Morals & Dogma for the 21st Century

      This book began as a fundraising project for the North Texas Masonic Historical Museum & Library and as a response to the concern that not enough Masons were reading the original.

      Beginning in early 2007, a complete and comprehensive review was initiated to clarify the understanding of, develop appreciation for, and provide insight into Pike's original work, Morals and Dogma © 1871. This new book is the only edition that is not abridged, a digest, or an editorial commentary of the original book. The entire original book was translated into modern English from the archaic sentence structure and wordiness prevalent in 19th century literature.

      This modern translation organized the ideas and flow of thoughts, updated many of the historical and illustrative examples, and clarified many of the points that are easily misread or misinterpreted because the meanings of the words or context have changed since the original text was written. The content and ideas of Pike's original work have been preserved and their full meaning is now more easily accessible to the modern reader.

      In 1871, Albert Pike created Morals and Dogma as a guide to the 32 degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. In his time, becoming a Scottish Rite Mason required years of study to understand its allegories, the underlying moral lessons, and their practical applications. For many years, his text was considered the ultimate source of Masonic Philosophy. Pike's scholarly but practical instruction serves as a guide for every Mason working to be the best husband, father, brother, friend, and citizen that he can be.

      In Freemasonry today, the emphasis upon teaching and study has become secondary. Scottish Rite Masons are made in a single day, and little if any explanation or instruction is provided. Morals and Dogma for the 21st Century provides updated language and examples to bring these important lessons back within the grasp of the modern Mason.

Excerpts from the Book:

"All truths are Truths of that Period and not truths for eternity. Whatever great fact had strength and vitality enough to make itself real, whether it be religion, morals, government, or whatever else, was a truth for that era and only as good as the men who were capable of receiving it." - Page 33       "It is our duty to press forward with the search for a more perfect truth. Though absolute truth may be unattainable, we can continually diminish the amount of error in our views. Thus, Masonry is a continual movement towards light." - Page 193       "If we tried to interpret these myths as literal history, history would be an incomprehensible chaos. All the Sages would seem deranged, as would Masonry and those who instituted it. However, when these allegories are explained, they cease to be absurd fables or literal local stories. They become lessons of wisdom for all of humanity. No one who seriously studies these legends can doubt that they all originated from a common source." - Page 497