It’s notable that most heroes don’t think of themselves in that light—they are simply men and women who see what needs to be done, and do it. It is well to spend a little time and contemplation in praise of those who get things done. They make life better and richer for us all.

Man on the Flying Trapeze: The Life and Times of W.C. Fields by Simon Louvish, 1997, 564 pages, hardbound, cover price $29.95 ISBN 0-393-04127-1 Order from your local bookstore or the Internet.

From time to time in this column, I review books about famous Masons, even though they do not deal with their Masonry. Such is the case here. Brother W.C. Fields (E. Coppee Mitchell Lodge, No. 605, Philadelphia) has always been one of the entertainment figures I most admire. I love both his wit and his delivery. Who could not love such lines as "I have given up drinking. I now use alcohol only for medicinal purposes. I keep this small flask handy only in case I am bitten by a serpent—which I also keep handy." And I have gone through much of my adult life treasuring those moments when someone asks me if I like children, so I can respond with the Fieldsian "It depends entirely upon the sauce."

As Louvish proves, Fields was a creative genius, whose greatest creation was himself. But the Fields everyone thinks they know never existed. Far from being a parsimonious man, Fields was generous with both his time and money. And far from hating children and dogs, he loved both, and both responded to him with love. The book provides a compelling and fascinating portrait of this highly complex and lovable man who understood Masonry with his heart and human nature with his head.

Thinking Out Loud: A Decade of Thoughts on Higher Education by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, 33°, G.C., 1998, The Oryx Press, 136 pages, hardbound, $19.95 (+ $4.25 s/h); Order from George Washington University Bookstore: Tel. (202) 994–6870 Fax (202) 296–9445; most credit cards accepted.

When we think of contemporary Masons who get things done, it would be hard not to think of Ill. Trachtenberg, President of The George Washington University and a member of Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15, and the Scottish Rite Bodies, both of Washington, D.C. His second book, Thinking Out Loud, is clear, lucid, witty, and insightful. It is true that he is primarily addressing issues of higher education, but that means that he must and does concern himself with the great issues of contemporary society and intellectual and spiritual freedom as well. The selections are brief and pointed. And they will expand your thinking. If I had to pick a favorite, I think it might be "The Death and Rebirth of Empathy." He expanded my thinking on the role of what might be called societal empathy and shows why it is so important. Dr. Trachtenberg is not writing for a primarily Masonic audience, but Masons will have no trouble at all in seeing the relationship of the articles to the great precepts of the Craft. Our Brother has spent his career as the president of some of the most prestigious universities, he has been honored by academic institutions around the world, and he distills a lifetime of experience into this little book. I’ll bet you will enjoy it.

The Medal of Honor: The Letter G in Valor by S. Kenneth Baril, 1995, Weidner Publishing Group, Hardbound $36.95 Softbound $16.95 Order from Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., PO Box 9759, Richmond, VA 23228, s/h add $2 for one book, 75¢ for each additional book; Tel. (804) 262–6551; VISA and MasterCard accepted.

Probably the closest anyone can hope to literally certified Masonic heroes are the Brethren who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. From the conflicts of the early 1800s through the Civil War and on to Vietnam, Brother Baril has collected the names, ranks and organizations, citations, and other information about the hundreds of Masons who have received the nation’s highest honor. It’s rare that a book can make you feel proud, but this one can.

Jim Tresner is Director of the Masonic Leadership Institute and Editor of The Oklahoma Mason. A frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal and its book review editor, Illustrious Brother Tresner is also a volunteer writer for The Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason and a video script consultant for the National Masonic Renewal Committee. He is the Director of the Thirty-third Degree Conferral Team and Director of Work at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as well as a life member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, author of the popular anecdotal biography Albert Pike, The Man Beyond the Monument, and a member of the steering committee of the Masonic Information Center. Ill. Tresner was awarded the Grand Cross, the Scottish Rite’s highest honor, during the Supreme Council’s October 1997 Biennial Session.