Masonic exposures have been around almost since the beginning of the Premiere Grand Lodge in England in 1717. If they were published out of spite or a desire to weaken the fraternity, it would have happened a long time ago, instead of growing to five million brethren the world over. Most of these books became popular from Masons themselves buying them to help them learn the ritual, and not from a herd of curious onlookers or anti-Masons storming the doors of lodges pretending to be Masons from something they read in an exposure.
For a list of the many exposures published over the years, Gary Dryfoos has it on his website, "A Page About Freemasonry. Click here to see it.
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UPDATE: I got this message from Jeff Croteau at the Scottish Rite NMJ Museum about disguised ciphers:
Chris,
Nice post on the Essenes ciphers. Some of these ciphers had hilariously and intentionally misleading title pages. I’ve written about three of them on the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library’s blog. I include links here in case they’re of interest:
I hope all’s well.
Best,
Jeff
Jeff
Jeffrey Croteau
Manager of Library & Archives
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library
Manager of Library & Archives
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library
33 Marrett Road | Lexington, MA 02421
I ran across a copy several years back at the Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver but decided not to pick it up for some reason or another. It was sitting on a shelf in the "New Age" section next to a brand spanking new shrinkwrapped copy of "Solomon and his Followers."
ReplyDeleteGods wrath has come for you.
ReplyDeleteI don't think these are rituals used to hide the fact that they are masonic ciphers since a) Front cover of the one I have says it was published by "The Redding Masonic Supply Co." and, b) there are ciphered references to "Essenes Masons" throughout.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I found a copy of a small, very old book that had belonged to my husband's step-father. It has a title of "Ecce Orienti" or "Rites and Ceremonies of the Essenes." The owner was most likely a member of the Prince Hall Masons.
ReplyDeleteI, too, just found a small book called Ecce Orienti: rites and Ceremonies of the Essenes, Redding and Co (National Series)1923. It must have come down from my grandfather to my father and now to me. My father was a Mason. I have yet to delve into it, but it starts out on page 1:
ReplyDeleteThe Ancient Essenes: Origin of the Order. Essene from the Hebrew root, jwy (Essene) (Esan, to be strong) because they exhibited strength of mind, in enduring suffering, and in suduing the passions: the Essenes were an order of the Jews ....