First published in 1950, the Freemasons' Guide and Compendium is filled with detailed information on a wide variety of subjects related to the Masons and Freemasonry. Written by an experienced Freemason with the interests of rank-and-file members in mind-especially young Craftsmen who want to know the exact nature of Freemasonry's claim to a history that goes back to ancient days-the book provides key facts about Masonic history, tradition, and lore. In doing so, Bernard E. Jones offers a far greater scope of information than any other comparable work and critically examines the conflicting ideas about how some of the traditions came to be.

the early chapters describe how the Masonic guilds arose in eleventh-century England after the Norman conquest. From there Jones moves into the rise of speculative Freemasonry int he late medieval period and explores its amazing growth as an esoteric system during the eighteenth century.

Jones then offers a comprehensive, systematic presentation of masonry's customs, principles, tenets, words, phrases, lodge appointments, working tools, symbols, and emblems. With this information, Craftsmen will enhance their Masonic knowledge, and the thorough, exhaustive index offers access to a a great store of knowledge. The Freemasons' Guide and Compendium is a valuable resource for anyone researching and seeking to understand the Masons.