Level I Masonic Scholar

Level I Masonic Scholar – Activities and Book-list

Areas of Study -

  • Masonic History
  • Masonic Jurisprudence and Landmarks
  • The Development of Masonic Ritual and Lectures
  • Symbolism in Freemasonry
  • Lodge and Grand Lodge Workings
  • The Place of Masonry in Today’s Society
  • Anti-Masonry
  • Masonic Philosophy

Read four of the books listed below –  Choose from the Activity list and do an activity connected with the book – do not do the same activity for each book but vary what you do to respond to the book

  • Masonic History
    • The Builders, Joseph Fort Newton, 1914  Available Click here for On-line .
    • The Origins of Freemasonry: Facts & Fictions by Margaret C. Jacob (M10 J15
    • The Men’s House, Joseph Fort Newton, 1923
    • Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry, S. Brent Morris  2006
    • American Freemasons, Mark Tabbert, 2005, National Heritage Museum, Lexington MA $29.95 (note: The link above is to Barnes and Noble. You can also obtain it other places.)
    • Freemasonry for Dummies, Christopher Hodapp
    • Born in Blood:  The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry, John J. Robinson
  • Masonic Jurisprudence and Landmarks
    • The Principals of Masonic Law, Albert Mackey
    • The Historical Landmarks and other Evidence of Freemasonry Explained, George Oliver:
  • The Development of Masonic Ritual and Lectures
    • The Genesis of Freemasonry by Douglas Knoop and G. P. Jones (M10 K75g)
    • The Early Masonic Catechisms – Knoop, Jones, and Hamer
    • A Commentary on the Freemasonic Ritual – E.H. Cartwright
    • Illustrations of Masonry, William Preston:
  • Symbolism in Freemasonry
    • The Craft and its Symbols by Allen E. Roberts (M11 R53)
    • Sources of Masonic Symbolism by Alex Horne (M11 H78a)
    • Masonic Symbolism by Charles C. Hunt (M11 H91m)
    • The Symbolism of Freemasonry, Albert Mackey:
    • Esoterika, Albert Pike
    • A Freemason’s Treasury, George Oliver:
    • Symbolism of the Three Degrees, Oliver Day Street
  • Lodge and Grand Lodge Workings.
    • Constitution and Code of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
    • Planning for the East – Grand Lodge of Missouri
    • The Master’s Book, Claudy
  • The Place of Masonry in Today’s Society
    • Understanding Manhood in America: Freemasonry’s Enduring Path to the Mature Masculine, Robert G. Davis, Anchor Communications, LLC, Lancaster, VA 2005
    • Old Past Master  and Old Tyler Talks, Claudy
  • Anti-Masonry
    • A Pilgrims Path:  Freemasonry and the Religious Right, John J. Robinson:
    • Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry, de Hoyas and Morris:
    • Resource Reading lists:
  • Masonic Philosophy
    • Pound’s Masonic Philosophy – available on MRN (Masonic Research Network) or on Google Books.
    • Write a paper comparing the philosophies to your philosophy and why you agree or disagree.
    • Develop a presentation on how your favorite elements of the book applies to Masonry.

    Resource Reading lists:

    • “Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar
    • Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Reading List here.
    • Claudy’s books referenced on Level 1 are available here.

Activities could include but are not limited to the following list.  If an activity is not on the list feel free to suggest it to the Committee for inclusion.

Rubrics for assessing your own writing are available at this Web Site. Using them will help you focus on your writing.

  1. a book report or review.
    1. tell your opinion of the book
    2. discuss some of the things you learned by reading the book
    3. do some research on the author and tell about his credentials.  Has he been a member of the craft for a long time or is he relatively new.  What is the time period in which he lived/wrote.
    4. discuss the readability of the book.  Was it easy to read or more difficult.  Did it hold your interest or put you to sleep.
    5. recommend the book or if you can’t tell us that also.  Give reasons
  2. Develop a set of questions and answers about the book,  Include the main ideas about the book.  Mix your questions with multiple choice/ short answe
  3. Write an Essay (500 – 700 words) about how you will use the information gained from reading this book in your life. How does having read it inspire your desire to change.
  4. Form a Lodge Study Group to read the book together and respond to it.  Meet at least 4 times while you are reading the book for discussion and evaluation of the book. Write your feelings and what you learned in a paper to be shared with each other.