The Builders. A Story and Study of Masonry

 

By J. F. Newton. Distributor: Lulu. $19.99. 220 pages. Paperback UT. 2016 (1914).

 

‘Brethren read this book, liked it, and passed the word along; and so it has journeyed from land to land, weaving a web of goodwill.’

 

Joseph Fort Newton (1876–1950) was an American author who authored over 30 books. In The Builder, J. F. Newton defines the origins, the history and the ideals of Freemasonry constructing a message of liberty, fraternity and equality.

The importance of this work is supported by the review made by A. Waite, added below. This book should be consulted along with the articles in The Builder Magazine[1] that complement and augment the original text.

This work provides the tools necessary for the artisan who seeks to gain Free Thinking by seeking knowledge and understanding while upholding tolerance and respect for the Other. It is a work to study in parallel with J. Stevens’ Chips from a rough ashlar 'knocked off' by the gavel of common sense (1885) G. Lessing’s Ernest and Falk (1778) and W. Calcott’s A Candid Disquisition (1769).

This edition adds to the original a list generated from the text of 138 references and the list of works of J. F. Newton.

 

Table of Contents

 

  • THE ANTE-ROOM
  • THE PROPHECY
    • The Foundation
    • The Working Tools
    • The Drama of Faith
    • The Secret Doctrine
    • The Collegia
  • HISTORY
    • Free-Masons
    • Fellowcrafts
    • Accepted Masons
    • Grand Lodge of England
    • Universal Masonry
  • INTERPRETATION
    • What is a Mason
    • The Masonic Philosophy
    • The Spirit of Masonry
  • Bibliography
  • Index

 

[1] The Builder Magazine was published from 1915 through 1930 by the National Masonic Research Society. Many Masonic Librarians and scholars believe that The Builder Magazine was the best American Masonic magazine ever published. The fifteen year collection include thousands of excellent articles on Masonic history, philosophy, jurisprudence, poetry, landmarks and symbolism. These publications and the Quatuor Coronati's Transactions are invaluable sources of knowledge.