This article is the second in a series highlighting some the best print resources available to the Brethren no matter what their interest or where they are in their Masonic journey. All of the books mentioned in this article are available to borrow from the Lodge library.

Don’t forget to check out our first article on books for non-Masons if you missed it.

Today we take a look at books for the new Mason, those bright-eyed Brothers who are fresh to the Fraternity and chomping at the bit to know more.

Albert Pike's Esoterika - The Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of Freemasonry

Arturo De Hoyos – 2005

While Albert Pike is best known for his work as the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, he shares his wisdom on the first three degrees of Masonry in Esoterika. While the book may seem daunting at first, it is a natural progression from the “Claudy Books” each Brother is familiar with from his candidacy. We highly recommend the annotated version edited by Arturo De Hoyos which sheds light on some of the more obscure references to classical mythology that Pike is infamous for.

The Craft and its Symbols: Opening the Door to Masonic Symbolism

Allen E. Roberts – 1975

One of the most popular gifts to newly raised Masons ever since bell-bottoms were in vogue, The Craft and its Symbols presents easy to digest explanations of the symbols of the Craft Degrees. This book is an excellent primer to prepare a Brother for more intense studies of the symbols of the Craft, and shows no sign of losing its popularity anytime soon.

Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry

John J. Robinson – 1993

We did not descend from the Knights Templar. Now that that is out of the way: When it was released in the mid-nineties, Born in Blood was one of the few books on Masonry to gain traction outside of the Brotherhood. It presents the now debunked theory that Freemasonry arose from the ashes of the Poor Knights of Christ also known as the Knights Templar. The book further suggests that Peasants Revolt of 1381 was in fact a proto-masonic strike against those who had betrayed the Templars. Despite these theories being thoroughly disproven by modern scholars, a distressing amount of Brethren still believe them. It is for that reason that Born in Blood makes this list, so that new Masons can gently guide their less informed Brethren in a more scholarly direction.

The Builders: A Story and Study of Freemasonry

Joseph Fort Newton – 1914

Once thought so important to a Brother’s Masonic education that it was given to each man raised under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The Builders give a concise, and for the most part rational history of the Craft. This book is worth the investment based on the insight it grants to the philosophy and historiography of the “Golden Age” of American Masonry alone.

The Newly-Made Mason: What Every Mason Should Know About Freemasonry

Michael R. Poll – 2020

H.L. Haywood’s seminal handbook for new Brothers, the Newly-Made Mason covers topics from Freemasonry’s place in the world to the record keeping of the Lodge Secretary in straight forward and practical terms. Cornerstone Publishing has recently released a revised edition of the book updating it for the twenty-first century and making it even more valuable for Masons in the digital age.