E-Books Collection
The following links are to the subject subsections of this collection. The books under each subsection will download as PDF documents onto your computer when you click the live link; or else the link will take you to online electronic versions of the texts at Sacred-Texts Archive or other locations on the web.
The Symbolic Lodge degrees
Symbolism, Sacred Architecture and "Hidden Traditions"
Biblical Studies
Folklore and Comparative Religion
Philosophy
The Scottish Rite
The Knights Templar
Rosicrucians
Book Reviews
Books on the Symbolic Lodge Degrees
The Regius Manuscript of 1390. Earliest Masonic Constitution of the Operative Masons.
"Haliwell Manuscript, Regius Poem" an article and side-by-side translation from the Middle English. Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry (freemasons-freemasonry.com)
The Constitutions of 1723 Early Masonic Constitutions.
Also see: Wikipedia "Masonic Manuscripts" and connected articles.
Quest Books from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The following are PDF versions of the booklets every candidate should receive. If you did not get them, or need to review, here they are in easily accessible form.
Book 6: Your Continuing Quest for Masonic Light.
Entered Apprentice's Handbook. J. S. M. Ward. Explanation of the Degree for the E.A
Fellowcraft's Handbook. J. S. M. Ward. Explanation of the Degree for the F.C.
Master Mason's Handbook. J.S. M. Ward. Explanation of the Degree for the newly raised Master.
The Meaning of Masonry. W. L. Wilmshurst (1921). A collection of talks given by a famous British Mason interpreting the symbolism of the lodge and ritual of the symbolic and royal arch degrees, tying them to the Ancient Mysteries.
The Builders byJoseph Fort Newton [1914]. Famous classic introduction to Masonic history and philosophy, including how Freemasonry emerged in the 18th century from the operative lodges of stonemasons.
Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor Malcolm C. Duncan [1866] A guide to York rite Freemasonry, including details of ceremonies, grips and passwords, extensively illustrated.
General Ahiman Rezon. Daniel Sickels [1868]. Containing descriptions of ceremonies, hymns, building dedications, funerals, and more.
The Symbolism of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey [1882]. Short history of the possible origins and ancient antecedents of Freemasonry followed by chapters interpreting many of the chief symbols of the symbolic degrees.
Symbolism, Sacred Architecture & Hidden Traditions
The Migration of Symbols by Goblet d'Alviella [1894] A study of the migration and mutation of archaic symbols by a famous Belgian Mason.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manley Palmer Hall [1928]. A comprehensive introduction to esoteric philosophy, including the Kabbalah, Tarot, Ceremonial Magic, Neo-Platonic Philosophy, Mystery Religions, Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. Written by a famous brother.
Architecture, Mysticism and Myth by W.R. Lethaby [1892]. The macrocosm reflected in ancient architecture.Traces of a Hidden Tradition in Masonry and Medieval Mysticism by Isabel Cooper-Oakley [1900] The transmission of a secret mystic tradition through western history.
The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal by Arthur Edward Waite [1909] A hidden bloodline, mystical relics, and a secret which could shake the Church to its core if it was revealed. Long before Brother Michael Baigent's The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, brother Waite wrote this scholarly study.
Biblical and Judaic Studies
King James Version, the best known English translation.
The Apocrypha Books left out of the canonical Bible.
The Book of Enoch translated by R.H. Charles [1917]
The Jefferson Bible by Thomas Jefferson. The Sage of Monticello distills the Gospels by excluding the miraculous.
The Complete Sayings of Jesus by Arthur Hinds, int. by Norman Vincent Peale [1927]. Read everything Jesus says in the New Testament in one sitting.
Easton's Bible Dictionary A reference work for Biblical studies.
Bible Maps
The Forgotten Books of Eden edited by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. [1926]. Ancient books ommitted from the Biblical Canon.
The Biblical Antiquities of Philo translated by M. R. James [1917]
Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible. The first five books of this comprise the Torah, the core sacred writings of the ancient Jews, traditionally written by Moses under divine inspiration.
Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). Unicode with vowels.
Talmud and MishnaThe Babylonian Talmud, Translated by M.L. Rodkinson [1918]
A massive ten volume abridgement of the Talmud, the Jewish compendium of law and tradition, the only extensive public domain translation. Presented for the first time anywhere on the Internet at sacred-texts.com.Eighteen Treatises from the Mishna by D. A. Sola and M. J. Raphall [1843]
One of the first English translations of a substantial portion of the Mishna, the treasure-house of Jewish law and tradition.The Wisdom of the Talmud by Ben Zion Bokser [1878] Introduction to the Talmud for contemporary readers.
The Talmud by Joseph Barclay [1878]. Seventeen representative tracts from the Talmud.
Sayings of the Jewish Fathers (Pirqe Aboth) tr. by Charles Taylor [1897]. A beautiful extract from the Talmud, which has been used as liturgy. Devoted to ethics with some mystical touches, the Pirqe Aboth is distinguished for its transparency and simplicity. This was one of the first English translations in modern times of any portion of the Talmud.
KabbalahThe Kabbalah Unveiled S.L. MacGregor Mathers, Translator. [1912] Introduction to the Kabbalah. Translations of three texts from branch of the Kabbalah known as the Zohar.
Sepher Yezirah Translated by Isidor Kalisch [1877] Includes English translation and pointed Hebrew for this key text of the Kabbalah.
Kabbalah - Sepher Yetzirah. Trans. W.W. Westcot [1887]
The Zohar: Bereshith to Lekh Lekha. by Nurho de Manhar (pseud.) [1900-14]. The Zohar is a Kabbalistic commentary on the Hebrew Bible. This is the only extensive English translation of a portion of the Zohar currently in the public domain. Covers Adam to Abraham.
Jewish Mysticism. by J. Abelson [1913]. The Kabbalah in the context of the history of Jewish Mysticism.
The Kabbalah, or the Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews by Adolphe Franck [1926]. Did the Kabbalah originate from Zoroastrianism?
Folklore and Comparative Religion
Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion by Joshua Trachtenberg [1939]. A study of medieval Jewish folk magic.
Folk-lore of the Holy Land; Moslem, Christian and Jewish by J. E. Hanauer [1907]. Moslem, Christian and Jewish tales from old Palestine
Philosophy
Phaedo by Plato. W. L. Wilmshurst in his book "The Meaning of Masonry" (see above) says that this particular Socratic dialogue is full of ideas which every Freemason will recognize on the topics of eternal life and love.
Books on The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike [1871]. Albert Pikes' magnum opus; a advanced textbook of the esoteric basis of Scottish Rite Freemasonry with a chapter devoted to the moral ideas and symbols of each degree of the A.A.S.R.
Devil Worship in France by A.E. Waite [1882]. Bro. Waite debunks the notorious Taxil hoax which falsely accused Freemasons of worshiping Lucifer. Taxil admitted that the whole thing was a hoax but his ideas and forged documents are still sited by anti-masons.
The Knights Templar
Shibboleth: A Templar Monitor by George Cooper Connor [1894]. A Masonic organization modeled after the Templars of old.
The Chinon Parchment. Rough translation of an obscure document that seems to demonstrate that the leaders of the Order of the Knights Templar were pardoned by papal investigators. For more information see the Wikipedia article.
Secret Societies of the Middle Ages by Thomas Keightley [1837]. Assassins, Knight-Templars and more.The History of the Knights Templars by Charles G. Addison [1842]. Get the straight story about the Knights Templar and Temple Church.
Rosicrucians
Rosicrucianism is a complex field of study. There are many orders of Rosicrucians outside of Masonry with various teachings. The Masonic Rosicrucian Order -- called in the U.S.A. the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (Rosicrucian Society of the United States) does not necessarily embrace the ideas treated in the following books. The S.F.R.C.F. is a completely independent organization from Craft Masonry but being a Mason is one of the prerequisites to membership. Its degrees are entirely distinct from the Rose Croix degree in the Scottish Rite. N.B.: All scholarship over fifty years old should be read with a critical eye.
In the Pronaos of the Temple of Wisdom
by Franz Hartmann [1890]. The history, secret powers, and doctrine of the rue' Rosicrucians.The Real History of the Rosicrucians by Arthur Edward Waite [1887]. Complete text of all of the key Rosicrucian documents, including the Fama, Confessio, and the Chemical Wedding, and extensive historical background on the elusive group.
The Rosicrucians, Their Rites and Mysteries by Hargrave Jennings [4th ed., 1907, orig. pub. 1870]
Was sacred sexuality at the core of the Rosicrucians' legendary powers to halt aging, transmute matter and attain spiritual perfection?
Book Reviews
The Lost Symbologist: A Review of Dan' Brown's novel, The Lost Symbol by Bro. James Maertens, Ph.D.
The Meaning of Masonry: A Review Essay by Bro. James Maertens. Originally published in the Lake Harriet Lodge Herald (May/June 2009). Review and thoughts on W. L. Wilmshurst's The Meaning of Masonry.
American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities. Mark A Tabbert, National Heritage Museum, Lexington, Ma., New York University Press. NY and London, 2005. 262 pages. Review at Freemasonry Today.
The Arch and the Rainbow. Revd N. B. Cryer, Addlestone (Ian Allan Regalia), 1996. Review at Freemasonry Today.
Asclepius: The Perfect Discourse of Hermes Trismegistus. Ed. Clement Salaman. Duckworth, London, 2007. Paperback, 104 pages. Review at Freemasonry Today.
THE BOOK OF HIRAM. Freemasonry, Venus and the Secret Key to the Life of Jesus. Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, Century, London, 2003. 482 pages. Review at Freemasonry Today.
COMMITTED TO THE FLAMES. The history and rituals of a secret Masonic rite. Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris. Lewis Masonic, Hersham, 2008. Hardback, 290pages. Review at Freemasonry Today.
Eliphas Levi and Kabbalah: The Masonic and French Connection of the American Mystery Tradition. Robert L. Uzzel, Ph.D. Cornerstone, 2006. 208 pages. A Review by Bro. James W. Maertens, Ph.D.