Secret Masonry Book Revealed on Craigslist

Has anyone seen this yet?

It seems on the Sacramento Craigslist this was posted. It is an apparently "secret" book on the "Tactics and Monitor for Knights of the Order of the Temple".

Here is a link to the craigslist posting:

sacramento.craigslist.org...


And this is the photobucket site where he photographed every single page.
I actually read a fair amount of this (took me quite a while) and though its not mind-blowing....it certainly is interesting!

s488.photobucket.com...


So everyone take a look and let me know what you think about its authenticity and content.

LoL.. The Masons dont publish books ....

This is a fruad..



[edit on 16-2-2010 by gLuEBoY]

Could be....though I don't know.

Like I said if anyone can also read any of these pages they seem so...benign....
So much about military formations etc and little to no "juicy" stuff (though I did not spend more than 2-25 minutes reading page by page...maybe there is better stuff in there).

But again, there seems to be so much devoted to the art of warfare, military tradition, etc. that it apears legitimate.

Hm, I guess that'd be for the York Rite?

And the Masons do publish books containing their rituals, for example there is Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Moniter.
Also the Scottish Rite offers collections of their rituals: Scottish Rite Store

That's pretty cool, though, as it's a really old book.

Originally posted by gLuEBoY
LoL.. The Masons dont publish books ....

This is a fruad..

[edit on 16-2-2010 by gLuEBoY]

That's funny....
I own a copy of "Duncan's"......

Deflecting much?

Yep, an old York Rite monitor. Cool find, but probably only worth serious money to a collector. He might get $40-60 for it, I'm guessing.

reply to post by awake_awoke

I have 3-Commandery ritual books not 2-feet from me as I write just like that one, but not as old. Plus this is just one book for one body of the York Rite, a branch of Freemasonry.

It looks authentic, but I'd ask the Grand Commandery of California, and/or the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, USA, about it.

LOOKS LIKE THE FREE MASONS RUNNING THE FED RESERVE HAVE SOME SERIOUS ANSWERING TO DO

Whoever the person is who is putting this up on Craigslist apparently has some agenda against the Freemasons.

reply to post by gLuEBoY

That's not true.

reply to post by KSigMason


It seems they do, though again after examination (and im sorry as though I'm a woman and not allowed in Freemasonry though it sounds like I could possibly be well off there) it seems that this is just a small, though somewhat significant, part of who masons are.

I am sorry if I posted secrets I suppose you could interpret them either way, either pro or anti masonic, but there are there and ATS is all about freedom.

In no way am I trying to "bring down" Masonry.....in fact, I find it so very interesting and inspiring this just seems to confirm what I already thought about it.

reply to post by awake_awoke

I find it so very interesting and inspiring

Just out of curiosity, what aspects do you find interesting and inspiring? Or are you afraid that you just let the proverbial cat out of the bag and are hoping that the big bad masons don't come and get you?

Maaaaaan, I've seen stuff like this in used book stores

it's about as exciting as an old newspaper used to wrap fish.

Originally posted by awake_awoke
It seems they do, though again after examination (and im sorry as though I'm a woman and not allowed in Freemasonry though it sounds like I could possibly be well off there) it seems that this is just a small, though somewhat significant, part of who masons are.

I am sorry if I posted secrets I suppose you could interpret them either way, either pro or anti masonic, but there are there and ATS is all about freedom.

In no way am I trying to "bring down" Masonry.....in fact, I find it so very interesting and inspiring this just seems to confirm what I already thought about it.

KSig's issue is with the Craigslist poster, and with good reason. We have no problem with people who want to learn more; heck we don't even take issue with critics if they're not coming from lies, hoaxes or misquotes.

Originally posted by awake_awoke



So everyone take a look and let me know what you think about its authenticity and content.

It is indeed authentic. There is nothing "secret" or scandalous in the book; its contents concern drill tactics and parade marching techniques for Masonic Templars.

I have personally laid my eyes on a volumus collection known as the History of the Masons. The muti volume set, about 15 large hardback books with very nice illistrations, was on shelved in the back room of a large public library This set looked to be made at the end of the 1800's. Very nice well made set of books covering the history way back. The one volume that I picked up delt with the Masons during the time of Solomon.

I came back later to get into some serious research and the books had been remove from public view and the lady told me when asked that they had never had anything like that there. In the same room, I pointed to where the books where and she insisted that they were never there, gave me a stare and walked out.

I talked to a guy that had been a serious book collector and historian for years. He claimed he had never heard of such a collection but its out there.

Originally posted by Logarock


I talked to a guy that had been a serious book collector and historian for years. He claimed he had never heard of such a collection but its out there.

It was probably either Robert F. Gould's "History of Freemasonry" or Albert G. Mackey's "Lexicon of Freemasonry". Both are multi-volume histories, and both are collector's items. You can find them from time to time on E-Bay, but they're usually pretty expensive, being antiques, and are now relatively rare.

[edit on 17-2-2010 by Masonic Light]

The york rite ritual and degree work has been published for some time now. Not too mention the blue lodge information as well. Although every grand lodge has its own uniqueness to their ritual, 99% of it is identical. I don't see what the big deal is, you can get these things a dime a dozen on ebay.

reply to post by Masonic Light


How often do they turn up in a Masonic Library, would you say?
Seems like something worth having in one.

Most masonic books that exist, are in the library in the House of Temple in Washington DC. Anyone can go there and read the books that are there. You cannot check any out to take with you, but there are some great areas to read quietly. The building itself is an amazing piece of architecture. If you think the secrets of masonry can be found in a book, there is no better place to find them.

As a mason, I would be elated to have anyone know all the things we hold secret. there are some amazing life revelations to be had. One of the most important being to keep the secrets thus proving your integrity. Which is why the secrets exist in the first place. I know, too mundane to be true.

reply to post by Masonic Light



Ok then. Thank you.

reply to post by awake_awoke

Oh, no, I hold no ill feelings for you posting this, I'm more annoyed with the Craigslist poster. I collect older Masonic books so I found those pictures fascinating.

For York Rite Masons the Order of the Temple is very significant as it is the culmination of your progression through the degrees and orders.