The Eureka Collection

The Lodge of Education and Research is attempting to support each individual Mason's Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge in today's world by making available a collection of books according to the Eureka Reading list developed by the Fiat Lux Lodge of Research.

(A few words on the Eureka List from Past Grand Master M.W.Bro. Stephen Godfrey)

Eureka Reading List

 Bro Garth Cochran
Fiat Lux Lodge of Research No. 1980
Internet Lodge of Research

This compilation of Masonic reading comes from many sources. The emphasis here, however, is what books will be useful for the budding Masonic Researcher. To that end, the following caution from the noted Masonic writer Alphonse Cerza, is most important. 

The fact that a book is classified as a “Masonic book” does not mean it is worth reading. Many such books have been the work of enthusiastic Masons who relied on their imaginations rather than on research. Books dealing with the following subjects should be selected with care: (I) The origins of Freemasonry; (2) the Masonic membership of great men; and (3) presenting events in history as Masonic projects. Under the first category there are about twenty-five theories that have been advanced, most of them are unfounded and their presentation has been a waste of time. Under the second category we find such statements as “all the governors of the original thirteen Colonies were Masons”; “all of George Washington's generals were Masons”; and “most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons.” Each of these statements is untrue and are gross exaggerations. Under the third category we note the oft-repeated erroneous story that the Boston Tea Party was planned in a Masonic lodge and was executed by the members of the lodge.[1]

 In other words, be somewhat skeptical of what you read, especially in many of the recent popular books and in many texts published in the 1700s and 1800s. When assessing a text, use a journalistic approach of finding more than one source to lend credence to your research.

 Also, it is important to remember that if your research is to maintain its credibility, sources contrary to your thesis cannot be ignored. They must be noted and, if possible, explained away or used to modify your thesis. Failing to do this is one of the greatest failings of many Masonic authors who were more interested in promoting their theories than of finding the “truth,” whatever that may be.

With these cautions in mind, I give you this list.

Starting out

Carr, Harry. Harry Carr’s World of Freemasonry. London: Lewis Masonic, 1983.
Carr, Harry: The Freemason at Work. London: Lewis Masonic, 1976.
Cerza, Alphonse. Masonic Parallels with History. Silver Springs, Maryland: Masonic Service Association, 1955.
Claudy, Carl H. Introduction to Freemasonry. I Entered Apprentice. Washington: Temple Publishers, 1931, 1959.
Claudy, Carl H. Introduction to Freemasonry. II Fellowcraft. Washington: Temple Publishers, 1931, 1959.
Claudy, Carl H. Introduction to Freemasonry. III Master Mason. Washington: Temple Publishers, 1931, 1959.
Claudy, Carl H. The Master’s Book. Washington: Temple Publishers, 1974.
Coil, Henry Wilson. Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia. New York: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company Inc., 1961.
Collett, W.J. History of the Grand Lodge of Alberta 1905–1980, Calgary: The Grand Lodge of Alberta, 1980.
Dyer, Colin. Symbolism in Craft Masonry. London: Lewis Masonic, 1976.
Hamill, John. The History of English Freemasonry. Addlestone, Surrey: Lewis Masonic, 1994. ISBN 085318 205 1.
Haywood, H.L. More About Masonry. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, Inc., 1948, 1980.
Haywood, H. L. The Newly-Made Mason. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Inc., 1973.
Horne, Alex. Sources of Masonic Symbolism. Richmond: Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc., 1981.
Jones, Bernard E. Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium. New and revised edition, London: Harrap, 1956.
MacNulty, W. Kirk. Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 1991.
McLeod, Wallace (ed.). Beyond the Pillars. Hamilton: Masonic Holdings, 1973.
McLeod, Wallace E. (ed.). Meeting the Challenge. Hamilton: Masonic Holdings, 1976.
McLeod, Wallace (ed.), Whence Come We? Freemasonry in Ontario 1764–1980. Hamilton: Masonic Holdings, 1980.
Newton, Joseph Fort. The Builders. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company Inc., 1914, 1951.
Roberts, A.E. The Craft and its Symbols. Revised and enlarged edition. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, Inc., 1974.
Tabbert, Mark A. American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities. New York: New York University Prfess; National Heritage Museum, 2005.


Next Step

Various Proceedings such as:
Ars Quatuor Coronatorum 1886 to present. Proceedings of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, EC.
Vox Lucis, 1980 to present. Proceedings of Fiat Lux Lodge of Research No. 1980, GRA
The Papers of the Canadian Masonic Research Association: 1949–1976. proceedings of heritage Lodge No 730, GLOPO
Proceedings of the 55th Inter-Provincial Conference of the Officers of the Four Western Masonic Jurisdictions (The Banff Conference). Calgary: The Grand Lodge of Alberta, 1995

Other volumes:

Douglas, William. Freemasonry in Manitoba 1864–1925. Winnipeg: Bulman Bros. Limited (The Grand Lodge of Manitoba), 1925.
Hodapp, Christopher. Freemasons for Dummies. Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005.
Hodapp, Christopher L., Ed. Laudable Pursuits — An Answer to Dwight L. Smith. (Knights of the North.)
Knoop, Douglas and G.P.Jones, The Genesis of Freemasonry. London:Q.C. Correspondence Circle Ltd., 1978.
MacNulty, W. Kirk. Freemasonry: Symbols, Secrets, Significance. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd., 2006.
McLeod, Wallace. The Grand Design. Highland Springs, Virginia: Anchor Communications (Iowa Research Lodge No. 2), 1991.
Morris, S. Brent. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry. New York, etc.: The Penguin Group, 2006.
Nettl, Paul. Mozart and Masonry. (Philosophical Library Inc., 1957.) New York, Dorset Press, 1987.
Pick, Fred L. and G. Norman Knight. The Pocket History of Freemasonry. 7th ed. Revised by Frederick Smyth. London: Frederick Muller Ltd., 1983.
Prescott, Andrew, ed. Preston’s Illustrations of Masonry. (CD Version containing nine Preston editions, 1771–1812) Sheffield: Academy Electronic Publications Ltd, 2001, ISBN 0-9541589-0-3.
Preston, William. Illustrations of Masonry, 1904. Reprinted, Northamptonshire, England: The Aquarian Press, 1986.
Roberts, A.E. The Craft and its Symbols. Revised and enlarged edition. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, Inc., 1974.
Roberts, Allen E. “Ideas And Leadership.” Short Talk Bulletin 74 (3), Silver Spring, MD: Masonic Service Association, (March) 1996.
Smith, Dwight L. Whither Are We Traveling? Franklin, Indiana: The Freemason Printing Center, The Indiana Masonic Home, 1966.
Smith, Dwight L. Why This Confusion In The Temple? Silver Springs, Maryland: The Masonic Service Association, 1970.
Steinmetz, George H. Freemasonry — Its Hidden Meaning. Richmond, VA: Macoy Publishing, 1976.
Stevenson, David. The First Freemasons, 2nd Ed. Edinburgh: Grand Lodge of Scotland, 2001, ISBN: 0 902324 65 9.
Stevenson, David. The Origins of Freemasonry. Cambridge University Press, 1988.
Ridley, Jasper. The Freemasons. London: Constable & Robinson Ltd, 1999
Tresner, Dr. James. The Craft’s Noyse. Silver Springs, Maryland: Masonic Service Association, 2000.
Wilmshurst, W.L. The Meaning of Masonry. New York: Bell Publishing, 1980. (Facsimile reprint of 5th Edition (1927) published by Rider, London.)



Advanced Reading

Anderson, James. The New Book of Constitutions… 1738. London: Quatuor Coronati [Q.C.C.C. Facsimile Edition.], 1976.
Clegg, Robert Ingham, ed. Mackey’s Masonic Jurisprudence. 10th ed. New York: Masonic History Co., 1927.
Cooper, Robert L.D. The Rosslyn Hoax? London: Lewis Masonic, 2006.
Gould, Robert Freke. The History of Freemasonry. Edinburgh: T.C. & E.C. Jack, Grange Publishing, undated.
Hall, Manly Palmer. An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy(The Secret Teachings of All Ages). Los Angeles: The Philosophical Research Society, Inc., 1977 (facsimilie reprint).
Jacob, Margaret C. The Origins of Freemasonry: Facts & Fictions. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006.
Jacob, Margaret C. The Radical Enlightenment: Pantheists, Freemasons and Republicans. Second Revised Edition. Lafayette, Louisiana: Cornerstone Book Publishers, 2006.
Lennhoff, Eugene. The Freemasons. English Edition. Shepperton, Middlesex: A Lewis (Masonic Publishers) Ltd., 1978.
Mackey, Albert G. Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. New Revised and Enlarged Edition, 2 Volumes, Robert I. Clegg, ed. Chicago: The Masonic History Company, 1929.
Mackey, Albert G. Symbolism of Freemasonry. Chicago: Charles T. Powner Co., 1947.
Mackey, Albert Gallatin. The History of Freemasonry. New York: Gramercy Books (Random House), 1996.
Mackey, Albert G. and R.T. Clegg. Mackey’s Symbolism of Freemasonry. (rev.) Chicago: The Masonic History Company, 1960.
Partner, Peter. The Murdered Magicians: The Templars and their Myth. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Pike, Albert. Morals and Dogma. Charleston: Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, 1956.
Pound, Roscoe. Masonic Jurisprudence. Iowa: National Masonic Research Society, 1920.
Street, Oliver Day. Symbolism of the Third Degree. Kingsport, Tennessee, Southern Publishers, Inc. Masonic Service Association, 1922.
Waite, Arthur Edward. A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry. (Two Volumes in One.) New York, etc: Wings Books, 1994 (Previously published, New Hyde Park, New York: University Books, 1970.)

In addition, there are The Collected Prestonian Lectures in four volumes.


Recreational Reading

Baigent, Michael, and Richard Leigh. The Temple and the Lodge. New York: Arcade Publishing, Inc., 1989.
Baigent, Michael, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln. The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. London: Arrow Books, 1982.
Follett, Ken. The Pillars of the Earth. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc (Signet Paperback), 1990.
Hutchinson, William. The Spirit of Masonry. (Original publication 1775) Masonic Classics Series, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England: Aquarian Press, 1987.
Knight, Christopher, and Robert Lomas. The Hiram Key. London: Century, 1996.
Robinson, John J. Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry. New York: M. Evans & Company, 1989.
Robinson, John J., A Pilgrim’s Path. New York: M. Evans & Co., Inc., 1992.