A Brother Asks: Reading Order?

A Brother Asks: Now that I have all your books, what would be your recommendation as far as reading order?

Coach: Are you asking about 16 books? 

Brother: Yes, sir! I believe so.

Coach: Have you read all of them yet?

Brother: I've only read "A Brother Asks." This is why I am asking.  I want to know what you would recommend next.

Coach:  AH! That's a fun starter book. Are you a MM then?

Brother: Yes, sir! (or should I say, "I am"...)

Coach: Here are the focuses of the books.  You'll have to determine what focus you want to better make your choice.

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Catechisms: The first four books focus upon the Blue lodge ritual at different levels and are designed to train the mind to ask questions and to seek answers.  There are presented as catechisms. This rewiring is exactly what a mind needs to do to accomplish what needs to be done through Blue Lodge Work.

•     Building Hiram - Volume 1 - MM level
•     Building  Boaz - Volume 2 - EA Level
•     Building Athens - Volume 3 - FC Level 
•     Building Janus - Volume 4 - MM Level

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Aphorisms: This next book focuses upon the organization, contrasting the organization of Freemasonry with the actual Work that the organization espouses. It then offers opportunity to think differently about the actual Work focus of each degree and the Work to be done. It does this in the form of offering over 1000 aphorisms to think about that use generalizations that require you to think figuratively rather than literally, thus training the mind to thing outside the literal box and out into the figurative world.

•    Building Perpends - Volume 5 - MM Level - Rewires the mind to think outside the box / metaphoric and figurative training

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Investigation: The next volume focuses upon aspects of Craft Lore having to do with Craft Ruffians and Cowans.  It is designed to identify what holds us back and how to identify what we can improve through observation of others. It's main focus is augmented by learning through observation of others.

•     Building Ruffish - Volume 6 - MM Level

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Investigation: This volume is all about cultivating Cement, otherwise known within the Craft as "Brotherly Love & Affection."  It reviews the operative manner of making cement (the elements and process), identifies the elements within the first degree that could be used to do the same Speculatively and shows the symbolism and process one would use to cultivate this speculatively for yourself and others.  The book cultivates a deep understanding of the process and shows various directions one may apply this should one desire to pursue them.

•     Building Cement - Volume 7 - MM Level

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Investigation (Understanding Semantic Drift): This book takes a different direct that the previous seven books in the series.  It focuses on the word "free" as it applies to the Craft, what it meant when first applied, how its meaning changed over the years, how this information applies to "freestone", "freeborn", and the term "free & accepted" and the implications of this Light on the Craft today. This book inspired the writings of "The Craft Unmasked", "The Craft Perfected!", and  "The Craft Mastered!"

•     Building Free Men - Volume 8 - Anyone in or outside the Craft

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Investigation: The next book is a continuation of the research efforts and discoveries illuminated by Building Free Men.  It is a business analyst/coach type effort to evaluate the organization, comparing what it says it does with what it actually does, what its lore claims compared with actually history and drawing comparisons between what it practices with other professions.  It re-frames the Craft in a different light that allows members and potential candidates to better understand what they are actually or maybe  involved in.

•     The Craft Unmasked - Anyone inside or outside the Craft

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Investigation: This book explores the origins of the Perfect Ashlar, its origins, its innovative entry into Craft Ritual, and the ashlar it replaced.  It also explores the changing meaning of the word "perfect", how it was used early on in the 1500s, during the 1800s and today, and how this Light impacts our understanding of the word used within Ritual.

•      The Craft Perfected! - Anyone inside or outside the Craft
  

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Investigation: This book explores & explains what it takes to Complete the Temple that Hiram Abiff mentioned to the Ruffians in the third degree drama. It discloses what the ultimate goal of our Work is that is pointed toward by Ritual, how to lay a strong foundation, complete the Temple, and to read God's Designs & Rules as laid out in the Greatest books of nature & revelation. Included in this book are the 10 working tools that Apprentices need to use and develop to lay that foundation. It also dispels many of the myths the Craft harbors about completing our Work as masons.

•      The Craft Mastered! - Completing the Temple - The Fellow Craft Dream - Anyone inside or outside the Craft but intended for MM Level members
  

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Insight Training: A Brother Asks - Volume 1 -  is about the Hiramic Legion and therefore is strictly for Master Masons.  It explores the third degree in general and the specifics of its drama. When you want to test your awareness of this degree's Light, this book will take you down rabbit holes you might not have considered.

•     A Brother Asks - Volume 1 - MM Level

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Insight Training: This book provides you with the basics of emotions (a.k.a."Passions & Desires), the facts you need to know and the fallacies you might buy into that get you into trouble. It an informational guide to help you better understand those passions and desires you need to circumscribe and subdue.

•     Emotional Awareness - EA Level - also useful to those inside & outside the Craft as well!

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Traveling: Although not specifically an overtly Masonic book, this book takes Masonry on the road by presenting an allegorical story woven with a rich mix of symbolism at multiple levels, all designed to test your ability to uncover patterns of truth as one moves from youth, to adulthood and finally to age.

•     The Journeyman Papers - Anyone inside & outside the Craft- Training the mind to evaluate information for symbolic clues and application to life success!
  

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Life & Business: This book is designed to get you to think outside the box.  It targets business and life topics, providing 52 examples of situation where you can think differently about the choices and decisions you make.

•     Provoking Success - Anyone in & outside the Craft - Training the mind to think outside the box.

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Critical Thinking, The Trivium, and Socratic Method applied to Theology: This book applied Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric coupled with the Socratic Method to analyze and reveal aspects of the Garden in Eden story that many have never realized.  It presents a critical analysis as a journey of discovery with many allegorical characters discussing what went on inside and outside the garden and how relevant the story is to our lives today.  This is NOT your typical analysis and what it reveals to the reader is NOT what most are told through the usual channels.

•     The Light in the Garden - Anyone in or outside the Craft who desires to better understand how to evaluate scripture using the Trivium as tools for better comprehension.
  

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Brother: So, what would your recommendations be?

Coach: As a Master Mason, you could start anywhere.  

However, if you're focused upon understanding Ritual, the first four catechism books are a great start.  

If you're wanting to get heavily into understanding symbolism, Building Ruffish, Building Cement and A Brother Asks will deliver and then some.

If you're looking to better Understand the Craft in general, Building Free Men, The Craft Unmasked, The Craft Perfected and Building Perpends are great starting points.

If you're wanting to explore your ability to apply what you've learned, The Journeyman Papers, Provoking Success and The Light in the Garden are excellent to test and improve your skills.

Brother: Thanks Coach!

Coach: You're most welcome!  ENJOY!

Membership Decline Linked to Climate Change

Satyre Point, FL – In an unprecedented scientific study of the Craft, Masonic Scientists have concluded that Climate Change is the cause of declining membership worldwide.   Masonic experts from diverse fields came together recently for a Masonic Summit organized with the intent to discuss the epidemic problem that has plagued the Society for over half a century.


Figure 1 - Data Correlations

Summit spokesman, Brother Sol Speaks, was interviewed during the stormy summit and had these comments to share.  “Since 1959, it is quite clear from the collected data, the Craft has been losing more members than it can bring in.”  He goes on to say that “Up until now, the reasons behind this decline that were provided by some well-intentioned ad hoc committees actually misled the Craft in making efforts to combat the losses.”  

And Sol has good reason to say this. “We’ve mistakenly focused on making things easier to join and to remain members.  Lessening entrance requirements, one-day-classes, and reduced proficiencies were tried.  The results were catastrophic!  Not only were these counter-productive, but they actually undermined what we needed to continue.” (see Figure 1 - Data Correlations)

One of the adjunct consultants hired by Summit organizers, meteorologist Heather Curl, had this to add.  “When you run the numbers, it becomes obvious from the plotted data that the rise in greenhouse gases coincides with the information on membership losses.  Without question, the overlaid charts show a continuous and startling correlation between the two.”

Another Craft member, G.I. Tract Specialist and contributing summit speaker, Brother Colin Bleau, furthered the insights into contributing factors.  “We’ve actually caused it ourselves.  The sheer volume of greenhouse gasses generated by our well-known chili cook off fund raisers and baked bean style dinners far exceeds anything with which the government has instruments to monitor.  They can’t even begin to calculate the carbon footprint that any one specific lodge contributes.”  The specialist looked uncomfortable but continued, “And therein lies part of the problem.  We can’t get funding for proper instrumentation to properly prepare our investigation committees without having more cook offs.” 

It was Brother Brad Scent that offered  final committee recommendations at the end of the summit that most upset many within the body of attending Brothers.  “We must immediately tighten the emissions requirements for incoming Brothers.  This is undoubtedly a good but difficult start, at least until this specific contributing factor is contained.”  He added, “In the meantime, we recommend that all lodges immediately convert to using open flame tapers within lodge to help counteract and stabilize the overwhelming emissions of greenhouse gasses from already well-established members.  We’re hoping this will lower the carbon footprint of each lodge overall.” 

And before he shared the following, he took a deep breath and leaked this other insight under low breath. “We’re also hoping this will be a positive change for our current membership and those who wish to come back into the organization.  You can expect membership decline to stabilize and potentially reverse once the climate changes within each Lodge stop shifting so dramatically from moment to moment.”

Some upset attending members where heard to say, “This truly stinks.  It's not how we handled it in my year.”  Although clearly within earshot, no overheard complaining Brother wanted to be quoted for the record or offer better solutions.

Those interested in helping support this initiative or who find themselves fuming over this issue are asked to contact Brother Cainem Realwell on what you can further do to more effectively deal with this growing concern.

Respectfully, Fraternally and Sincerely (with deepest apologies to that Past Bastard who inspired all this folly),

Coach John S. Nagy