Hypotherically, lets say your Masonic bookshelf is on fire and you can only save FIVE MASONIC book (not including VSLs)... What do you save?
The Secret Psychology of Freemasonry, Born in Blood, Anderson's Constitution, Ahiman Rezon, & the Regis Manuscript
Impossible! I can't name only five books. How about five authors starting with Fort Newton, Claudy, Pike, Porter ... told you I couldn't get there from here.
The Meaning of Masonry, Novo Clavis Esoterika, Observing the Craft (hardbound edition), The Builders... and reserving the fifth space, because we all know that the thought process changes during an actual emergency.
Gould's History of Freemasonry Throughout the World. I'd have to figure out which volume to leave out.
Here is my five: The Monitor of the Grand Lodge of Texas Introduction to Freemasonry, Carl Claudy (3 small volumes, I've seen one-volume editions available) The Lodge and the Craft, Rollin Blackmer EDIT: The Freemason at Work, by Harry Carr -- bar none, one of the most comprehensive books on Freemasonry I've ever seen. Freemaon's Guide and Compendion,. Bernard E. Jones and J. Heron Lepper[h=3][/h] That's pretty much it. Those are the only books I read, and re-read time and again. Most of the masonic books I've read are one time only reads.
Really, Brother John? Hundreds of years of Masonic writings and thousands of years of ancillary works, and you would grab your own publications?
Carl Claudy "Introduction to Freemasonry", Morals and dogma by Albert Pike, and "Meditations" of Marcus Aurelius ( i liked the masonic philosophy of this book).
Yes, I would my Brother. I reread them continuously. They remind me of what I have already discovered and had forgotten. They help me focus my efforts upon Building me better. And they are the very books that I wished I had been given or were at least available when I went through the degrees and because they didn't exist for me, I wrote them. And for that matter, the original question asked for me to save 5 "MASONIC" books, and I really do not see many books mentioned in this thread that fit that description. Most all the books that were mentioned have to do with FREEMASONRY and not MASONRY. The former is all about the Organization of Brothers. The later is all about Building Better Builders. So, yes, I would in this hypothetical situation reach for them first. They focus upon making good men better men, not making good members better members. Thanks for asking!
I agree! The book is not only a source of information, but a guide to action. They help us build ourselves and change human nature.
And that is exactly why I would save them. They are a written account of what I have found best guides me Masonicly.
Dear brother of John, I have a question for you. You have undoubtedly read books that are not and Masonic authors of these books are not Masons, but still they carry the Masonic philosophy, teachings, ideas, Masonic morality and ethics. Have you read these books? What can you advise of his many years of experience?