Masonic Book Reviews

The Hiram Key:
Pharaohs, Freemasons and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus.

Rating: ††††

Authors: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas (Both Masons - UGLE)
Paperback: 400 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.10 x 9.04 x 6.04
Publisher: Fair Winds Press; (August 2001)
ISBN: 1931412758

Review by: Bro. Stephen W. Clarke

This book postulates a very interesting and entertaining history of how freemasonry developed out of the king making rituals of the Egyptian Pharaohs. The authors uncover evidence which they claim "proves" the identity of Hiram Abif. A character featured in many freemason rituals. They then go on to suggest that this king making ritual was adopted by the Jews and possibly even used by Jesus Christ in the accepting of new followers. The book concludes by presenting a theory drawn from old masonic rituals that the scrolls of Jesus and the Jerusalem Church (lead by his brother James, whose importance to the church has been overshadowed by St. Paul) were hidden under the temple in Jerusalem. These scrolls were discovered by the Templars and are currently buried in Scotland underneath a building named Rosslin "Chapel".

Unfortunately, the authors argue their points so confidently that an unsceptical reader might be convinced that everything in this book is absolutly fact. The reader of this book should understand that the information offered is simply presenting a new theory, rather than a scolarly thesis based in well documented sources.

This book is a lot of fun to read.

The Second Messiah:
Templars, the Turin Shroud & The Great Secret of Freemasonry.

Rating: ††††

Authors: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas (Both Masons - UGLE)
Paperback: 272 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.00 x 9.25 x 6.25
Publisher: Harper Collins - UK; Reissue edition (September 2000)
ISBN: 1862046476

Review by: Bro. Stephen W. Clarke

This book picks-up where "The Hiram Key" left off by presenting a masonic interpretation of the architecture and stone carvings found in the Scottish "chapel" at Rosslin. They trace the history of the templars and propose that the image on the shroud of Turin is in fact not a fake or the image of Jesus Christ but rather the image of the last Templar Grand Master, Jaques de Molay.

As in their previous book their presentation is a very enjoyable and entertaining read. Their arguments sound very plausible but fail to be adequately documented. Not only are the conclusions of this book based on plausible hypothesis based on plausible hypothesis but this entire book is constructed ontop of the conclusions from their previous book. I was dissapointed to see that many of the scant footnotes that do appear in this book are referencing "The Hiram Key".

These critizisms aside. This book was a lot of fun to read. If you have any interest in the Turin Shroud or in the history of Rosslin this book is a very enjoyable read.

Uriel's Machine:
The Ancient Origins of Science

Rating: †††

Authors: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas (Both Masons - UGLE)
Paperback: 480 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.30 x 9.04 x 6.06
Publisher: Fair Winds Press; (September 2001)
ISBN: 193141274X

Knight and Lomas return with a book that takes a look at the ancient monolithic structures of the United Kingdom and place them in the context of our understanding of pre-history. As in their previous books they draw ties to freemasonry where they feel they are appropriate. What makes this book the most interesting in my opinion is the way they paint for us an understanding of these monolithic peoples as highly knowledgeable, highly skilled and highly organized both socially and scientifically.

As always their postulations are plausible, and stated with a conviction designed to dissuade any doubt. The footnotes, while much more pleantiful in this book then in their previous works, continue to site themselves as the source of facts (which were only postulations in the book sited). However, this book does site several scientific sources to support many of it's statements.

As with their previous works this book was a very interesting and enjoyable read. It was not as much fun as the previous two books ("The Hiram Key" & "The Second Messiah") but I found it to be sufficiently entertaining and educational.

The Book of Hiram

Rating: Currently not available in canada

Authors: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas (Both Masons - UGLE)

Born in Blood

Rating: ††††††

Authors: John J. Robinson (Non-mason)
Released: 1989 in Hardcover
ISBN: 0871316021
Publishers: Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review By: Bro. Stephen W. Clarke

Wow, this book should be required reading for all masons upon completion of their 3rd Degree. It explores in a comprehensive and methodical way the historical origins of Freemasonry. John J. Robinson looks at Freemasonry from the point of view of an unbiased outsider and places the public emergence of Freemasonry in 1717 in it's historical context.

By analyzing the social and political environment at the time of the dissolution of the Knights Templar, he constructs a very convincing argument for the evolution of Freemasonry in Scotland. A "Great Society" created secretly to protect the continued existence of both the Knights hiding for their lives and their shared fraternal bond.

The first part of the book is pure history lesson. It covers social and historical politics in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and France. Here he explains the important roles of the Knights Templar and the interplay between them the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy See.

The second part of the book looks at Freemasonry and the rituals of Freemasonry looking for connections or explanations that may be provided by the history which proceeded modern Freemasonry. He looks at the oaths, the old charges and the legend of Hiram Abiff and producing some very noteworthy conclusions.

In the final chapters John J. Robinson takes a detailed look at one of Freemasonry's most notorious critics Mr. Stephen Knight's book The Brotherhood which created much paranoia concerning Freemasons throughout the United Kingdom. It is unfortunate that a book like The Brotherhood could garner so much attention when fair and balance works such as Born in Blood would be a better service to everyone.