The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

710
Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
The literature of Freemasonry used in this dissertation can be categorized into
the following sub-groups:
1. books used in the lodge room
- "Volume of the Sacred Law"
- minute books
- book of constitution or "Ahiman Rezon"
- song books (in some lodges; cf. Section 11.)
2. books used for education and research
- encyclopedias and dictionaries
- histories, centennials
- manuals, monitors, textbooks
- rituals or cipher
- anti-Masonic literature and defense of Masonry
- exposés
3. books used for entertainment
- novels, short stories, and tales
- journey reports
- joke books and satires
- periodicals, magazines
- dramas
- song books
4. books used for image-building
- philanthropic books
5. books for advertising
- catalogues of regalia and lodge equipment
A great number of the books employed stem from the 19 th century, are very
verbose and contain a lot of romance and mysticism. According to CME,
"Masonic literature had its greatest vogue during the 19 th century. Prior to that,
there was very little and the sale and circulation of Masonic books seem to have
declined down to the middle of the 20 th century, notwithstanding the largely
increased numbers of the Craft. Masonic magazines are fewer than formerly." 1731
Each century has its special topics that are infused into Masonic literature. The
time between 1850 and 1900 constitutes the bloom of Masonic publications, and
was marked by special contents of Masonic writings:
1731 CME, p. 381.