First published in 1950, the FREEMASONS' GUIDE AND COMPENDIUM is filled with authentic, detailed information on a wide variety of subjects related to masons and masonry. Written by an experienced Freemason with the interests of rank-and-file members of the ordinary lodge in mind'especially the young Craftsman who wishes to learn the nature of Freemasonry's claim to have a history that goes back to ancient days'it provides key facts about masonic history, tradition, and lore. In doing so, the book offers a far greater scope of information than any other comparable work. And Bernard E. Jones critically examines conflicting ideas about how some of the traditions came to be, coming to conclusions of his own.The early chapters of FREEMASONS' GUIDE AND COMPENDIUM describe how the masonic guilds arose in eleven-century England after the Norman conquest. From there Jones moves into the emergence of speculative Freemasonry in the late medieval period and explores its amazing growth as an esoteric system during the eighteenth century.The major part of the book consists of a comprehensive, systematic presentation of information about masonry's customs, principles and tenets, words and phrases, lodge appointments and working tools, symbols and emblems. With the help of the guide and compendium, the Craftsman will have no difficulty in making daily progress in masonic knowledge, and the thorough, exhaustive index will help him to access a great store of knowledge.As interest in the subject of Freemasonry continues to grow, as seen in the movie NATIONAL TREASURE and in Dan Brown's forthcoming book, the FREEMASONS' GUIDE AND COMPENDIUM will be a valuable source of information for anyone who wants to research and understand the masons.