? Which would your recommend and why? Let us know in the comments section below.