The frost is on the pumpkin, the leaves are turning, and it's time to think about Christmas giving. Each year, in the November issue of the Scottish Rite Journal, we suggest some books to give to Masonic friends. Some of these you've seen before. They're still good ideas.

Revolutionary Brotherhood by Steven Bullock, order from the Internet or from Macoy's, PO Box 9759, Richmond, VA 23228-0759. Hardcover $49.95; Softcover 19.95. Shipping from Macoy's $2.00 for the first book, 75¢ for each additional book.

I recently spent a weekend at a meeting with Dr. Bullock, and I can report that he's as enjoyable a person as his book suggests. And the book is one every Mason should own. Now that it's available in paperback, you can own it for far less.

Revolutionary Brotherhood traces the FACT of the Fraternity's involvement in the creation of the United States, politically and culturally. It's one of the finest works of scholarship on Masonry in a long, long time and makes a great gift.

Freemasonry: A Celebration of the Craft by John Hamil & Robert Gilbert, available from Macoy (see ordering information above), $24.98.

This is a new edition of the great book, at almost half the cost of the first edition. It's a large-format book, 10" x 12" inches, and filled with beautiful color illustrations. It's a great overview of the Fraternity including origin theory, philosophy, famous Freemasons—just about everything you can imagine. Every Lodge certainly should have one on display, and it's a great gift. At this price, it's a great bargain as well.

It seems as if I'm always recommending material from the Masonic Service Association of North America, but the simple reason is that there is no better source of Masonic information at more reasonable prices. The books are not fancy, but they are filled with good, solid, interesting information.

For any of the items below, order from Masonic Service Association of North America, 8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910–4785. Postage for orders up to $5.00 add $2.50; from $5.00 to $10.00 add $4.50; and from $10.01 to $20.00 or more, add $5.50.

The Short Talk Bulletin is a great value. Twelve times a year a small booklet arrives in the mail, each dealing with some different topic in Masonry. This is a great gift. Send the name and address of the person to receive the Bulletin, and $4.00 for a year's subscription. (Don't add postage for this; it's included in the subscription price.) Also consider purchasing a special box in which to keep your Bulletins. This is a handy corrugated carton that holds five years of the Bulletin. I use them, and my copies would get lost without them. Catalogue #720. $1.50 each, 5 for $6.00.

The following MSA digests, paperbound booklets on various topics, contain a lot of excellent information:

William L. Boyden Manuscript – one of the "Old charges" about 1700 – $1.50

Artifacts and Gadgets – a study of Masonic memorabilia – $1.50

Language Landmarks – English words commonly used in Freemasonry from the historical point of view and very interesting – $2.00

Freemasonry and the Civil Law – written by the great legal scholar and Mason Alphonse Cerza – $2.00

Masonic Parallels with History – also by Alphonse Cerza. A useful timeline for associating events in Freemasonry with events in the larger world – $2.50

The Regius Poem – the oldest known Masonic document. If you haven't read this, you're missing something. A modern English translation is provided. – $2.00

Joyful giving and happy holidays!

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.