Freemasons for Dummies

Love it!!

Freemasons for Dummies is an excellent introduction to the mysteries of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. If you know nothing about Masonry and are perhaps curious about this ancient fraternity, Freemasons for Dummies will answer most of your questions. Even if you were made a Mason long ago and have many years of experience in the Craft, you will still likely find a thing or two of interest in the pages of this book.Freemasons for Dummies is written by Chris Hodapp, a Past Master of Masonic Lodges in Indiana, and a member of the Royal Arch Masons, Cryptic Masons, and the Knights Templar, along with many other accomplishments in Masonry. Chris Hodapp is certainly well qualified and knowledgeable about Masonry, and shares this knowledge in an enjoyable, easy to read writing style, that makes Freemasons for Dummies both informative and fun to read.The book is divided into six major sections:1. What Is Freemasonry ~ a history of Masonry, along with its philosophy and a discussion of some of ceremonies.2. The Mechanics Of Freemasonry ~ explaining how Freemasons are organized, more about ceremonies, and the symbols of Freemasonry, along with a discussion of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the Masons.3. Knights, Swords, Fezzes, And Dresses ~ discussing the appendant bodies of Freemasonry, such as the York and Scottish Rites, the Mystic Shrine, and the extended Masonic family.4. Freemasons Today And Tomorrow ~ Is Masonry still relevant today? What is the future of the Masons? And... how to become a Mason yourself - 2B1Ask1.5. The Part Of Ten ~ This section discusses 10 groups of famous Masons, 10 anti-Mason hoaxes and conspiracies, and 10 places of Masonic excellence: including the Freemason's Hall in Philadelphia, the Templar Church in London, and Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.6. Appendixes ~ Here we find the "Regius Manuscript", Anderson's Constitutions, and a list of the Grand Lodges throughout the United States and Canada.While there are certainly much grander tomes written about the Craft of Freemasonry and its mysteries, Freemasons for Dummies should not be discounted as a serious reference. Freemasons for Dummies is well-written, informative, and highly recommended for anyone interested in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

I read this book when I was first considering becoming a Freemason. The book covers an immense amount of ground ranging from the history of the craft to religion to all the appendant and concordant bodies of Freemasonry.While no book is perfect and certainly no book can tell you everything there is out there on a subject as vast as Freemasonry, this book is an excellent primer and answers a lot of the early questions and fills in a lot of the early gaps for someone who is considering joining or has recently joined.The only real gripe I have about the book is that the author goes into way to much detail on the appendant bodies of Freemasonry. Some of the groups he spends a lot of typing space on are fairly obscure and probably don't deserve that much space in a "Dummies" book. This makes me think the publisher wanted the book a bit "thicker" so they threw in some filler. The reason I get annoyed by this is because someone new to the craft should not be bombarded by filler on obscure side bodies when there is plenty of historical and present day information that could have taken those pages instead.I am also not a fan of pushing new brothers straight into appendant bodies like the Scottish Rite right away since there is so much to learn in the Blue Lodge before you start another path.All told I am a big fan of this book and have bought a total of six copies as everytime a friend or Brother wants to start learning more about Freemasonry, I get him a copy.I do recommend this book and would buy it again.

I ordered the book used and it came in very good shape and was exactly what I ordered.

I purchased this book simply because I wanted to be aware of just what kind of nonsense was getting 'out there'. Considering the title, my expectations were very, very, low. So, imagine my surprise, when it turned out to be one of the best books (perhaps the best) ever written on the history and purpose of Freemasonry. Not only for non-Masons but for new Masons as well.I expected this book to have a cheezy expose of ritual, signs, tokens, and passwords. Instead, the author reveals none of it. He does point out that this kind of information is readily available elsewhere but he certainly wouldn't put it in the book himself. Instead he talks at length about the history of the craft, its purpose, and evolution.The absolute *best* part of the book is at the end where the author presents a breathtaking discourse on the continued relevance of Freemasonry today. He points out how our culture is becoming more disconnected. How we interact primarily with machines and our social interaction decreases at a rapid pace. He refers to this as 'social capital' and how we are losing it without realizing just how much we are giving up. His personal anecdotes on the topic are touching and his commentary is very insightful.I would very strongly recommend this book to absolutely anyone even vauguly interested in petitioning a lodge. I would suggest they skip right to the end of the book first, and then go back and read the entire thing at their own pace.Brother John W. Ratcliff

This is by far the best book I've read on Freemasonry so far! If you are new to Freemasonry, buy this now!

Ok but already knew alot

A book for all FM Buffs with an interesting insight into Masonic lodges world wide. Highly recommended serious reading for one and all brethren.

I approached this book with guarded optimism hoping that it would be not too little and not too much considering my complete ignorance in freemasonry. I was rewarded and surprised at the easy reading and matter of fact nature in which the reference was presented. This was a fun read for me and encouraged me to explore more. This volume has eased my trepidation in approaching our local lodge.

Showed up right on time. Great product!

Well pleased with my purchase. The book exceeded my expectations and will provide a very useful reference source in the future.

A ggod book as long as you trust that the author, a Freemason is telling you the truth about all these "good" people.