Is it True What They Say About Freemasonry?

by Arturo de Hoyos, S. Brent Morris

For as long as there have been Freemasons, there has been a calculated effort to disparage and discredit them as well as their practices. But why does this incessant attack exist, and where does it originate from? In this insightful text, masons Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris explore the origins of the anti-Masonic mind-set and delve into the falsehoods on which critics have based these perennial sentiments. Confronting opponents one at a time, the authors methodically debunk the myths that have surrounded Freemasonry since its establishment, investigating the motives and misconceptions that drive these antagonists to spread deceit about Masonic traditions. With close readings and thorough research, they uncover a history of fallacies that have been handed down through the generations, and ultimately expose anti-Masonic prejudices that reach almost three hundred years into the past.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2004

Reviews

[Jacob Šavlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a new mason, there was a lot to be learned about anti-masonry in this book. A lot of details, but only around 4 or 5 real arguments and criticisms. The book seemed to more or less focus on Pike and Taxil, and rebut different authors who criticize the craft using their writings. In short, if you've read the first quarter of the book, you've pretty much read the whole thing.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a conservative Christian and a Freemason is quite a challenge in the 21st century. Masonic lodges do not enjoy the widespread popularity of a few decades ago, and conservative Christian church leaders are highly suspicious of what they don't understand. The temptation is strong to yield to the many vicious rumors that are circulating. This book provides a much-needed resource to counter the most popular of them. As I read through the pages, I found defenses and explanations for the unfounded attacks I've read and heard. Often it's best just to let folks believe what they will, but if you'd like a resource to debunk the misinformation, this book will help. This title, and another one, "A Pilgrim's Path" by John Robinson, are the only two volumes of which I'm aware that meet the falsehoods head-on.

[Tyler Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

There has to be more about anti-Masonry than mis-readings of Pike. Doesn't there?

I was pretty excited about this book, and to boot I got it used for a song off the web. Meh. There is definitely some engaging material here, and certainly I learned some things about anti-Masonry (and necessarily, about Masonry itself, I suppose, in the process...I guess?). I have to admit that several times throughout, I found myself thinking, "This could have been condensed." There were also some editing issues that made me suck my teeth. BUT, overall I suppose I enjoyed the book more as I went further along into it. The tone of the early few chapters I can, unfortunately, only describe as occasionally petulant. But the authors do find their stride in later chapters.

Perhaps a future revision could dissolve and reconstitute most of the Taxil-based shenanigans and the mis-readings of Pike into one chapter.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed Robinson's A Pilgrim's Path more than this book. Robinson stays outside of the line of fire, while Morris and de Hoyos maybe live a little bit too close to this stuff.

[Bretton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. As members of the Craft we are taught to bear with patience attacks from anti-Masons, but brothers de Hoyos and Morris do an excellent job of explaining the motivations of those who attack Freemasonry. The reader is shown that much of the time the motivation is money.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why they need to write a book. Are the Mason's so relevant that this needs to happen?