Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry

by Malcolm C. Duncan

Book Overview

An elegantly illustrated handbook of Freemasonic ritual

Explained and interpreted by copious notes and numerous engravings. Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor will be a cherished possession of any Mason who receives it. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Because of this work's cultural significance, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679506268
• ISBN13: 9780679506263
• Release Date: April 1976
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Hard cover is ledigible!!!

The “new hard cove” is well worth the price as I finally have a copy that’s large enough to read. Yippee!!!

The Best Kept Secret

This is the one Masonic ritual every Mason should own and every Masonic lodge should at least recommend for study, if not for ceremony. On the surface, Duncan's rendition may not appear much dissimilar from other rituals, but it may contain subtle and cryptic clues to Freemasonry's origins and true nature where others don't. (Maybe that's not something to imply here. But it's something for Freemasons to consider.) In my empirical opinion: if earnestly contemplated, Duncan's ritual will help the diligent Freemason unlock the "secrets within the secret." Of course, there is ultimately much more to Masonic practice and ritual than what meets the blindfolded eye. The book's illustrations, rendered quite generously throughout, often gives lay readers an invalid impression that they finally know all about the goings-on in Freemasonry. Therefore, for non-masons who are simply curious about Freemasonry (as they so often are), there is a lot here to entertain the eye and bedazzle the mind. But nothing here is a substitute for actual lodge experience. My advice for non-masons: Don't try this stuff at home! And I doubt if most Freemasons realize that the parade of illustrations, while for the most part do accurately depict some Freemasonic lodge activity, may also be the author's cleverly placed distractions-- for the profane (non-masons)-- from what he is really putting down in the book. For instance, not only do I find clever clues and key words with cryptic connotation in the text, I also discern inscrutable configurations in the illustrations. Am I a loon? Maybe. But then, Freemasons are accused of discerning Masonic symbols in the layout of Washington, D.C.. Now I'm not suggesting anyone enter a matrix and swallow a red or blue pill before doing so, but for Freemasons who want to know how deep the rabbit hole really goes, this could be a place to start digging. This book is a real gem, almost more of a reference resource than a ritual, and that is perhaps why it's still around.

An Incomparable Masonic Reference

This book gives the entire initiation for the first three degrees and the stories pertaining to each degree. It also includes all the signs and gestures relating to each degree. It is most fascinating and of enormous help to those studying the rituals. I believe this book belongs in every Mason's library.

It Made Me Join!

This is a book a Mason would not want you to have! After reading so much negative garbage about Freemasonry, I bought this book out of curiosity. And when I opened it, boy was I shocked. This book contains all the duegard signs, the illusions, secret hand shakes, and passwords for the first three degrees. It gives the entire initiation process for the first three degrees, from the begining to the ending. It also contains the lectures and the story behind each degree. This book also has the opening of the lodge. This is a must book for anybody who wants to get a peep inside the lodge. Even though this book is packed with a lot of good information, and give you a lot of insight on the craft and if you study it and somehow be able to master it, you still would not truly be a mason until you come into the Lodge the right way. This book also contains additional degrees on the York Rite side of masonry. The degrees are Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and The Royal Arch. As for me I'm on the Scottish Rite side of masonry, so the additional information is of no use to me, but it's still good information to read. If you want to try and fool somebody by saying you are a mason, with this book you might can pull it off. All you have to master is the first three degrees. But be aware, a true mason will throw some stuff at you that will make your head spin. Don't read this book and then go buy masonic gear or vehicle emblems, because if you cain't protect it, might get taken from you. Their's more to freemasonry than reading a book. I highly recommend this book for anybody who is curious about the craft or anyone who looking to join the Lodge.

Freemason Classic Fully Illustrated for the use of Brethren!

This book is a classic, and a treasure. Reading about the rituals of Freemasonry is fascinating, but to see illustrations of the gestures that are described is to take the study up to the next level. Many Masonic symbols are illustrated and codes for reading certain Masonic texts are revealed. This is a handbook for Masons, but those who study without the lodge will gain some insight, from previous reading. This book will not give you a free pass into the lodge...but, it may inspire you to petition one! I keep the Hardback version on-display, beside The Holy Bible and "Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol," by W. Kirk MacNulty. This Paper-back version is just as impressive as the Hard-back, the other one is simply prettier to look at on the shelf. Either way, you can't lose!

Freemason Classic Fully Illustrated for the use of Brethren!

This book is a classic, and a treasure. Reading about the rituals of Freemasonry is fascinating, but to see illustrations of the gestures that are described is to take the study up to the next level. Many Masonic symbols are illustrated and codes for reading certain Masonic texts are revealed. This is a handbook for Masons, but those who study without the lodge will gain some insight, from previous reading. This book will not give you a free pass into the lodge...but, it may inspire you to petition one! I keep the Hardback version on-display, beside The Holy Bible and "Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol," by W. Kirk MacNulty. The Paper-back, I keep for actual reading purposes. (The Hard-Back version is Splendid!)