Customer Reviews

American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities

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Mr. Tabbert presents an effective and intriguing look into the fabric that is American freemasonry. A society with secrets, but more importantly a brotherhood of philanthropy, freemasons helped shaped early America into the wonderful country that it is today. Tabbert shares the good, bad and ugly that is, and was, freemasonry.

The author takes into consideration his reader and doesn't shroud his writting so that a non-mason could not understand its (masonry) history. This is extremely important for someone to know that may not pick this book up because he/she is afraid that it doesn't contain a true depiction of the fraternity.

Tabbert's intent is clear from the beginning--share with the reader a history that doesn't hide anything (as many historical texts often do), and present something he is obviously passionate about with the world.

If you are intersted in the history of masonry in America, please don't hesitate to add this book to your library! It truly is a great investment.

Mark Tabbert has done a fine job exploring the evolution of Freemasonry in America and giving us a small glimpse of its possible future. It is obvious that he has great affection for the "craft" but its very refreshing to see that he has taken the time to respectfully recognize the ties Masonry has had in the development of other fraternal orders and their organizational descendants. There is no mysticism here, only clear documented history and analysis (coupled with outstanding illustrations) which should be of interest to Masons and non-Masons alike who are truly interested in learning more about the world's oldest "secret" fraternity.

This is a beautifully illustrated book. The dust jacket is the colorful Allyn Cox mural of "George Washington Laying the Cornerstone for the National Capitol." Its hard to believe this is available for only $19 and change.

The author's expertise as a Museum curator is readily apparent, as looking through this book is like walking through a comprehensive museum of American Freemasonry. The pages are filled with photos of old Masonic prints, glassware, Knight Templar swords, fraternal regalia, ceramics, jewels and medallions, embroidered banners, stained glass windows, old postcards of Masonic Temples and Lodge buildings, stage settings and costumes, pocket watches, Masonic furniture, altars, working tools and trestleboards. Its a visual treat.

However, the best thing about this book is that it is without a doubt the best book on the market to explain the history of American Freemasonry to both the Mason and non-Mason alike. For the Mason, it will introduce him to many aspects of Masonic history that he was not aware of. For the non-Mason, it will give him or her a comprehensive view from Freemasonry's beginnings in Europe, through the American Revolution, up to the present day.

Unafraid to venture into the controversial, Tabbert even has a chapter that deals with the anti-Masonic period of the late 1820's and 1830's, as well as the fundamentalist anti-Masonry of the 1990's.

If some have felt that Tabbert is an apologist for the Masonic fraternity, it is only because he, as a historian, has not added to the mass of nonsense written by anti-Masons and conspiracy theorists. As a professional Museum curator, Tabbert has stuck to historical facts and that will naturally place his book on a higher plane than many of the more sensational books on the subject.

A well-documented work, the book has 31 pages of endnotes and references which provide a wealth of additional information for the serious reader.

This is one of the most highly recommended books on American Freemasonry to come available in the last decade.

This fine book, beautiful to look at as well as informative, treats not only the history of Freemasonry in America but touches on the entire "Golden age of Fraternalism". The reader will also learn of such organizations as the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. A fine look at an era of Brotherhood, sadly past.

Finally, a book that tells the truth about Masons. This book is a wonderful work of art. There are great illustrations, and excellent research. this book should be required reading for all Masons.

This book, written by a thoughtful, knowledgeable and sensitive Freemason, offers the best recent overview of the fraternity's history in the United States. Its magnificent illustrations alone, covering all aspects of the organization's history, make this volume extremely valuable to any student of the subject.

Equally noteworthy is how well balanced and historically informed Mark Tabbert's account is, given that its chief purpose is to introduce non-Masons to the fraternity. One learns, for example, how Masonic universalism helped bring men of different classes and backgrounds together in mutual support and yet how white Freemasons could still draw the line at the acceptance of African American members (or even the recognition of black Masonic legitimacy) until just the very recent past. It is particularly to the author's credit that he includes the evolution of African American (Prince Hall) Masonry as a central part of his story, along with the spread of Masonry to women and young people. Throughout the book, the author draws on most of the best historical scholarship about the brotherhood to be produced in recent decades both in the universities and in the fraternity itself.

Mark Tabbert's book will also prove stimulating to all those, both in the fraternity and outside it, who believe that many of the most important historical questions about Freemasonry have not yet been answered. How exactly has this very private institution served as a foundation for American public life? Did the enormous expansion of the fraternity between 1900 and 1960 mark the success or the dilution of its mission? Is the long trajectory of Masonic history better understood by the model of a voluntary association or a religious denomination? Readers will find plenty of evidence in this fine book to begin to suggest answers to these and other questions about one of America's most popular and yet still most mysterious institutions.

Mr. Tabbert has succeeded in showing how Freemasonry played an important role in the growth of the United States, without resorting to the mumbo-jumbo found recently in the popular press and movies. Anyone who is sincerely interested in the history of the US should study this book to help them appreciate the role of Freemasonry and other fraternal organizations in the development of American communities. Even Masons are tempted to believe some of the excessive glorification and obfuscation of their own fraternity, so this would also be a valuable gift for presentation to new members.

I purchased this book for genalogical reasearch. My Great, Great- Grandfather was a Mason and the family has items that have been passed down to us. The book was interesting and very informative. I was suprised at the number of Masons who played major rolls in our American history and influenced decisions that have been past down to our present times. The dates and time lines in history regarding wars, policy, and the country, as it progressed has also helped with understanding other parts of our family tree. Good reading and helpful.

This reader is not a mason nor a member of any fraternal organization, so I found Tabbert's thorough history particularly useful in understanding this 200+ year-old movement in American history.

While the author, a Lodge Master and Masonic Museum Curator, is understandably sympathetic to his society, he pulls few punches. He is critical of a variety of internal factors and decisions in the last few decades which have contributed to the organization's membership decline. He also provides a frank and factual record (highly footnoted) of the ACTUAL genesis of Freemasonry, without reference to the later fantasies of conspiracy theorists and New Age Templar delusions.

He also explores the entire spectrum of fraternal organizations and their successes and failures. Perhaps the most interesting part of the history is the parallel growth of Prince Hall (African-American) Freemasonry.

The book is extremely well illustrated with photos, prints, and objects from the museum collection Mr. Tabbert oversees. A must read on the subject.

Written by an elected Masonic lodge master and the curator of Masonic and fraternal collections at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts, American Freemasons: Three Centuries Of Building Communities is a survey of Freemasonry throughout three centuries of American history. Tracing Freemasonry from its origins in 17th-century Scotland and England to its role in American history, fluctuations in its membership, and seeking to explain why it has attracted so many men to join it over the course of centuries, American Freemasons draws from an extensive body of research to portray numerous anecdotes of Freemasons helping fellows and others, and explore reasons why some have praised while others have questioned or reviled this organization. Black-and-white and color photographs illustrate this engaging survey, that captures the Freemasoner's point of view in a thoroughly positive light.