Symbols of Freemasonry (Beliefs Symbols)

Rating:
Summary: *small* book
Review: I bought this book as a present for my husband. I agree with many of the positive reviews that have already been written. This is indeed a book with wonderful pictures rich in detail, and there is quite good explanation to the meaning behind the symbols. However....when I had viewed the excerpts on Amazon, I expected the book to be larger in size. The pictures are indeed beautiful, but they turned out to be quite small. In addition, the text is so small and difficult to read (geez, 6 pt font???). This book is approximately 21cm x 16.5 cm (8.2 x 6.5 inches).

Rating:
Summary: A View of European Freemasonry
Review: This book does not "give away"the secrets of a Masonic lodge, and maynot be appreciated by the Non-Mason. This is not a dry exposition of the symbols of a lodge room. What it is,is an artfull view of European Freemasonry. For the American Mason it will allow for some clues to the differant emphasis in work between America and abroad. Lovely book to look at!

Rating:
Summary: The most lavish visual treatment of Masonic symbolism
Review: While MacNulty's "Freemasonry: A Journey through Ritual and Symbol" may be more comprehensive and more directly related to Masonry as it exists in England and the USA, this lovely book makes a much nicer gift. This is a miniature version of an earlier coffee-table-sized version, which is worth the extra price if you can find it. The essays and very informative and are written from the perspective of French Masonry--a system working under what we in the USA call the Scottish Rite. Thus, many symbols of the Scottish Rite are discussed alongside the blue lodge symbols, with no particular line of division drawn between them.

This volume is especially eye-opening to students of esoteric symbolism who have not previously considered Masonic plant and animal symbolism grouped as such.

Non-Masons may find this book difficult to read unless they are already experienced in Masonic jargon, but all will find the photography beautiful to look at.