Product Description

First published in 1950, the Freemasons' Guide and Compendium is filled with authentic, detailed information on a wide variety of subjects related to masons and masonry. Written by an experienced Freemason with the interests of rank-and-file members of the ordinary lodge in mind—especially the young Craftsman who wishes to learn the nature of Freemasonry's claim to have a history that goes back to ancient days—it provides key facts about masonic history, tradition, and lore. In doing so, the book offers a far greater scope of information than any other comparable work. And Bernard E. Jones critically examines conflicting ideas about how some of the traditions came to be, coming to conclusions of his own.
The early chapters of Freemasons' Guide and Compendium describe how the masonic guilds arose in eleven-century England after the Norman conquest. From there Jones moves into the emergence of speculative Freemasonry in the late medieval period and exlpores its amazing growth as an esoteric system during the eighteenth century.
The major part of the book consists of a comprehensive, systematic presentation of information about masonry's customs, principles and tenets, words and phrases, lodge appointments and working tools, symbols and emblems. With the help of the guide and compendium, the Craftsman will have no difficulty in making daily progress in masonic knowledge, and the thorough, exhaustive index will help him to access a great story of knowledge.
As interest in the subject of Freemasonry continues to grow, as seen in the movie National Treasure and in Dan Brown's forthcoming book, the Freemasons' Guide and Compendium will be a valuable source of information for anyone who wants to research and understand the masons.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #695960 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 644 pages

About the Author
Bernard E. Jones, a Freemason of fifty years' standing, was a widely recognized authority on the history, beliefs, and symbols of freemasonry. He lived in Bolney, Sussex, England.

Customer Reviews

A Most Excellent and Detailed Reference to the Craft.
Bernard E. Jones (1879 - 1965), a Freemason of fifty years, living in Sussex, England, was widely recognized as a great authority on the history, beliefs and symbols of Freemasonry. In the "Freemason' Guide and Compendium" Worshipful Br. Jones has given us a most excellent and detailed reference to the Craft.

The "Freemason' Guide and Compendium" was first published in 1950, and is very well-written and amazingly detailed.

The book is divided into six main sections:

1-Operative Masonry and the London Company
2-Speculative Masonry
3-The Grand Lodges (1717 - 1813)
4-The Craft Degrees and Other Matters
5-The Lodge and Many Related Subjects
6-The Royal Arch, Mark Masonry, and Additional Degrees

There are also 31 illustrated plates, and numerous other illustrations throughout the text.

There is so much in the "Freemason' Guide and Compendium" that it is difficult to describe the breadth of its content, and yet for all its amazing content Worshipful Br. Jones continues to hele, conceal, and never reveal an. o. t. scs. ars. prts. o. r. pnts. of. th. hdn. msts. o. fmy.

For any Master Mason the "Freemason' Guide and Compendium" is an essential addition to his personal library and to that of the Lodge.

An absolutely outstanding book!

Highly Recommended!

A heavy read, but very good
This is a somewhat heavy read about Masonry. However it appears to be accurate, without all the mysterious "hype" that often-times accompanies such books. Good reading for Masons and non-Masons alike. One can read it like a novel, but it is also very useful as a Masonic reference source. It was, of course, written by a well-known British Masonic author over 50 years ago, but it ties in American Masonry very well, and is not 'out of date'.

Freemasons Guide and Compendium
For the serious Freemason , seeking accurate information , this title is the best one to have... if you can only havre one book, buy this one.
The recent new printing is a very good quality.
I am recommending it to all who come into my study circles.