American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities

by Mark A. Tabbert

Book Overview

An overview of the mysterious history of the Freemasons and their presence in American society

With over four million members worldwide, and two million in the U.S., Freemasonry is the largest fraternal organization in the world. Published in conjunction with the National Heritage Museum, this extravagantly illustrated volume offers an overview of Freemasonry's origins in seventeenth-century Scotland and England before exploring its...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814782922
• ISBN13: 9780814782927
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: New York University Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 3.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.4" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent overview of American Freemasonry!

Mr. Tabbert presents an effective and intriguing look into the fabric that is American freemasonry. A society with secrets, but more importantly a brotherhood of philanthropy, freemasons helped shaped early America into the wonderful country that it is today. Tabbert shares the good, bad and ugly that is, and was, freemasonry. The author takes into consideration his reader and doesn't shroud his writting so that a non-mason could not understand its (masonry) history. This is extremely important for someone to know that may not pick this book up because he/she is afraid that it doesn't contain a true depiction of the fraternity. Tabbert's intent is clear from the beginning--share with the reader a history that doesn't hide anything (as many historical texts often do), and present something he is obviously passionate about with the world. If you are intersted in the history of masonry in America, please don't hesitate to add this book to your library! It truly is a great investment.

Excellent Source of Masonic Information in America

Finally, a book that tells the truth about Masons. This book is a wonderful work of art. There are great illustrations, and excellent research. this book should be required reading for all Masons.

Splendid history- Freemasonry in a social context

This fine book, beautiful to look at as well as informative, treats not only the history of Freemasonry in America but touches on the entire "Golden age of Fraternalism". The reader will also learn of such organizations as the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. A fine look at an era of Brotherhood, sadly past.

Well Illustrated and Comprehensive. Highly Recommended.

This is a beautifully illustrated book. The dust jacket is the colorful Allyn Cox mural of "George Washington Laying the Cornerstone for the National Capitol." Its hard to believe this is available for only $19 and change. The author's expertise as a Museum curator is readily apparent, as looking through this book is like walking through a comprehensive museum of American Freemasonry. The pages are filled with photos of old Masonic prints, glassware, Knight Templar swords, fraternal regalia, ceramics, jewels and medallions, embroidered banners, stained glass windows, old postcards of Masonic Temples and Lodge buildings, stage settings and costumes, pocket watches, Masonic furniture, altars, working tools and trestleboards. Its a visual treat. However, the best thing about this book is that it is without a doubt the best book on the market to explain the history of American Freemasonry to both the Mason and non-Mason alike. For the Mason, it will introduce him to many aspects of Masonic history that he was not aware of. For the non-Mason, it will give him or her a comprehensive view from Freemasonry's beginnings in Europe, through the American Revolution, up to the present day. Unafraid to venture into the controversial, Tabbert even has a chapter that deals with the anti-Masonic period of the late 1820's and 1830's, as well as the fundamentalist anti-Masonry of the 1990's. If some have felt that Tabbert is an apologist for the Masonic fraternity, it is only because he, as a historian, has not added to the mass of nonsense written by anti-Masons and conspiracy theorists. As a professional Museum curator, Tabbert has stuck to historical facts and that will naturally place his book on a higher plane than many of the more sensational books on the subject. A well-documented work, the book has 31 pages of endnotes and references which provide a wealth of additional information for the serious reader. This is one of the most highly recommended books on American Freemasonry to come available in the last decade.

A fine addition for all Masonic libraries

Mark Tabbert has done a fine job exploring the evolution of Freemasonry in America and giving us a small glimpse of its possible future. It is obvious that he has great affection for the "craft" but its very refreshing to see that he has taken the time to respectfully recognize the ties Masonry has had in the development of other fraternal orders and their organizational descendants. There is no mysticism here, only clear documented history and analysis (coupled with outstanding illustrations) which should be of interest to Masons and non-Masons alike who are truly interested in learning more about the world's oldest "secret" fraternity.