A bibliography for the study of Freemasonry
Secondary sources
Contemporary readings
- Peter Partner, The Templars and their Myth, 1982 OUP
- Among various theories on the origins of Freemasonry, Templars are often mentioned — one
of the most interesting books about mythology surrounding the Order.
- Christopher McIntosh, The Rosicrucians, The History,
Mythology, and Rituals of an Esoteric Order, 1997 Samuel Wiser Inc.
- A primer for those seeking the enlightenment on the subjects related to Rosicrucianism.
Relationships between Alchemy, Freemasonry the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn looked
at, encompassing personal experience with the highest standards of scholarship.
- David Stevenson, The Origins of Freemasonry,
Scotland’s century 1590-1710, 1990 Cambridge University Press
- Differences between Scottish and English Freemasonry become obvious through this work. The
book also gives the most comprehensive resource for the study of Scottish lodges during the
period.
- John Hamill, The Craft, a History of English
Freemasonry, Crucible 1986
- A glossary of a sort — incredibly useful guide through Masonic terminology.
- Giuliano di Bernardo, Freemasonry and its Image of Man, a
Philosophical Investigation, 1989, Freestone
- Outline of masonic anthropology, or a conception of man according to Freemasonry, by one
of the most influential masonic scholars of contemporary scene.
- Wallace McLeod, The Grand Design, 1991, Anchor
Communications
- In the word of the author of a foreword, Allan Roberts, the Past President of the
Philalethes Society: [this book] ‘brings under one cover the decades-long philosophical
words of an outstanding teacher.’
- Hamill and Gilbert, Freemasonry: A Celebration of the Craft,
Mackenzie 1992
- An excellent introduction to a complex field.
- Francis King, Modern Ritual Magic, The Rise of Western
Occultism, 1989 Prism Press.
- Important for the understanding of Masonic Rosicrucian, the Golden Dawn and associated
areas.
1900 to 1970
- Douglas Knoop, The Mason Word, AQC [could be
bought from QCCC Ltd, 60, Great Queen Street, London WC2] 51, 1938
- Manages to outline the historical presence and (then) current practice of the Mason word
without admitting to its existence!
- Manly P. Hall, An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic,
Qabbalistic, and Rosicrucian Symbolic Philosophy.
- This is subtitled, an interpretation of the secret teachings concealed within the rituals, allegories and mysteries of all ages — a big brief brilliant index and bibliography.
- Arthur Edward Waite, The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry,
1938 Rider
- Idiosyncratic; eclectic; and of course, fun.
- Knoop, Jones and Hamer, The Two Earliest Masonic Mss.
Manchester University Press, 1938
- A comparative study of the Regius and Cooke Mss, two earliest Masonic manuscripts upon
which much of the lore of Freemasonry is based.
- WJ Chetwode Crawley, The Old Charges and Papal Bulls,
AQC vol. XXIV, 1911
- Scholarly account — makes clear the historical gaps between the Roman Catholic and the
Masonic bodies.
- Fulke R. Radice, Introduction to the History of the Carbonari, AQC vol. LI, 1938
- Interesting historically and also for pinpointing the separation between political and
philanthropical Masonry.
- A.E. Waite, A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry,
2 vols. Virtue & Co.,
- Convoluted but engaging.
19th century
- W.C. Lukis, A New Years Gift to the Pope, or the Freemasons
Vindicated, 1882
- Contains the text of the papal Bull of 1751 and letters between hypothetical
correspondents, an RC priest and a Neopolitan.
- Thomas Paine, The Theological Works of Thomas Paine,
1819, London; Essay on the Origins of Freemasonry.
- Paine thinks Masonry is Druidic, good and wise — if Masons are secretive it is because the church attacks Freemasonry.
Primary sources
- Anderson, J. (1723) The Constitutions of the Freemasons. London:
William Hunter, including the 1722, 1726 and 1738 editions.
- Bunyan, J. (1773) Solomon’s Temple Spiritualised. (12th ed.) Glasgow.
- Bunyan, J. (1688) A Discourse of the House of God. London: Bishopsgate.
- Cooke MS (circa 1420) Reprinted in Dyer, 1982.
- Grand Lodge No. 1 MS Idem.
- Guild of Garlekhith, London, cccix. 6. Reprinted in Toulmin-Smith, 1870.
- Guild of St. Katherine, Aldersgate, London, cccix. 9. Idem.
- Langley, B. (1746) The Builder’s Jewel. London.
- Letter Book L — London Mason’s Ordinances, 1481. Reprinted in
Conder, 1914.
- Memoirs … of Elias Ashmole, 1717. Reprinted in Josten, 1966.
- Minute Book No. 1 1723-1731. Reprinted in Sanghurst, 1913.
- Plot, R. (1686) The Natural History of Staffordshire. Reprinted in Knoop et al., 1978.
The following Expositions (in chronological order) are reprinted in Knoop,
D. et al (1943). The French Expositions are reprinted in Carr (1971).
- The Edinburgh Register House MS, 1696
- The Chetwode Crawley MS, c. 1700
- The Sloane MS No. 3329, c. 1700
- The Dumfries No. 4 MS, c. 1710
- The Trinity College, Dublin, MS, 1711
- A Mason’s Examination, 1723
- The Grand Mystery of Free-mason’s Discover’d, 1724
- The Whole Institution of Masonry, 1724
- Institution of Free Masons, c. 1725
- The Graham MS, 1726 (Transcript in AQC, 80, 1967: 77-80).
- The Grand Mystery Laid Open, 1726
- A Mason’s Confession, 1727
- The Wilkinson MS, 1727
- The Mystery of Free-Masonry, 1730
- Masonry Dissected, 1730
- Reception d’un Frey-Macon, 1737
- La Reception Mysterieuse, 1738
- Dialogue Between Simon & Philip, c. 1740
- Le Secret des Francs-Macons, 1742
- Catechisme des Francs-Macons, 1744
- La Franc-Maconne, 1744
- Le Parfait Macon, 1744
- Le Sceau Rompu, 1745
- L’Ordre des Francs-Macons Trahi, 1745
- Les Francs-Macons Ecrases, 1747
- La Desolation des Entrepreneurs, 1747
- L’Anti-Macon, 1748
- The Essex MS, c. 1750
- Le Macon Demasque ou Le Vrai Secret des Francs-Macons, 1751
- The Freemason Examined, 1754
- Three Distinct Knocks, 1760
- Jachin and Boaz, 1762
