Is Ths "The Real Deal" Mason Book?

Question

Now I probably shoulden't ask this because Masons kill those who are not a Mason & knows thair secrets, but that's what this question is about. Now I bought this book from my job at goodwill, And it's really old. I know that for a fact. The book is raggady & in the book it says it was made in 1850. The books title is "New Masonic Trestle-Board". Now I have reasons to belive this might be the real deal & I have reasons to believe this isen't the real deal. The reasons why I think it might not be real is 1. In the front of the book thare's a tiny sticker saying: "Sold At Burnton's' Book, Music, And Cheap Publications Store, 241 Hudson St, N.Y." 2. On one of the first few pages it says that it's the Stereotype Edition. The reasons I have to believe that it is real is: 1. In the book it has prayers (And I think rituals too). 2. Thare are also symbols types in this book (Sorta like eygption writeing only a little more modrenized. But hardly more). 3. And thare's hymn like songs in here too.

Answer 1

What you have there is what we call "the Trestle Board", and it is a supplimentary book with lectures and ritual that is used to suppliment our regular ritual, which is never written down, and is learned by memory. There are also prayers in there, as we open each meeting with a non-denominational prayer. Every state publishes their own Trestle Board, and they usually do a new one every couple of years.



The statement you made about Masons killing is simply ridiculous. I'm not going to kill you for having that book. There is nothing secret in it. In fact, if you were sitting here with me and asked me to see my copy, I would show you. The thing is that it wouldn't mean anything to you because you don't know the original ritual that the Trestle Board suppliments.



So to answer your question, it IS the real deal. I bet the hymn starts "Solemn strikes the funeral chime", doesn't it?



If you have any more questions about Freemasonry, let me know.

Answer 2

First thing to address is masons will not kill anybody, mason or not, secrets known or not. Freemasonry is a benevolant fraternal organistion not a mob.



Secondly the book you mention is not a secret book, it is available via Amazon, and most Grand Lodge book shops. I purchased a re-print of this very book for £20 (about $40) from the United Grand Lodge of England book shop, before I was a Freemason and there were no questions asked.



The book doesn't contain rituals, but does have some explination as to the symbolisms and certain elements of lodge life (opening of a lodge, constituting a lodge, the masonic charges, and some of the emblems). It is also specific to a specific as the full title of the book denotes,



"New Masonic Trestle-board Adapted to the Work and Lectures as Practiced in the Lodges, Chapters, Councils, and Encampments of Knight Templars in the United States"



It is specific to America, where today most lodges do not have trestleboards anyway, and much of what is contained in the book is no longer done or taught (shame though)



The only symbol styled text that would be used in Freemasonry is either Hebrew, which is used on some designs, specifically those for the 3rd degree although older ones contain more of it, or cyphered text which is letter replacement.



The book is legit in the sense it's information was once current, however as mentioned, the US don't utilise the trestle board anymore therefore the information is more historic fact than anything else.



It also reveals no secrets, or anything secret, from within the masonic rituals. The only secrets are the modes of recognition which are not detailed during any element of Freemasonry when trestleboards are used. We do not discuss much of what the book contains however, not to keep it secret, but so not to spoil the experience for any new candidate. Would be a bit like telling someone how a film ends when they've just bought a ticket to see it for the first time.

Answer 3

The Masonic Lodge is an ancient organization. In ancient days Masons may have killed fellow Masons when they revealed their secrets. Their livelihood depend on it. Masons believe in a higher power, and, today, based upon the laws of the land, Masons will not kill anyone. However, it is an incentive and joy not to reveal the ancient secrets.



The secrets of the Masons are as simple as this. If you were a Boy Scout or a Girl Scout, who learned the Scout oath and laws, but were required to keep them secret, you would keep them secret. The Boy Scouts have an off-shoot service organization called the Order of the Arrow. It is, also, a secret organization just like the Masons. They both help fellow humans through service and love.

Answer 4

Actually, Masons dont kill those who know their secrets, I come from a long line of masons including my father. Well the book you have is either one of two types. There is public ritual, which is not secret and these include instalation, funeral services and other things, which do include prayers and hymns and other stuff. The secret ritual is the degrees such as the entered apprentice, fellowcraft and master. I googled the book and saw that it is just public ritual. No secrets in it.

Answer 5

Freemasonry is an oath bound fraternal order of men which derives from the medieval fraternity of Freemasonry. We adhere to many of the Ancient Charges, laws, customs and legends of operative freemasonry. We are loyal to the civilian government under which we exist. We inculcate moral and social virtues by symbolic application of the operative stonemasons' working tools and by allegories, lectures and charges. Freemasonry obligates its members to obey the principals of brotherly love, equality, mutual aid, secrecy, and confidence. We have secret modes of recognition that permit members to recognize each other as brothers. We require a through examination into the mental, moral and physical qualifications of a petitioner and we admit men into the fraternity by secret ceremonies based in part on legends of the Craft.



Once a person has decided to apply for membership he fills out a petition signed by 2 members of the Lodge he desires to join. He gives the petition to one of the members along with the required initiation fee. The petition is read at the Lodges next stated meeting when the Worshipful Master will appoint an investigating committee who will contact and interview the petitioner in person. this Investigating Committee will report back to Lodge at the next stated meeting when all members present will vote to accept or reject the petitioner. once accepted the petitioner will be given the 3 degrees of an Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and then Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. There are certain requirements which a candidate must meet before he can proceed from one degree to the next.



One must obtain the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason before being allowed to wear any Masonic jewelry.



One must have a Belief in a Supreme Being.



The tenets of the Masonic Fraternity are " Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. "



The Masonic Fraternity is NOT a Secret Society but rather a Society With Secrets like other Fraternal Orders such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Eagles, Moose, Elks, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, etc.



Suggest if you are a man of legal age and are interested in pursuing interest in the Masonic Fraternity you contact a man whom you know to be a Mason for further information and an application. If you are under legal age you might want to inquire about the DeMolay Order.



If there is no local Masonic Lodge available then you can contact the Grand Lodge of Masons for the State in which you reside. The Grand Lodge Officers will be happy to assist you in any way possible.



There are no Masonic Brothers who will physically harm you in any way shape or form. We adhere to all the laws, rules and mores of the culture, society and Country in which we reside. There are numberless books written about the Masonic Fraternity and some are good, others bad. Suggest you contact a Mason or Masonic Lodge directly instead of relying on what others say here as several answers to questions such as yours have been wrong.

Answer 6

There are many books with some of their rituals written in them, however, none of them are complete. Most are not accurate either. Their most secret traditions are only passed down by word of mouth. That's really all I can tell you as a Lady of a Mason.

Answer 7

1) Masons do not have any secrets, everything we have is published and widely available (Library of Congress, Amazon, eBay, etc...)



2) Masons do not kill people for divulging secrets as there are no secrets and even if there were Masons don't hurt, harm, injur, kill, etc



3) The book you have is quite likely legitimate, there are tons of books from the mid-1800's that publish all of the works and secrets of Masonry

Answer 8

For a start---Masons don't kill non-Masons who knows their "secrets"--but right in front of you you have the world-wide web--which will unmask anything you want to know about the Masons.Their "secrets" are secrets no more!!

Answer 9

"Who will help the widow's son?" Hiram Abif