New From the Masonic Book Club: 'The Book M or Masonry Triumphant'

by Christopher Hodapp

A new title from the Masonic Book Club (MBC) is now available for pre-publication purchase. The Book M or, Masonry Triumphant, by William Smith, with an Introduction by Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°.

From the Masonic Book Club website:

In the decades following the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1717 and the publication of James Anderson’s The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1723), Freemasonry was undergoing both consolidation and public exposure. William Smith’s The Book M or, Masonry Triumphant (1736), participated in this transition by offering a blend of history, ritual elements, and songs which reflected the increasing literate and social mobility of the Craft’s membership. The Book M is essentially a “Pocket Companion” augmented with original commentary on Northern English Masonry, “Memorables,” and ceremonial observations. This dual format, part historical narrative plus musical/occasional material, informed and entertained Brethren as well as promoting a positive self-image of the fraternity. The author was likely the same William Smith who was initiated at Swalwell Lodge (Lodge of Industry No. 48) in 1733.

Internal evidence suggests that The Book M represents the traditions of the “Harodim,” an early form of Masonry distinct from the “Moderns” (post-1717) and “Ancients” (post-1752). Some scholars suggest that the Harodim encompassed ritual elements later found in other high degrees, such as the Rose Croix, the Passing of the Bridge, and the Mark, Ark, and Link ceremonies. However, historical records indicate that the Harodim was primarily a lecture-based assembly. It preserved some of the older traditions of Masonry, including Noah and the Flood, the Tower of Babel, Enoch’s Columns, and the construction of Solomon’s Temple as part of the Fraternity’s mythology.

Although published in a relatively large edition, surviving copies are quite rare, with fewer than ten known to exist. This attractive Masonic Book Club edition, which was re-typeset for clarity, preserves the pagination and some of the engravings of the original. Some of the engravings have been reproduced or reimagined. A new introduction by Arturo de Hoyos adds a historical context and frames the book within the traditional works of the Craft.

The recently-revived Masonic Book Club works a bit differently from the way it did back in the 1970s-2000's. There are no dues. Books are announced in a pre-publication phase and a cheaper ordering price is announced (usually in the $40 range). If there's enough interest in the title, great. They'll go to press and the book will get delivered in a few months. If there aren't enough pre-orders to make it worth printing, you'll get your money back, and the book will not get printed.

So here are the gory details about The Book M or, Masonry Triumphant. The pre-publication order window will be open through Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The special MBC pre-publication price is $40. The regular retail price will be $50 once it gets printed, so he who hesitates loses ten smackers.

During the pre-publication sale period, they are also offering a limited signed edition for $55.
It's a pre-publication order and the book itself hasn't been printed yet. If the MBC receives sufficient orders during the pre-publication sale period, they expect to print in the Fall and ship in late December 2026 or early January 2027. If they DON'T receive sufficient orders, they'll refund your filthy lucre, the book will slip back into obscurity, and Art De Hoyos' work will have been in  vain.

And it'll all be your damned fault.

For more information on the book, visit https://srbookstore.myshopify.com/products/masonry-triumphant

For the lowdown on the Masonic Book Club, see my story from 2020 when it was revived at: 

The Masonic Book Club Is Reborn By AASR-SJ