Customer Reviews

Hidden Secrets of the Eastern Star: The Masonic Connection

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

While this book may be well researched, the author's deductions are based on her own religious bias and have absolutely nothing to do with fact. She seems unable to distinguish between symbolism and Satanism and is obviously under the impression that anything not taught directly from the Bible must, therefore, be Satanic in origin. This book ultimately is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to justify the author's pre-determined conclusions, as is another of her books wherein she concludes that Alcoholics Anon is also occult-based and Satanic. Don't waste your money on this book.

This book is extensively researched and well documented with exacting footnotes and a through bibliography. It is factual in that the details of Eastern Star and other organizations are quite well presented. However, the conclusions drawn are not accurate and misleading. The author make great leaps to connect Eastern Star with occultism and Satan worship - obviously with a preordained agenda to discredit Eastern Star and the Masonic family as anti-Christian. An example is the "White Light" symbol represented by the Bible from the International Order of Rainbow for Girls ritual (which is also covered in this book.). Ms. Burns immediately links it to White Magic and other occult references. She fails to accept that all symbolism is not necessarily linked, that moral value can be taught by non-Biblical allusions, and that secrecy can not mean only privacy. This book is for fundamentalists who want reinforcement of their existing beliefs or for the Masonic family reader who wants a rounded library, a better understanding of fundamentalist anti-Masonic thinking, or information on non-Masonic symbolism through the ages.

This book is typical of those books written by someone who thinks they know what they are talking about but don't. Eastern Star is based on the Star of Bethleham and the heroines of the Bible - Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa with their stories taken from the Bible. Rainbow Girls was founded by a Christian minister and based on the 9th Chapter of Genesis and of Faith, Hope and Charity - but the greatest of these is charity. The white light represents purity. Save your money - you are being scamed with this one. This author needs to get a life.

I expected to learn something from this book and was let down with every revealed secret. Unfortunately her bias is too obvious and in the spirit of Fleet Street instead of our loving Creator.

Because I was able to buy some copies at a distress sale, I shared her research with a dozen friends. To sum up what they said to me later, "You gotta be kidding!"

Still, it's better than Talk TV.

DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS. she may have researched the subject but it's a very bad perception. she wasn't partial, biased? it's a very one sided narrow view. i'm on my way to become an eastern star and this book is a real money waster. if you're interested in eastern stars and freemasonry, then get another book.

If you are a fundamentalist Christian you might love this book because it will feed that self-righteous attitude of intolerance that many Christians have for everyone who does not believe exactly as they do!

If you are not a Christian you may be offended by the arrogant, judgmental, holier-than thou attitude that the author portrays. However, the information in this book is fascinating!

If you are a Brother or Sister of The Order you will either be offended or amused at this pitiful attempt to discredit and slander an organization that is rich with history, knowledge and wisdom.

Sadly, the author is so thoroughly brainwashed by a modern religion that was designed to control the masses, that she cannot see past the profane, exoteric levels of the symbolism of Freemasonry and OES. She cites that pompus moron Anton LeVay, who invented his own religion and used it to perpetrate lies, myths and half truths in his so-called, Satanic Bible, back in the 1960's. Freemasonry is a lot older than that and the symbolism of Freemasonry and OES have NOTHING to do with that nutjob LaVey!

I gave this book a 4 star rating simply because the book is well researched and I enjoyed reading it. And also because it had the opposite effect than the author intended, which was to convince people to leave the OES or refrain from joining OES.

I find the symbolism of Freemasonry and OES very fascinating and educated myself on the multi-layered meanings that the symbols have. masonry is rich with history and symbolism carried over from ancient times. Freemasonry is a beautiful testament to our ancestors and our cultural roots, and represents and encompasses all the religions and beliefs. All religions come from a single source and nothing presents that in a more respectful and compassionate way than Freemasonry!

Peace to ALL

I guess that is why we live in the "Land of The Free" and have the privledge of the "Freedom of the Press". This woman odviously has some bias agenda that has no foundation for the truth. My Grandmother served and participated in the Eastern Star for decades. She was a simple religious Baptist woman who enjoyed the fellowship of this organization and serving her community. No spooky hidden agendas here. I say to the the author - "anything for a buck" You are providing information that is false, misleading and odviously you have some twisted perception of the Eastern Star!

The author spends more time talking about Masonry than OES. The author is going in circles, trying to turn every event in past history to being paganistic (when the basis of most Christian holidays are paganistic - not to mention the names of the days of the week, the months of the year) and anti-Christian. The beauty of these organizations is to promote fellowship without religion, politics or race being a barrier. Even those who were quoted are not considered to be authentic sources for ritual history.

if you are looking for an unbias book of information on the Eastern Star -THIS IS NOT IT!!! For all the fundamental Christians -you will thoroughly enjoy this book as it tries to make every symbol -a link to satanic forces very similar to "The Church Lady" character on Saturday Night Live. I bought this book based on the editorial review and was very disappointed.

I really think that the few people who left positive reviews must be friends or family of the author. This book is such garbage. As far as good research, I could google better than this. There are plenty of people who hate freemasonry that write what they "think" they know on the ineternet for free. Why pay for this? Ultimately, I showed it to some people who knew better and they giggled and said that's funny.