Freemasons for Dummies (Paperback, 2, Revised)

Introduction 1

Part I: What Is Freemasonry? 9

Chapter 1: Lodges, Aprons, and Funny Handshakes: Freemasonry 101 11

Chapter 2: From Cathedrals to Lodge Rooms: A History of the Freemasons 21

Chapter 3: The Philosophy of Freemasonry 55

Chapter 4: Politics, Religion, and Freemasons: They Don’t Mix 63

Part II: The Inner Workings of Freemasonry 89

Chapter 5: How the Freemasons Are Organized: Who Does What and Why 91

Chapter 6: The Ceremonies of Freemasons 115

Chapter 7: The Symbols of Freemasonry 129

Chapter 8: Myths and Misconceptions about Masons 151

Part III: When One Lodge Isn’t Enough: The Appendant Bodies 163

Chapter 9: Introducing the Appendant Bodies: Who’s Who, and Who Isn’t 165

Chapter 10: The York Rite 181

Chapter 11: The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 203

Chapter 12: Shriners International 221

Chapter 13: The Extended Masonic Family 231

Part IV: Freemasonry Today and Tomorrow 249

Chapter 14: So Is It Still Relevant? 251

Chapter 15: Freemasons and the Future 259

Chapter 16: So You Want to Become a Freemason 267

Part V: The Part of Tens 279

Chapter 17: Ten Groups of Famous Masons 281

Chapter 18: Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons, and Hoaxes 289

Chapter 19: Ten Cool Masonic Places 301

Part VI: Appendixes 305

Appendix A: The Regius Manuscript 307

Appendix B: Anderson’s Constitutions 329

Appendix C: Finding a Lodge 335

Index 347