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This is Albert Pikes' 861 page volume of 'lectures' on the esoteric roots of Freemasonry, specifically the 32-degree Scottish Rite. Until 1964, this book was given to every Mason completing the 14th degree in the Southern jurisdiction of the US Scottish Rite Freemasons.
In Valley of the Craftsmen, the story of "higher degree" Freemasonry is depicted through portraits, official papers, material objects, photographs, buildings, and stagecraft. Featuring many previously unpublished images, Valley of the Craftsmen begins with rare illustrations of the English and French philosophical sources that were projected upon an American landscape vitalized and transformed by the concept of fraternity. The story is framed by American popular culture and the serious private effort of individual men in small towns and expansive cities who were intent on developing a moral life in service to their communities.
The articles in this book focus on a type of Freemasonry that has long been a subject of controversy. Known as Cerneauism, it refers to Scottish Rite bodies which derived authority from Joseph Cerneau (1763-1840/45), a Frenchman who was the charter master of La Temple des Vertus Theologalis No. 103, a Pennsylvania lodge in Havana, Cuba. He fled to New York after being expelled from Cuba in 1806, after fleeing there from the slave rebellion in Haiti in 1802. The central issue with Cerneauism is the question of authority, i.e., the right to create and govern Masonic organizations. Masonic bodies worldwide maintain that the right and authority to create and preside over rites, orders, and systems must stem from a just and regular succession, with adherence to applicable constitutions, laws, and statutes. Cerneauism was a challenge to the concept of regularity because Joseph Cerneau did not personally possess any authority within the Scottish Rite, nor did he accept its governing constitutions.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Take the mystery out of the Freemasons Fascinated by Freemasons? Freemasons For Dummies is the internationally bestselling introduction to the Masons, the oldest and largest "secret society" in the world. This balanced, eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rites, to its curious symbols and their meanings. With new and improved content, including updated examples and references throughout, this new edition of Freemasons For Dummies provides the most straightforward, non-intimidating guide to the subject on the market. Updated expert coverage of the basic beliefs and philosophy behind Freemasonry Revised information on the hist...