Masonic Book Club Collection (7 MBC + 2 MBC "Bonus")

Description

An instant collection for the discerning Masonic scholar, this set of nine books total includes seven editions from the original Masonic Book Club along with two of their "bonus" volumes. The MBC ran from the 1970s through to 2010 and has recently been revived under the leadership of the Scottish Rite. Each year they published a hard-to-find or otherwise important Masonic text in their handsome blue bindings. Of the two "bonus" volumes, one is directly from the MBC while the other is a joint publication with the AASR. See full
descriptions
below.
Johnson
The Beginning of Freemasonry in America
Masonic Book Club
vol 14
A beautifully bound reprint of the 1924 classic text by PGM of MA Melvin M. Johnson looking at the development of Freemasonry in the eighteenth century. Slight foxing on end- and flyleaves (see photo) but includes a beautiful Masonic bookplate.
Morris
Masonic Odes and Poems
Masonic Book Club
vol 21
A really fine reprint of Rob Morris’s
Three Hundred Masonic Odes and Poems
published in 1875 - an excellent edition for the literary Mason.
Lessing
Lessing’s Masonic Dialogues
Masonic Book Club
vol 22
Another excellent collection and reprinting, here of eighteenth century German philosopher and writer Gotthold Lessing. Includes facsimile of
Lessing’s Masonic Dialogues
,
Ernst and Falk
, and several essays. Highly recommended for the Mason interested in philosophy, the Enlightenment, and religion.
Sapere Aude 186 just had a presentation by Bro. Rolf Keil on Lessing.
St. John’s Lodge
The Constitutions of St John’s Lodge
Masonic Book Club
vol 25
This is a beautifully reprinted edition of the Tho: Carmick MS, The Constitutions of St. John’s Lodge, providing both the transcribed edition and a facsimile of the original as published by the GL of PA, 1908. Commentary included by both W. J. Hughan and Henry S. Borneman.
Morris
Recollections of a Masonic Veteran
Masonic Book Club
vol 26
Edited by the eminent S. Brent Morris, this volume of the MBC provides the transcriptions of a newspaper series “Recollections of a Masonic Veteran” published in
The New York Dispatch
by Robert B. Folger. Folger had, as evident by this volume, an interesting and lengthy Masonic career that was not short of controversy - see the article in
Philalethes
(vol. 73, no.4) by Bradley Corsello and MBC vol 23 which reprints what Morris terms “The Folger Manuscript.”
Caspari
Freemasonry - Its Meaning and Significance
Masonic Book Club
vol 31
Reprinted from the 1914 edition of Otto Caspari’s work, this volume provides a German perspective to that presented in Stewart’s
Symbolic Teachings
.
Modi
The K R Cama Masonic Jubilee
Masonic Book Club
vol 32
This edition continues the international perspective meant by the editors, providing a reprint of Cama’s
Masonic Jubilee
that includes essays from prominent Masons meant to celebrate the centennial of Freemasonry in British India.
Van Gorden
Modern Historical Characters in Freemasonry
AASR - blue binding (limited edition)
The second of what became a four volume set of works by Van Gorden, exploring the Masonic hagiography of characters from modern Masonic history. This work was published in red by the MBC and in blue by the AASR (this edition, limited/not numbered) as a collaboration. This and the rest of the volumes by Van Gorden make excellent reference works. This volume includes the original glassine dust jacket
Carr
The Mystic Tie and Men of Letters
Masonic Book Club
bonus volume
Dr. Robin Carr’s answer to Van Gorden’s work in Masonic hagiography, this bonus volume was published by the MBC and includes biographic and Masonic details of many prominent Masons involved in the world of letters. Another excellent reference work.