How many of these recommended books on freemasonry have YOU read?

Regular visitors to this site will know that I love a good recommended reading list, and I ran across a great list yesterday on the Scottish Rite’s Web site, scottishrite.org. This list of recommended books about freemasonry and the Scottish Rite was compiled by Masonic scholar Arturo de Hoyos and was originally printed in 2009’s “Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide.”

The list consists of 38 books and is divided into two sections, one about “General Freemasonry” and another about the “Scottish Rite.” For more information about the books on the list, visit http://scottishrite.org/members/masonic-education/suggested-reading/. Without further ado, here’s the list, in alphabetical order by title.

GENERAL FREEMASONRY:

1.      “Albert Pike’s Esoterika: The Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of Freemasonry,” edited by Arturo de Hoyos (2005)

2.      “Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia” by Henry Wilson Coil and others (1961)

3.      “Committed to the Flames: The History and Rituals of a Secret Masonic Rite” by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris (2008)

4.      “Concise History of Freemasonry” by Robert F. Gould (1924)

5.      “The Craft: A History of English Freemasonry” by John Hamill (1986)

6.      “The Early French Exposures” by Harry Carr (1971)

7.      “The Early Masonic Catechisms” by Douglas Knoop, G.P. Jones and Douglas Hamer (1963)

8.      “English Masonic Exposures, 1760-1769” by A.C.F. Jackson (1986)

9.      “The First Freemasons: Scotland’s Early Lodges and Their Members” by David Stevenson (1988)

10.  “The Freemason at Work” by Harry Carr (1976)

11.  “Freemasonry in Context: History, Ritual, Controversy,” edited by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris (2004)

12.  “Freemasonry: Symbols, Secrets, Significance” by W. Kirk MacNulty (2006)

13.  “Freemasons Guide and Compendium” by Bernard E. Jones (1950)

14.  “The Genesis of Freemasonry: An Account of the Rise and Development of Freemasonry in Its Operative, Accepted and Early Speculative Phases” by Douglas Knoop and G.P. Jones (1947)

15.  “Heredom: The Transactions of Scottish Rite Research Society,” edited by S. Brent Morris

16.  “Is it True What They Say About Freemasonry? The Methods of Anti-Masons” by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris (2004)

17.  “King Solomon’s Temple in the Masonic Tradition” by Alexander Horne (1972)

18.  “The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland’s Century, 1590-1710” by David Stevenson (2001)

19.  “Prince Hall Life and Legacy” by Charles H. Wesley (1977)

20.  “Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840” by Steven C. Bullock (1996)

21.  “The Rosslyn Hoax? Viewing Rosslyn Chapel from a New Perspective” by Robert L.D. Cooper (2006)

22.  “Sources of Masonic Symbolism” by Alexander Horne (1981)

23.  “World of Freemasonry” by Harry Carr (1984)

SCOTTISH RITE:

1.      “The Bible in Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma” by Rex R. Hutchens and Donald W. Monson (1992)

2.      “A Bridge to Light” by Rex R. Hutchens (1988)

3.      “A Glossary to Morals and Dogma” by Rex R. Hutchens (1993)

4.      “History of the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America and its Antecedents” by Samuel Harrison Baynard Jr. (1938)

5.      “History of the Supreme Council, 33° (Mother Council of the World) Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., 1801–1861,” edited by James D. Carter and R. Baker Harris (1964)

6.      “History of the Supreme Council, 33° (Mother Council of the World) Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., 1861–1891” by James D. Carter (1967)

7.      “History of the Supreme Council, 33° (Mother Council of the World) Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., 1891–1921” by James D. Carter (1971)

8.      “Light on Masonry: The History and Rituals of America’s Most Important Masonic Expose” by Arturo de Hoyos (2008)

9.      “Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle: Two Centuries of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in America’s Southern Jurisdiction” by William L. Fox (1997)

10.  “Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry” by Albert Pike (1950)

11.  “Pillars of Wisdom: The Writings of Albert Pike” by Rex R. Hutchens (1995)

12.  “Sephir H’Debarim: The Book of the Worlds: A Facsimile of the 1879, Second Edition with an Introduction by Art de Hoyos” by Albert Pike (1999)

13.  “The Supreme Council, 33° Mother Council of the World Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.” by Charles S. Lobingier (1931)

14.  “Valley of the Craftsmen: A Pictorial History: Scottish Rite Freemasonry in America’s Southern Jurisdiction, 1801-2001,” edited by William L. Fox (2001)

15.  “Vested in Glory: The Aprons, Cordons, Collars, Caps and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry” by Jim Tresner (2000)

In the end, how many of the books mentioned above have you had the chance to read? Which would you recommend? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.