Albert Gallatin Mackey (March 12, 1807 – June 20, 1881) was an American medical doctor and author. He is best known for his writing many books and articles about freemasonry, particularly the Masonic Landmarks.Albert Gallatin Mackey was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of John Mackey (1765 - December 14, 1831), a physician, journalist and educator, and his wife. His father published The American Teacher's Assistant and Self-Instructor's Guide, containing all the Rules of Arithmetic properly Explained, etc. (Charleston, 1826), the most comprehensive work on arithmetic that had been published in the United States. His brother was Edmund William McGregor Mackey, later a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina. After completing his early education, Albert Mackey taught school for some time to earn money for medical school. He graduated from the medical department of the College of South Carolina in 1832. He settled in Charleston, South Carolina.
Albert Gallatin Mackey was a medical doctor and Freemason who served as Grand Lecturer and Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, as well as Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.
Well written with discerning observations relevant to a supposed secret society. In actuality much of Free and Accepted Free Mason Lodges and historical as-well-as judicial applications advancing brotherhood and the craft. I personally like the way loyalty and fraternity is addressed with dignity and respect for all is presented without discrimination. Recommend Readers mature age 26+
This book gives good insight to the overall governance of freemasonry. However it is more geared to the Scottish Rite it seems but the principles are universal. Very enlightening.
Interesting reading. It left me wanting to know more, I thought there were portions described in the book where the rest of the information was left out.
The Truth. Someone in the ranks has broken formation and given this great description of the shadowy Masons. ooooh
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that traces its origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons, which from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of masons and their interaction with authorities and clients. The degrees of freemasonry, its gradal system, retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason. These are the degrees offered by craft, or blue lodge Freemasonry. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are now administered by different bodies than the craft degrees.
The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the lodge. The lodges are usually supervised and governed at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, world-wide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry. Each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate.
Senior Deacons and Junior Wardens in Texas lodged should read this book to learn the intent, context, and underlying purpose of the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Lodge!
Very informative and detailed treatment of a wide range of topics in Masonic jurisprudence. A little on the dry side but a lot of the information should be known by all Masons even if they never have cause to rely upon it.