This is a list of reading that is pretty good. The first book, Freemasonry for dummies, is a nice overall view. The following books by Knight/Lomas start out exploring history, and Freemasonry’s links to various groups such as the Knights Templar. Uriel’s Machine is less about freemasonry and more about megalithic sites and the astronomy of ancient people, as well as dragging some pretty interesting insights into the stories of the great flood etc. The Book of Hiram pulls together a masonic view of biblical events. The “turning the Key” books really describe how masonic philosophy and “science” has practical applications. There is a great beginners PDF on Freemasonry at http://www.stjohns63.com/about-freemasonry.

Books:

• Freemasonry for Dummies by Christopher Hoddap (a mason).

The following books are excellent researches tying Freemasonic legend with actual events, by taking a 3000 foot view. Very good. Robert Lomas is a respected academic and a Freemason.

Hiram’s Key - Robert Lomas, Christopher Knight.
Synopsis - the story of the links between the Freemasons and the Knights Templar

Second Messiah - Robert Lomas, Christopher Knight
Synopsis - Investigation into the origins of the Knights Templar, Egypt, Christianity, Solomons Temple

Uriel’s Machine - Robert Lomas, Christopher Knight
Synopsis - investigation into the origins of masonic symbology - reaching back to the megalith builders of Western Europe. Incredibly compelling. Much discussion on floods, comets, ancient astronomy/navigation and connecting the dots

The Book of Hiram - Robert Lomas, Christopher Knight
Synopsis - Summarizing the first three books, and presenting a parallel story to the bible - the masonic testament - a bit of a look at events from the outsider’s perpective of the non-Roman population of Europe

Turning Hiram’s Key - Robert Lomas
Synopsis - describes Masonic Ritual and degrees, as well as the psychological science and intention behind them.

Turning the Solomon Key - Robert Lomas
Synopsis - It focuses on Brother George Washington’s use of Masonic Bright morning star symbology to lay out Washington DC. Brother Lomas then goes about answering the question “why did he do it’.

Understanding Manhood in America: Freemasonry’s Enduring Path to the Mature Masculine by Robert G. Davis, (a mason)

The Invisible College by Robert Lomas.
Synopsis - This book is about how the Royal Society in Britain, which propelled the world from the age of belief in magic and witchcraft to the age of science, was actually incubated and formed by some of the earliest known Freemasons such as Christopher Wren, Robert Moray and Elias Ashmole.

The Builders by Joseph Fort Newton.
Synopsis - I think this is the best book describing the ancient roots of Freemasonry, and in my opinion the most believable transmission from ancient guilds of masons to today’s speculative Freemasonry. The key missing link for me that is given credence in this book is the Comocine Masters.

A Pilgrims Path by J. Johnson
Very good summary of Anti Freemasonry hoaxes

The Secret Power of Masonic Symbols by Robert Lomas
Great book on Symbology and Masonic Symbols

The Lost Key: The Supranatural Secrets of the Freemasons by Robert Lomas
Nice book about the masonic journey and deity from the perspective of quantum physics

Websites:

www.xoriente.com (dedicated to freemasonry in the 21st Century)

http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ (very detailed stuff)

http://www.grandlodge.on.ca/ (the Ontario Grand-Lodge)

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/info.html (Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon). Great site.

http://www.masonicinfo.com (information about anti-masonry).