
1882.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by ALBERT G. MACKEY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of South Carolina.
[Transcriber's Note: Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the end of the work.]
To General John C. Fremont.
Preface.
I. Preliminary. - The Origin and Progress of Freemasonry.
II. The Noachidæ.
III. The Primitive Freemasonry of Antiquity.
IV. The Spurious Freemasonry of Antiquity.
V. The Ancient Mysteries.
This work opens a thoughtful guide to the hidden language of Freemasonry, showing how the order’s teachings are passed on through two timeless channels: legendary narratives and symbolic tools. The author explains that legends, unlike historical accounts, serve as vessels for philosophical ideas, inviting the initiates to look beyond literal truth and focus on deeper meanings such as the immortality of the soul.
The second half of the introduction turns to symbols, describing how simple objects—a plumb line, a keystone, a hidden ark—are deliberately chosen to mirror moral virtues and ethical principles. By tracing the ancient roots of symbolism, the book reveals how these visual cues continue to convey complex doctrines in a concrete form. Readers are invited to explore the interplay between story and sign, gaining insight into the rich, allegorical world that shapes Masonic thought.
Full title
The Symbolism of Freemasonry Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, Its Legends, Myths and Symbols
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (602K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Distributed Proofreaders
Release date
2004-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1807–1881
A physician turned leading Masonic scholar, he helped shape how generations of readers understood the symbols, history, and traditions of Freemasonry. His books became standard references in the 19th century and kept his name influential long after his lifetime.
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by Albert Gallatin Mackey