• The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Masonic Fraternity (pdf)- presented by Lyle Simpson at Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory November 13, 2010
• The Chamber of Reflection
• Morals and Dogma
• 15 Points for Masonic Education (pdf)
• Ecclesiastes- 12th Chapter (pdf)
• Eye in the Pyramid (pdf)
• Freemasonry and Religion (pdf)
• Golden Fleece - Roman Eagle (pdf)
• Some Thoughts About Leadership (pdf)
• The Trowel (pdf)
• Tubal-cain (pdf)
• The Volumes of Sacred Law (pdf)
• Women in Freemasonry
• Forty and Two Thousand (pdf)
• The Halliwell Manuscript (or Regius Poem)
• Ancient Landmarks
• Circumambulation
• Freemasons Today (video)
• Holy Saint's John
• Lesser Lights (2 views)
• Masonic Bible Verses
• Reflection - Inner Journey

---

Historical Documents

The true origin(s) of Freemasonry is unknown, lost in time. There are a good number of historians with diverse opinions, each vehemently supporting his or her own belief. We are making history every day, but its effects will mostly be evident years from now; maybe when we are not even alive to see it. "The truth" will be colored by each perceiver. So, we can talk of some events in our history but never really know the underlying current that for years worked to precipitate the moment. We have to trust that there is a Plan of Evolution, a Tracing Board, for Humanity and that we are but a speck within the current of life, evolving and cooperating with the big scheme.

In Albert G. Mackey's 33^o, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, he states: " The origin and source whence first sprang the institution of Freemasonry, such as we now have it, has given rise to more difference of opinion and discussions among Masonic scholars than any other topic in the literature of the institution."  The following are his views on the various origins of Freemasonry:

• Temple of King Solomon

• Freemasonry and the Essenes

• Ancient Mysteries

• Freemasonry and Pythagoras

• Gnosticism and Freemasonry

• Druidism and Freemasonry

• Freemasonry and the Knights Templar

• The Rosicrucians and the Freemasons

• Operative Masons of the Middle Ages

• Oliver Cromwell and Freemsonry

• The Royal Society and the Freemasons

• The Astrologers and Freemasonry

• The Socinians and Freemasonry

The only valid source of historical knowledge of Freemasonry are contained within manuscripts that date back hundreds of years. The following are their contents:

• Cooke Manuscript

• Regius Manuscript

**.pdf files require Adobe Acrobat to view the documents. If it is not installed on your computer, you can download Acrobat Reader for free here.