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The Secrets of Masonic Washington: A Guidebook to Signs, Symbols, and Ceremonies at the Origin of America's Capital
A fully illustrated guide to the Masonic origins and present-day Masonic sites of Washington, D.C.
• Provides a walking tour of the Masonic sites and symbols of the city
• Explores the critical role of Freemasonry in the founding of the United States
• By the author of The Templars and Assassins
In this guide to the Masonic underpinnings of America’s capital, James Wasserman reveals the esoteric symbols and the spiritual and visionary ideas that lie hidden in the buildings, monuments, and physical layout of Washington, D.C. His walking tour of these Masonic sites includes both the expected and unexpected--from the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building to the Federal Reserve complex, National Academy of Sciences, and the Library of Congress. Each location includes descriptions, interpretations, and explanations of the Masonic symbols and ritualistic meanings hidden within its structure, all illustrated with contemporary color and historic black-and-white photographs.
Wasserman explains the purpose behind putting these symbols and Masonic designs into the capital and how all these monuments fit into the spiritual vision held by the founding fathers. He reveals the prominent role that Freemasonry played in the 18th-century Enlightenment movement and shows how in the New World of America, free of monarchy and aristocracy, the ideas of the Enlightenment were able to flourish. This illustrated guidebook to the Masonic secrets of Washington, D.C., provides valuable insights on the founding of America. It will be welcomed by students of esoteric art and symbolism, admirers of American history, and devotees of Dan Brown novels and National Treasure movies.
• Provides a walking tour of the Masonic sites and symbols of the city
• Explores the critical role of Freemasonry in the founding of the United States
• By the author of The Templars and Assassins
In this guide to the Masonic underpinnings of America’s capital, James Wasserman reveals the esoteric symbols and the spiritual and visionary ideas that lie hidden in the buildings, monuments, and physical layout of Washington, D.C. His walking tour of these Masonic sites includes both the expected and unexpected--from the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building to the Federal Reserve complex, National Academy of Sciences, and the Library of Congress. Each location includes descriptions, interpretations, and explanations of the Masonic symbols and ritualistic meanings hidden within its structure, all illustrated with contemporary color and historic black-and-white photographs.
Wasserman explains the purpose behind putting these symbols and Masonic designs into the capital and how all these monuments fit into the spiritual vision held by the founding fathers. He reveals the prominent role that Freemasonry played in the 18th-century Enlightenment movement and shows how in the New World of America, free of monarchy and aristocracy, the ideas of the Enlightenment were able to flourish. This illustrated guidebook to the Masonic secrets of Washington, D.C., provides valuable insights on the founding of America. It will be welcomed by students of esoteric art and symbolism, admirers of American history, and devotees of Dan Brown novels and National Treasure movies.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2008
11 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
James Wasserman
57 books55 followersJames Wasserman was an author and occultist, best known for his full color publication of the Papyrus of Ani, Book of the Dead. A member of Ordo Templi Orientis since 1976 and a book designer by trade, he has written extensively on spiritual and political liberty.
Wasserman began his career in 1973 at Weiser Books, then the world’s largest bookstore and publishing company specializing in esoteric literature. He worked with Brazilian occultist Marcelo Ramos Motta to publish the Commentaries of AL in 1975, for which he wrote the introduction. He supervised the 1976 Weiser edition of the Book of the Law in which the holograph manuscript was appended to the typeset text for the first time in a popular volume. In 1977, he arranged to professionally re-photograph the Frieda Harris Tarot paintings for an improved second edition of Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck, to which he contributed the booklet of instruction.[5][6] While still working at the bookstore, he met and befriended the legendary filmmakers and occultists Harry Smith and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
In 1977, he left Weisers to found Studio 31, where he produced the Simon Necronomicon, a volume purporting to be the mythological Necronomicon made famous by H.P. Lovecraft. In 2008, it was re-issued in a high quality 31st anniversary edition by Ibis Press. In 1994, Wasserman assembled a team of scholars, photographers and editorial staff to produce a full-color version of The Egyptian Book of the Dead, based on the Papyrus of Ani. The book was described as offering "much of value in presentation, layout and commentary" by John Baines, professor of Egyptology at the University of Oxford.
Wasserman began his career in 1973 at Weiser Books, then the world’s largest bookstore and publishing company specializing in esoteric literature. He worked with Brazilian occultist Marcelo Ramos Motta to publish the Commentaries of AL in 1975, for which he wrote the introduction. He supervised the 1976 Weiser edition of the Book of the Law in which the holograph manuscript was appended to the typeset text for the first time in a popular volume. In 1977, he arranged to professionally re-photograph the Frieda Harris Tarot paintings for an improved second edition of Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck, to which he contributed the booklet of instruction.[5][6] While still working at the bookstore, he met and befriended the legendary filmmakers and occultists Harry Smith and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
In 1977, he left Weisers to found Studio 31, where he produced the Simon Necronomicon, a volume purporting to be the mythological Necronomicon made famous by H.P. Lovecraft. In 2008, it was re-issued in a high quality 31st anniversary edition by Ibis Press. In 1994, Wasserman assembled a team of scholars, photographers and editorial staff to produce a full-color version of The Egyptian Book of the Dead, based on the Papyrus of Ani. The book was described as offering "much of value in presentation, layout and commentary" by John Baines, professor of Egyptology at the University of Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 2, 2021
This book was actually very good. I must say at first it was very dense with knowledge, and I was starting to think this was more for people who were actually studying one of the subjects the book covered (Symbology, Iconology, Masonic History, etc). The history was interesting but a little above my head (as a Canadian), and a little boring. But once the Walking Tour started, I couldn't put the book down. The pictures were beautiful and the history of the buildings they stood in front of, inside of, or upon was truly very interesting. The whole Walking Tour was well written and the photos were again just amazing.
This book really makes you stop and think. It is like a little look inside the mind of the Founding Fathers and what they believed. It also highlights what they wanted for America and what they tried so hard to emulate and the lessons they tried to leave behind for future generations.
This book really makes you stop and think. It is like a little look inside the mind of the Founding Fathers and what they believed. It also highlights what they wanted for America and what they tried so hard to emulate and the lessons they tried to leave behind for future generations.
April 2, 2024
Great Pictures
The information about the Masonic influence on the architecture of D.C. was very well written, informational and had terrific sources but the real shining light of this book were the pictures, maps and descriptions/decoding of the symbols all around D.C.
The information about the Masonic influence on the architecture of D.C. was very well written, informational and had terrific sources but the real shining light of this book were the pictures, maps and descriptions/decoding of the symbols all around D.C.
April 10, 2024
Easy read and very informative. I wish I had read before I went to DC as I would have understood the city layout and sculptures better. I knew very little about Masons before reading and this was a good explanatory introduction. Definitely makes me appreciate America and its founders.
September 29, 2019
I loved this book. It was great research for one of my future books. I bought it while in Washington and it was a great guide as we made the rounds.
May 31, 2021
A thoroughly fascinating and enjoyable book, tainted only by the author’s disappointing pulpit sermon of an epilogue at the end.
July 30, 2011
This book covers the Masonic principles the United States was founded upon. It gives a pictorial tour of Washington D.C. which is pretty cool. This book is so relevant and made relevant by the author. I think our country had fallen asleep and lost its vigor probably in part due to the growth of technology which allows great depersonalization in society. After the 9/11 attacks, we briefly woke up and united together, but ten years later, we're fighting a meaningless war and in recession and taxes are rising and politicians are unbearably corrupt. And really no one seems to give a damn. Wasserman states, "The Founders expected the people to be a group of fiercely independent souls, resentful of intrusion by outside entities in their personal lives." Yet, our federal government is pushing federal health care, and passing acts such as the Patriot Act. However, the tenth amendment states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." So, why is our federal government interfering?
So, I'm just going to throw out three more quotes from Wasserman that I believe are important concepts:
"Self-reliance needs to be recovered as a modern virtue. We cannot allow ourselves to become a culture of spectators. The iconography of Washington D.C. calls us to be heroes. If our goal is to make government the national caretaker - a nursery for the young and a nursing home for the old - we will become a nation of the dependent. Freedom is not free. It requires passion and determination."
"America needs a clear-eyed foreign policy working in the national self-interest. We can encourage those relationships that are compatible with our values and refuse to nurture those that are not."
"Policies that reward failure will keep people in chains, whether domestically or internationally."
So, I'm just going to throw out three more quotes from Wasserman that I believe are important concepts:
"Self-reliance needs to be recovered as a modern virtue. We cannot allow ourselves to become a culture of spectators. The iconography of Washington D.C. calls us to be heroes. If our goal is to make government the national caretaker - a nursery for the young and a nursing home for the old - we will become a nation of the dependent. Freedom is not free. It requires passion and determination."
"America needs a clear-eyed foreign policy working in the national self-interest. We can encourage those relationships that are compatible with our values and refuse to nurture those that are not."
"Policies that reward failure will keep people in chains, whether domestically or internationally."
May 8, 2012
I bought the book while in Washington D.C. last week end. Read it at home. Fortunately I knew most of what was in the book - and did take advantage of some of the Masonic sites while there. Next time will be better prepared, though.
Reminded me of how many of the founders of this country were Masons and how many were Christians.
The design of our national capital is reflected by those Masons.
The photographs in the book are excellent as are the maps for orientation purposes.
If you are going and are interested in the history of how the capital was designed and the role of Masons in it - this is a good book. Will take perhaps an hour of reading to get through it, but take it with you when you go.
Reminded me of how many of the founders of this country were Masons and how many were Christians.
The design of our national capital is reflected by those Masons.
The photographs in the book are excellent as are the maps for orientation purposes.
If you are going and are interested in the history of how the capital was designed and the role of Masons in it - this is a good book. Will take perhaps an hour of reading to get through it, but take it with you when you go.
January 23, 2013
Yeah, not so much. Perhaps one-third of the book discussed the history of Masonry in America. It was quite interesting but written in an overblown manner. The other two-thirds was a good guide to the statuary in Congress, the Library of Congress and some of the District's outdoors statuary, which redeemed it for me.
May 25, 2013
I enjoyed it and the information prepared me for walking around DC. I enjoyed recognizing things and knowing what they symbolized.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews