Table of Contents

Introduction. Part I: What Is Freemasonry? Chapter 1: Lodges, Aprons, and Funny Handshakes: Freemasonry 101. Chapter 2: From Quarries to Lodge Rooms: A History of the Freemasons. Chapter 3: The Philosophy of Freemasonry. Chapter 4: Politics, Religion, and Freemasons: They Don't Mix. Part II: The Mechanics of Freemasonry: How It Works. Chapter 5: How the Freemasons Are Organized: Who Does What and Why. Chapter 6: The Ceremonies of Freemasons. Chapter 7: The Symbols of Freemasonry. Chapter 8: Myths and Misconceptions about Masons. Part III: Knights, Swords, Fezzes, and Dresses: The Appendant Bodies. Chapter 9: Introducing the Appendant Bodies: Who's Who, and Who Isn't. Chapter 10: The York Rite. Chapter 11: The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Chapter 12: The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Chapter 13: The Extended Masonic Family. Part IV: Freemasonry Today and Tomorrow. Chapter 14: So Is It Still Relevant? Chapter 15: Freemasons and the Future. Chapter 16: So You Want to Become a Freemason. Part V: The Part of Tens. Chapter 17: Ten Groups of Famous Masons. Chapter 18: Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons, and Hoaxes. Chapter 19: Ten Cool Masonic Places. Part VI: Appendixes. Appendix A: The Regius Manuscript. Appendix B: Anderson's Constitutions. Appendix C: Finding a Lodge. Index.

About the Author

Christopher Hodapp is a Mason who has traveled extensively, reporting on Masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He has written for the Grand Lodge magazine The Indiana Freemason.

Reviews

..".a delight; no masonic prudery here, no academic dry ... simple readable style that encourages one to read on...great value..." (The Square, March 2006)