Tracing Boards of Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained

by Julian Rees

Although all Freemasons will be familiar with the Tracing Boards - painted or printed boards developed in the early years of Freemasonry which are used in Lodges to illustrate Masonic symbols during lectures - little has been published on them. Haunch's book, "Tracing Their Development and their Designers", has been in print for over 40 years but is primarily an historical treatise. The Tracing Boards are an essential part of the three Craft Degrees in the way they illustrate the allegories and symbols used. There is no publication which adequately explains the Tracing Boards, their use and the meaning of their symbolism, and this book fills that gap in the market. The first part of the book will give a history of the development and use of Tracing Boards; the book then concentrates on explaining the role of the Tracing Boards in the First, Second and Third Degrees, and the specific symbolism of the Board used for each. Detailed descriptions of the Boards are given, particularly those used in the three degrees by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, known as the Harris Boards, which contain the elements of most of the Tracing Boards used in lodges throughout Britain. The book will be A4-sized and attractively illustrated to show the variety of historical and colorful Tracing Boards throughout the UK.

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Julian Rees was born in 1936 and after attending St Paul’s School in London he served in the Royal Army Education Corps in Berlin. On leaving the armed forces he made a career in textiles. He studied German and French at London University. In 1968 he was initiated in the Kirby Lodge No. 2818 in London, was Master in 1976/77 and again at the centenary of the Lodge in 1999/2000. He is a holder of the silver matchbox award of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, and has also served there on the Precepting Committee. He was Master of the German-speaking Pilgrim Lodge No. 238 in 1978/79. He has been a regular contributor to the quarterly magazine Freemasonry Today since its founding in 1997 and from 2003 to 2007 he was Deputy and News Editor. In 2003 he delivered the Wendel K Walker Memorial Lecture in New York, entitled Through Ritual to Enlightenment. He was one of the founding members of The Cornerstone Society, serving as Secretary for a number of years, and has lectured to lodges in England, in USA, in Africa and continental Europe. He has been honoured by the Institut Maçonnique de France with the Ordre Maçonnique de Lafayette. He was appointed active Junior Grand Deacon in the United Grand Lodge of England in 2007. In 2011 he left UGLE and joined the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain.

Reviews

[Nabarz]

finished reading 'Tracing Boards of Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained' by Julian Rees. Its shows various tracing boards from earliest ones to some modern one including the complex ones from Lady Freida Harris. the whole book is colour which is helpful to see the boards in their full colour and patterns. Its interesting how boards evolved both symbolically and artistically.

[Ian]

Not the snappiest title, but it describes the contents perfectly accurately. Occasionally falls into the trap of lengthy descriptions of what is obvious from the excellent photographs and could perhaps have been stronger on the architectural roots of tracing boards, but an entertaining general survey which fulfils its aim as a springboard to further study.

[John]

This book provides an excellent introduction into the Masonic Tracing Boards as regards their historical origins, uses and relationship to Masonic Instruction.