Texas masonic cipher book

How well can you answer these entered apprentice lecture. Morris utilized a coded book during ritual which violated masonic law in many. Masonic ritual is intended to be performed in a solemn manner to provide the most meaningful experience possible for the candidates and the membership alike. M district of columbia 1994 mirror site illustrations of masonry, by capt. Florida has instituted a first letter cipher which is available to all master masons.

This week well discuss the pros and cons of cipher books and how different jurisdictions use them. Kentucky, kentucky printed a cipher book several years ago called th ky rtl it. There are many themes that are adopted in emulation ritual from platos writings. M district of columbia 1994 wikileaks masonic cipher book grand lodge f. If you closely compare this cipher with that of the york rite or blue lodge, you will see the subtle differences but know that they are different. For the most current official information available regarding any local masonic lodge please visit their website if available, otherwise visit the respective states. In texas it is considered a masonic offense to have or use a cypher or code. Wilmshurst, in his book meaning of masonry, writes, the very essence of the masonic doctrine. Texas code book my freemasonry freemason information and. Ward complete in one volume with most of the senseless abbreviations restored. Underhill continued the committee and placed in its charge not only the revision of the blue book, but also, the cumulative supplement. By code book do you mean a cipher or the masonic code.

I found a book from a masonic lodge that is in code, page 1. There was no discussion about allowing it or any other book to be used or even possessed in lodge or on lodge property. Discussion in freemasonry in texas started by plustax, nov. The reason for the question is that i regret that so much money is spent by texas masons on a book that is not only inaccurate, but is also produced by people that, as i have been told, are antimason. Pigpen cipher masonic decoder, encoder, solver, translator. Everything texas masons need to be a texas freemason. The cipher itself has come to be called the pigpen cipher and works by setting up the alphabet into four separate grids. The purpose of the following is to serve as an aid in using the code and in following the instruction notes contained in the ritual and the. The 10 digit isbn is 0880532599 and the digit isbn is 9780880532594. A geometric simple substitution cipher, which exchanges letters for symbols which are fragments of a grid. That agreeable to an ancient masonic custom in all regular and well governed lodges,it was then neccessary that i should be reminded to deposit something of a metalic kind, not for its intrisic worth or value, but that it might be laid upon among the relics in the archives of the lodge, as a memorial that i was therein made a mason. Exmasons for jesus is a fellowship organization of men and women who have left the masonic lodge and appendant bodies, such as the order of the eastern star, jobs daughters, the order of rainbow for girls. Pigpen cipher also called masonic cipher or freemasons cipher uses a substitution alphabet made of grid parts and dots. However the royal arch was developed and early masonic records are notoriously incomplete history suggests that the royal arch degree was being conferred in london in the 1740s.

The example key shows one way the letters can be assigned to the grid. I understood there were some updates that needed to be made before glot would approve its use throughout texas. In later years the grand lodge of some states decided to allow the ritual to be written in a type of code or cipher book so that the ritual could be standardized among lodges in that state and where after some basic instruction a. The craft degrees handbooks free ebook download as pdf file. If you need an extended time, please call to let us know. I have not heard of anyone submitting legislation this year to allow a cipher book in the building. Lot of 3 masonic mason freemason freemasonry lodge training program books.

The pigpen cipher sometimes called the masonic cipher or freemasons cipher is a simple substitution cipher exchanging letters for symbols based on a grid. New book out, knights gold, explains how 5,000 gold coins discovered in 1934 baltimore were actually the property of the knights of the golden circle. Texas cipher only official ritual book approved by the grand lodge of texas a. The masonic fraternity, brought to the american colonies in the mideighteenth century, was well established in all of the united states by 1820. What it sounds like to me is that you have found an old masonic ritual, and your looking to learn what is in it and how to read it. In reality it is a cipher that was used by forces in during the civil war in the united states. A pocket companion for the initiated containing the rituals of freemasonry by robert macoy. In later years the grand lodge of some states decided to allow the ritual to be written in a type of code or cipher book so that the ritual could be standardized among lodges in that state and where after some basic instruction a new brother could use the code book as an aid to memorizing the ritual. The author has isolated them and provided evidence of these.

Inside the front cover, it says to be returned to the lodge incase of loss or the death of the person it was loaned to. Texas cipher king solomons lone star brown technical. Educational tools, or a shortcut to doing the work of memorization. Texas cipher king solomons lone star macoy publishing. When it comes down to it, the freemasons cipher in any version is a straight substitution cipher, so you can solve it by substituting a letter for each symbol. Masonic formation 7 the masonic secret 7 symbolism 8 expectationsby you, of the fraternity and vice versa 9 officers of a masonic blue lodge 10 becoming a mason duties and rights of entered apprentices 28 proficiency and advancement 29 mentorship 33 the california masonic code 33 masonic landmarks 34 history of freemasonry 34. May 08, 2011 this book appears to be a guide for the ceremonies of freemasonry. Austin attempted to organize a masonic lodge in 1828, when he and six.

If you are a mason in good standing, you may borrow up to three books at a time for 21 days. Exmasons for jesus is a fellowship organization of men and women who have left the masonic lodge and appendant bodies, such as the order of the eastern star, jobs daughters, the order of rainbow for girls and the order of. Starting on page 27 and continuing for the remaining 78 pages, the cipher detailed the rituals performed by the highest degrees of the masonic orderrites unknown to ordinary masons at the time. The master approaching me from the east a second time, who presented me with the lambskin or white leather apron, and informed me that it was an emblem of innocence and the badge of a mason. There is an implied obligation that officers memorize all work, lectures, charges and grand lodge instructions associated with their office and that of the next office. Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, yeah, they were all yellow. The following exposures of masonic ritual are provided in a cooperative effort between exmasons for jesus and ephesians 5. The grand lodge of texas, ancient free and accepted masons is the largest of several governing bodies of freemasonry in the state of texas, being solely of the ancients tradition and descending from the ancient grand lodge of england, founded in 1751. Texas masonic cipher code book keyword found websites. Classic esotericist interpretation of the craft degrees, largely based on english.

The scheme was developed and used by the freemasons in the early 1700s for recordkeeping and correspondence. The lodge officers training program was designed to educate and test your knowledge of lodge procedures, business, penal code, and other areas. I found a book from a masonic lodge that is in code page. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The grand lodge of florida encourages all members of the craft to further their knowledge of lodge operation, especially those concerning the elected and appointed officers of each particular lodge. While this book is an excellent aid to the memory for those who desire to be proficient in the masonic ritual work as practiced in texas, please be aware that possession or use of this cypher is a violation of the laws of the grand lodge of texas, a. For instance, the first masonic lodges in the republic of texas were chartered by the grand lodge of louisiana. Ive been able to translate some of the book, it is very interesting, but it was accompanied by another book that says almost the same things, but not in code. Book, one thing and only one thing a masonic lodge can give its members which they can get nowhere else in the world.

The only restriction is that it cannot be used in open lodge. It is a constant transformation through the use of masonic symbols, rituals, and teachings on a journey of return to the center of our being. These subject areas are covered in an individual selfhelp study approach that addresses some basic concepts of masonry. Texas masonic cipher book keyword found websites listing. Carter, it was founded as the grand lodge of the republic of texas, a.

The cipher can still hold practical use for someone today. Ciphers are code books which usually contain one or more letters for each word in the ritual. In 1987, grand orator harrison challenged us to develop a masonic education program to teach masonology to our members. Some states have a cipher that will teach you what these shorthand words are, other states still use wordofmouth to teach other masons, mostly officers, how to read and understand this masonic shorthand. By knowing this cipher you will not be able to decode a real masonic cipher. It was difficult to locate a study partner close to where i was living at the time waxahachie, when i wasnt actually at the lodge. Cracking codes and cryptograms for dummies add to cart. Platos philosophy is at the core of modern freemasonry. The title of this book is king solomon and his followers. Official masonic rituals are usually not printed as complete english text by the grand lodges. The freemasons have long used ciphers to encrypt their ceremonies and messages. Starting on page 27 and continuing for the remaining 78 pages, the cipher detailed the rituals performed by the highest degrees of the masonic orderrites unknown. It is completely meaningless to anyone outside masonry and thus is a true code book. Mar 04, 2017 a geometric simple substitution cipher, which exchanges letters for symbols which are fragments of a grid.

This book appears to be a guide for the ceremonies of freemasonry. Program and the book entitled masonry and the mason, will answer most of your immediate questions and make you feel more at home with us while in the masonic environment. Creating an atmosphere that may lead to a positive transformation of the individual is the goal of masonic ritual. Local masonic lodges in texas is a product of co 2 consulting group, inc. The books are full text and readable online free of charge.

Freemasonry the handbook of texas online texas state. Texas code book my freemasonry freemason information. A late charge of 10 cents per day per book will be assessed until returned if we are not informed of additional time needed. There is no writing on the cover, back or spine of this book. Despite appearances, these ciphers are all simple substitution. Click on this books subject categories to see related titles. Both the ciphers on this page use the classic masonic cipher, which is also known as the pigpen cipher, as the alphabet is written into a series of grids, with some passing resemblance to pigpens. Among the first americans to migrate to texas in the 1820s were a number of masons, including stephen f. The head of this chaptercastle in 1860s baltimore was also the grand master of the maryland freemasons. This cipher became a frequent tool to be used by the masons in much of their hidden work. New listing civil war vintage masonic book the revelations of a square geo. It was founded as the grand lodge of the republic of texas, a. Still i think it should be required for every mason both new and old. This book is indispensable to any texas mason who needs to catch up or keep fresh.