Jim Tresner, 33°, Grand Cross
PO Box 70, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044–0070
Book Reviews Editor
The Scottish Rite Journal

"When the salt hath lost its savour, where with shall it be salted?" Many of us ask ourselves that about Masonry from time to time. A problem erupts in Lodge, where there should be nothing but peace and harmony, or we see too much more of the politics than is good for one who loves the institution, or we see Brothers using Masonry not as a quest for self-encounter and self-development but rather for self-aggrandizement. One can become jaded and disillusioned enough to remove the comma from St. Paul's line: "I would not have you ignorant, Brethren."

Fortunately for us all, there are moments—sometimes in Lodge, sometimes in conversation with Brethren, sometimes in books—which give back the savour, let us approach Masonry with new eyes, ears and heart, and let us share anew in the remarkable wonder which is the Craft.

If your Masonry needs a little resalting, the first book in this month's review will go a long way toward accomplishing it.

Reflections: A Perspective on Brotherhood, by James I. Miller 1999, paperbound, 133 pages, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Inc. $7.95 + $2 S&H (75¢ for each additional copy ordered at the same time) order from Macoy Publishing, PO Box 9759, Richmond, Virginia 23228.

I wish I could claim to have written this book. It is a joy and a delight. Brother Miller describes it well in his introduction:
"This is not a book of research: rather, it is, as the title would indicate, a book of my reflections on Freemasonry, the fraternity and its body of beliefs and tenets. It is a summary of many hours of thoughts over many years, especially in the quiet, reflective moments during a long walk, while sitting by a quiet stream, rocking quietly before a warm fireplace, or even just driving to work."

The book has the warm, pensive quality which that description suggests. There is much food for thought here. You may agree or disagree with some of Brother Miller's reflections—I suspect he would, in Masonic generosity of spirit, welcome either—but it would be a cold heart indeed which did not respond to his love of the Fraternity. Just for the joy of it, let me share a few more passages.

"One who has never taken the degrees of Freemasonry, one who has never been a part of the Fraternity, cannot possibly imagine or appreciate the revelation of brotherhood that is experienced in the course of the conferral of the degrees. Suddenly the veil of mistrust which naturally separates all men from one another is rent in twain by the deep, implicit message of the square and compasses. Suddenly men who were mere acquaintances are close friends, close friends are brothers, and brothers are transformed into an eternal union of thought and spirit of love. Suddenly the relationship of the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God is a reality, a light of knowledge bursting from the darkness of ignorance."

"We, as Freemasons, may describe someone or something, such as a historical or legendary event, as being Masonic due to his or its intrinsic value. We acknowledge that Masonry is not an idea or set of philosophies which we, as modern individuals, can claim to have developed. Rather, it is the sum total of the lessons which good men have learned since God lifted Adam from the dust of the earth, or since the first beast-man lifted up his eyes to search the heavens for God and determined that it was the will of that unknown Spirit that he should treat his fellow beings with respect and decency. Such a man is an original Mason. He is an internal Mason. If he chooses to enter the fellowship of Freemasonry, he will also become an external Mason, a member of the Order, but, if he chooses not to 'join the club,' he will still be an original Mason.

"In that same spirit, every man who has ever considered the effect of his life, words and actions upon his fellow creatures and has tried to learn how to live in a more harmonious spirit with his God and his fellowman has contributed to that body of Brotherhood which we now embrace as an organization, and those men who have demonstrated a particular insight into that body of knowledge have a special place in our hearts, from Moses, who gave us the most basic of commandments, to Jesus, who taught us how to apply them through the expedience of love, to Muhammad, who taught us to burn with controlled passion in expectation of reward. Add to these Abraham, David, Solomon, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, 'Ali, St. Francis of Assisi, Buddha, Confucius, Thomas Jefferson, and a million others who, while not Masons, were Masons. They were, and are, our brothers because from them we have learned what it means and what it takes to walk in the light of eternal knowledge which is love." I really enjoyed this book. I think you would, too.

And now, for something completely different.

A Young Person's Guide to Philosophy, by Jeremy Weate, DK Publishing, 1998, hardcover, 64 pages, large format, many color illustrations. Cover price $16.95, order from your favorite bookstore or on the Internet.

Sneer if you will, but I find this book very helpful. It's a survey of philosophy written for children and, therefore, within my mental grasp. It is difficult to start the study of philosophy without help. Pick up the Summa Theologiae of Aquinas without preparation, for example, and most of us will end up using it for a paper weight. This book does for philosophy what Windows for Dummies does for computers. In clear, easy-to-understand language, Weate takes us through the great thinkers in philosophy. The Scottish Rite constantly enjoins the study of philosophy upon its members, but that's far more easily said than done. This book not only makes an understanding of the philosophers and their work easy, it makes it fun! Experts in philosophy will find it limited and simplistic, but it isn't written for them. The rest of us will find it a breath of fresh air.

Tales of the Knights Templar, ed. by Katherine Kurtz, Warner Books, 1995, paperback, 307 pages, Cover price, $5.99. Order from your bookstore or the Internet.

This lady has become one of my favorite writers. I've recommended her book Two Crowns for America, a historic fantasy in which she links Freemasonry to the founding of the country. She does her research, and knows more about the traditions of women in Masonry than most Masons. Her "Adept" series is a delight to read, for those who enjoy a warrior magus as well as warrior monks in their fantasy. In the book of short stories, she brings together nine tales by very diverse authors. The works are fantasy, but her introduction and notes between the stories form a good capsule history of the Order of the Temple. If you like a flight of imagination, you'll like this.

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.