Sure. When people say things like 'the Freemasons are the oldest secret society around' what they're referring to is the fact that we close our doors for our meetings, basically. But like any fraternity or corporate boardroom, our internal affairs don't need to be public and aren't.

Diving a little more deeply, you learn about the 'degrees' we confer on our brethren. Each of these, rather than a rank in a hierarchy, is like a degree from a university. With each degree, you've been taught more things. These teachings, in addition to things like paying the light bill, aren't open to the public.

However, it isn't hard to find them online or in nearly any library in the US. Like I said previously, they've been published in books 'exposing the Masons' for literally centuries. These exposés have certainly not all been accurate and have often been intentionally misleading, which is why you see things online like '33rd Degree Masons Drink Blood from a Skull!'. None of it's true but because we honor our integrity not to open our doors to the public, non-masons run with it and believe it. The logic is basically that if we aren't denying it, and refuse to hand over the 'secret books', it must be because we have something to hide. A toddler could see through that fallacy, but it lives on.

You could very easily read nearly everything that takes place during degree work with a simple google search. Think of it this way: If I told you everything that went on during the degrees and violated my commitment to my brothers that I wouldn't do that, why should they trust me with anything else? I apparently don't respect them enough to value the trust they've placed in me, so why should they respect me in return?

So my advice is to not do that google search. Have patience and let your brothers impart that wisdom upon you when it's time, should you choose to join. It'll be so much more meaningful if you don't read the spoilers before someone (in lodge) has a chance to explain it to you. Aaaaand if you don't try to read the ritual beforehand, you're guaranteed not to come across false info.

Nothing you experience in Masonry will cause you to go against your faith or your morals. If it seems like that's what's happening, then leave. Nobody is going to hunt you down because our group wasn't right for you.

If you get hung up on the rumors and nonsense spread online, I'd like to recommend another book: Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry?, written by two very well-respected scholars among our ranks. I read it after becoming a Mason and I can't remember if there's any spoilers in there. There shouldn't be. I'd also recommend it as a resource for anyone in your family who believes things like 'Freemasons worship the devil'. Having said that, the truth has been out there for hundreds of years and the Catholic church still doesn't like us, so there may not be much hope in changing minds already against us.

Alight so this is my typical Lodge Night every day carry. The lodge I was raised in did not have a strict dress code but unless you were coming from work you were expected to have at least a coat and tie. That’s something I will always take with me to any lodge. I think having lodge polo shirts are nice but honestly when sitting with my brothers, I am going to put my best foot forward and that includes looking the part.
I know some brothers that sport several lapel pins but I am a fan of just rocking one. If I am going to lodge it will be my GL’s pin, if I am wearing a jacket or outside of lodge, it will be my forget me not flower pin (Not pictured.


This coin is actually something I found on reddit. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to buy it. I use to collect silver but once I found out I was going to have a child I had a firesale. This is an awesome silver coin from the Gulf Beach Lodge which I have never been to but is near where I grew up. From the time I have bought it this coin from Florida has travelled to Washington and South Korea, Masonry truly is global.


The Tietack is from the Masonic Round Table, a program most on redit are aware of. The Cufflinks are nothing special and rather cheap but honestly are very good quality for the price. I am a fan of them due to their simplicity and I have a personal attraction to masonic S&C without the G. I personally don’t smoke but I think having a lighter is a good EDC simply to help a brother out if he needs one. Last but not least is a deck of playing cards. Never know when someone might want to play a round of cards after lodge.

• No name Suit (AKA cheap)
  
• Original Stitch White blue herring Shirt
  
• Grand Lodge of Washington Lapel Pin
  
• Grand Lodge of Florida Gulf Beach Lodge silver coin
  
• Masonic Round Table tie tac
  
• Freemason Cufflinks
  
• Scorch Torch Olympia Lighter
  
• Contraband Playing Cards
  
• Not pictured is my GL of WA monitor
  

> but Masonry has never been Christian-only

This is historically incorrect. The original masons were required to be good Christians who followed the way of Jesus Christ. Read the Halliwell document of 1390. Likewise the original masons performed our religious Guild plays dedicated to our patron Saints John in Catholic churches on those Saint's feast days. Remember, the largest employer of masonic guilds since the fall of Rome has been the Catholic Church, using masons to build the stone Cathedrals and Churches of Europe.

It was Presbyterian clergyman James Anderson [in 1723] (http://freemasoninformation.com/masonic-education/books/andersons-constitutions-of-1723/) that declared that masonry was not religious, for his own very weird reasons: He was an apologist for the Puritan's execution of Charles I some 70 years earlier and was now busy sucking up to the returned Crown hoping for royal patronage.

Anderson's version of masonry became known as the Moderns, and it was not well liked. Antient lodges claiming a greater adherence to the ancient landmarks appeared in London and grew in number, while the irreligious Modern numbers stagnanted. Eventually the two were merged in 1813 by two brothers becoming GM of each branch.

Likewise the christian origins of freemason lodges in America are well documented. Barton is not correct in saying that early masonry in the United States was exclusively Antient Christian lodges. But it by far was the majority, with Moderns with their knife and fork masonry being a small percentage. The merger of the Moderns and the Antients in England in 1813 has been used since by knife and fork masons in America to try to push Christianity out of masonry as part of their irreligious agenda of reducing Masonry to a supper club.

The problem is, without Christianity, european institutions become bodies without souls, like dead in the eye zombies. Where irreligious knife and fork masons succeed in banishing Christians from their community, masonry withers and dies.

Masonry is no longer exclusively Christian, largely because of Christian based interfaith efforts. But it needs to have space for Christians, recognize that the vast majority of its members are Christian, and that its most successful recruitment will continue for long into the future to be from Christian men already trained to be good, moral men by growing up in Christian faith communities.

EDIT

/u/k0np as promised

History

[Compasses and the Cross](Compasses and the Cross https://www.amazon.com/dp/0853182981/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zD2XBbRYDSW6A)

For the money this is the best introductory text on the actual and legendary history of Masonic Templary from it's origins France through its manifestations in the chivalric degrees of the 18th century, the Strict Observance, the Rectified Rite, Royal Order of Scotland, St. James Place, and the various iterations in America before and including the GEKT.

Freemasonry and Templarism

Pierre Moillere's essay is a near perfect exploration of the Masonic Templary and a wonderful companion to Dafoe's book above.

Ritual

Grand Encampment Rituals
Good or bad, master one's on work - then move on to advanced topics.

Reprints of the Old Rituals

Includes the oldest forms of Webb Work and the Higgins KT Rituals as well as old French Workings.

Chivalry

What is Manly Honor

Brother Brett McKay's 7 part treatise on honor in the America.

Hermeticism v. Illuminism

There is nothing wrong with Hermeticism. I invite you to consider that KT better aligns with illuminism, vis-a-vis warrior monks, versus warrior magicians.

To put it crudely - D&D - KT are paladins (dual classed fighter-clerics) not war mages (dual classes fighter-wizards).

The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola

The historical and spiritual foundation of the the modern tradition of Christian Illuminism.

[Meditations on the Tarot](Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism https://www.amazon.com/dp/1585421618/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8c3XBbQWQ3NC3)

If I had to pick between this book and the Bible, I'd pick this book.

Activities

Historical European Martial Arts. Someone near by, even the SCA, most have some demos or classes

Heraldry. Our MW Brother, the Lord Lyon, has a wonderful presentation on the topic. Talk to /u/cookslc

Christian Mysticism. Odd as it may sound, there are ecumenical Orders of Monasticism who may be willing to talk about incorporating spiritual exercises in the life of laymen.

Congrads. Great to hear that your journey will start soon. You might want to read the book called Freemasonry; An Introduction Good luck Brother to be soon!

I got a kick out of The Craft Unmasked by John Nagy. He has something of a cult following, and I don't entirely agree with his conclusions, but it was still an enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed the pigpen cipher that's scattered throughout the book.

I got Alchemy & Mysticism by Alexander Roob! Have yet to read it, but beautiful pictures!

Yeah don't read about the actual degree work until you go through it. A great book to read after you are raised is "the meaning of masonry". By wilmhurst. http://www.amazon.com/The-Meaning-Of-Masonry-Wilmshurst/dp/1595479120

What he says in that book about the first degree has stuck with me for years, and I didn't make the connection having gone through the degree until I read it.

1. They are primarily located in LA, as such you get mailings to read
   
   
2. The literature they do send is similar to what you are going to find in AMORC, OTO, etc (and you can find their stuff to read without ever being a member)
   
   
3. I find this book to be a better exploration of the tarot as far as symbolism goes (https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Tarot-Journey-Christian-Hermeticism/dp/1585421618/ref=pd_sim_14_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1585421618&pd_rd_r=AJT8A5A189DBHHKY321Q&pd_rd_w=PTxEB&pd_rd_wg=jtrY0&psc=1&refRID=AJT8A5A189DBHHKY321Q)

Stainless. This is the one I have been wearing for about six months:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ZIU6D2

Before that, it was a Titanium one I bought for about $80 but over five years my fingers got a bit fatter, lol.

You might be interested in Michael W. Homer's "Joseph's Temples" https://www.amazon.com/Joseph%C2%92s-Temples-Relationship-Freemasonry-Mormonism/dp/1607813440

It's an interesting story & dynamic. Being in Utah I know a lot of LDS folks (and a few LDS/former LDS Brothers) but have never encountered such a frank discussion as in that text.

The wifi has me somewhat concerned. But you can try out a pretty cheap option. Wyze are ok cameras and have motion detection and night vision, they are like $25.

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https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-Wireless-Camera-Vision/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=video+security+camera&qid=1562081492&s=gateway&sr=8-4

​

To make it outdoor safe you need a hood for around $12.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Bracket-Protective-Security-Outdoor/dp/B07G72SQXB/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1YNZ1XYBJOW9S&keywords=wyze+outdoor+cam&qid=1562081608&s=gateway&sprefix=wye+out%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-5

​

Next question is do you have an external power outlet to power the camera? This setup would work and do the basics for around $50. There are plenty of full systems out there but it sounds like it might be over kill. If you run into anything problems feel free to ping me.

<u>The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry</u> is a good book to give you some basic information.

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https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiot-Guide-Freemasonry-2nd/dp/1615642374

Joseph’s Temples: The Dynamic Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism http://www.amazon.com/dp/1607813440/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

I haven't read this yet. I plan on buying it and reading it soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Freemasonry-Introduction-Mark-Kolko-Rivera-Ph-D/dp/1585428531

This book should be helpful

I would take a look at Claudy's Entered Apprentice Manual after you're initiated and as you work on your proficiency. It gives a bit of a historical perspective on what you went through along with a bit of review of what's taught in the lectures.

I'd also recommend reading /u/chodapp 's book at your leisure along with the Idiot's Guide.

Well, you did only ask for ones that hadn't obtained the title by "skullduggery", so you kind of answered that for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Chambers-Lives-Early-Freemasons/dp/1934935557

A good book for those who want to know that women have been Masons, but haven't been allow in even though Freemasons gave them the EA obligation.

http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Chambers-Lives-Early-Freemasons/dp/1934935557

http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Chambers-Lives-Early-Freemasons/dp/1934935557