A Dictionary of Freemasonry

I picked up A Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy day before yesterday. Anyone have any thoughts about this book?

I picked that book up when I was starting to get serious about joining. I just read the history portian of the book and put it down. I had decided to join, and was given the advice not to read to much before my degrees, on the chance that I might run across something that might change, deminish, or take away from the experiance of the degrees. Seeing the wisdom of the advice, because I do want to experiance the degrees to the fullest, without outside infuence or pre-conseption, I have put the book down. I will regain my reading after my degrees. I have since gotten advice on some reading that I can do, that will stay away from talking about the rituals, mostly historical reading. I fully plan to read everything I can once I'm past my degrees, everything credible that is . Oh heck even some non-credible stuff to, entertainment is good sometimes .

The book does however seem to be pretty much just that, a masonic dictionary, with the writers beliefs as to the history of Masonry. I will not pertend to answer to the validity of the definitions in the book, I will have to leave that up to the more experianced masons.

[edit on 11-8-2004 by Darktalon]

Originally posted by Gary Seven
I picked up A Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy day before yesterday. Anyone have any thoughts about this book?

GarySeven

Macoys Dictionary isn't bad...but it's not great. I prefer his "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" (in two volumes) It's getting pretty rare and expensive, but it's worth-while. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia is good too, but both of these items were written a long time ago and there are some errors and some speculation printed as fact. Over all, though they're pretty good sources.

-Regards

Originally posted by senrak

Originally posted by Gary Seven
I picked up A Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy day before yesterday. Anyone have any thoughts about this book?

GarySeven

Macoys Dictionary isn't bad...but it's not great. I prefer his "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" (in two volumes) It's getting pretty rare and expensive, but it's worth-while. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia is good too, but both of these items were written a long time ago and there are some errors and some speculation printed as fact. Over all, though they're pretty good sources.

-Regards

A good updated text would be a Pocket History of Freemasonry by Fred L Pick, G Norman Knight and Fredrick Smith. Also of interest is The Freemasons Guide and Compendium by Bernard E. Jones.








[edit on 20-2-2005 by pignut]

Originally posted by senrak
Macoys Dictionary isn't bad...but it's not great. I prefer his "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" (in two volumes) It's getting pretty rare and expensive, but it's worth-while. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia is good too, but both of these items were written a long time ago and there are some errors and some speculation printed as fact. Over all, though they're pretty good sources.

I was given the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry as a gift a while ago, and at the time I was completely confused about everything in there. Mind you, I was just starting my masonic career and, like was said earlier, it's not a good idea to read too much into these things as an entered apprentice.

Too bad there's no books like that for young masons, delving deeper into much more basic concepts. Ah well...

Originally posted by senrak


I prefer his "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" (in two volumes) It's getting pretty rare and expensive, but it's worth-while.

Are you referring to Macoy or Mackey?

Originally posted by Masonic Light

Originally posted by senrak


I prefer his "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" (in two volumes) It's getting pretty rare and expensive, but it's worth-while.

Are you referring to Macoy or Mackey?

I was referring to Macoy, although I think he's confused because the Macoy encyclopedia I have is only ONE book, while the Mackey I have is TWO books.

I think he meant Mackey, as that one is gettng rare and expensive. macoy's can be bought in any bookstore.


[edit on 20-2-2005 by sebatwerk]

hey i have 2 mackeys revised encyclopedias of freemasonry copyright 1929, anyone know what they are worth? if anyone knows email me at [email protected]

reply to post by senrak