Customer Reviews

A Pilgrim's Path: Freemasonry and the Religious Right

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I have over the years read several books on Freemasonry. There are other works which are much longer and go into much more detail but page for page this is probably one of the best books ever written about or for Masons. Furthermore it would be a perfect read for any man about to join the Brotherhood, and his family, especially his wife, should read it as soon as he is finished. John Robinson writes in a style that not only can be understood by someone who has never been exposed to Masonry but it also holds the total interest of someone who has not only been a Mason for years but who grew up going to Lodge functions.

Robinson spends the first section of the book taking on the Pat Robertson's and other Anti-Masons of the world. He has without a doubt spent a lot of time making a study of Anti-Masonic writings for he is able to take their arguments one at a time and expose the deception and outright lies they make a living on. For example, Pat Robertson, James Holly and others like them take a document credited to Albert Pike which makes it look like Pike if not all Masons do indeed worship Lucifer. This document was in fact written by a man named Leo Taxil who would later freely admit he made the whole thing up and that Pike had nothing to do with it. Taxil in fact took great delight in telling people how he had pulled the wool over their eyes and had made a fortune in so doing. Robertson in his book "A New World Order" attributes this document to Pike. Either he didn't research his work too well or he simply didn't care about the truth. Maybe lies are more profitable.

Finally, Robinson delivers several great ideas to help Masonry not only survive but grow. Several of the mistaken ideas he mentions that he has heard from Masons themselves I have heard also. As he points out, to exclude your family from your Masonic life is to invite problems. Masons everywhere should listen to his advice and Masonry can't help but benefit.

In short, if you are curious about Masonry or already have a bad impression of Masonry but still have an open mind, read this book. If you are a Mason this book can make your Masonic life much more rich.

I recommend this book to Everyone interested in Masonry or Anti-Masonry--esp., to those joining The Craft (see the Dedication of the book) & their loved ones. John J Robinson gives a well-written appraisal of Freemasonry and the Anti-Masonic Propagandists, who slander the organization. Everything he says can easily be backed-up with a little research & this book is a concise, sensible, articulate piece of research material that sums-up most of the important aspects of Freemasonry.... and the unfortunate, ridiculous attacks by the Uninitiated. A Great "coffee table" book for Freemasons. Buy one for your Church and loan it to those who are confused by the evangelists and other money-mongers. My Credentials? : I made my decision to join The Freemasons long-ago, not knowing if I would be found worthy... and not knowing anyone of my generation who had joined this organization, that I admired so-much. As I sought methods of joining the fraternal order, I stumbled-across a cornucopia of information about Freemasonry. I was distressed to discover that Anti-Masonic propaganda was being used by various groups to further the ignorance of various causes. I read everything I could get my hands on about The Masons, for many years, because of my great respect for them. I know many Masons, in other states, and my family--The Lincolns--have been affiliated with Masonic orders for generations, but my Grandfather kept all of his secrets.... My Grandmother was in The Order of the Eastern Star, and so was my Great-Grandmother (a VERY religious, Christian woman). I am also a member of a Humanitarian organization that has always attracted Freemasons and is based on Masonic Principles. My experience with Masonry has made me a better man and I have seen nothing (Despite the Propaganda) that would make me think any less of Freemasonry. -- "A Pilgrim's Path" is a book that could have saved me ten years of research and helped me to teach others, along the way, without saying a word..... However, my research has led me to the conclusion that Mr. Robinson is very knowledgeable and I recommend his book, because I admire his work and his writing skills. I believe this book will be adopted as a Masonic Handbook for those joining or interested in the Freemasons. Women want to know more about The Masons and this book is for them, as well!

After becoming a member, I had a friend question me about being a Mason and he gave me all sorts of Anti-Masonic information. I read through it all and decided to do some research myself. I found even more Anti-Masonic information but little Pro-Masonic information, outside of the Lodge that is. I talked with some other brothers in my Lodge and one of them lent me this book to read and it refuted all of the Anti-Masonic information that I was given. I have since then recommended this book to that friend and to everybody else that has asked me questions about the fraternity. My wife has read it and now has a much better understanding about why I'm a member and better allows her to answer questions when people ask her about me being a Mason and how she feels about it. I highly reccomend this book to everybody interested in becoming a member, every existing member, any family member of a Mason, or anybody who's just curious about who we are and what we do. It's a long journey, but it's well worth the trip!

This book is highly readable and extremely educational. I knew very little about Freemasonry and was not a Mason when I read the book. It has helped me feel much more excited and proud of the fact that I am planning to become a Mason. Because of this book I now understand the intense anti-Mason dialogue in a much clearer way. John Robinson has made a remarkable effort to clear away much of the nonsense regarding these ridiculous attacks on Freemasonry. But he has gone much further than that - he has tried very hard to offer positive and constructive suggestions and ideas in an attempt to encourage more participation by Masons and non-Masons in the whole process of Freemasonry. Freemasonry is religous tolerance and this country was founded on that principal, unfortunately, there are those in this country who find religious tolerance incompatible with their faith.

Robinson does his homework and writes well, and I have enjoyedhis works on Freemasonry, including this one.

However, to get therest of the story, I recommend that you read 'The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century, 1590-1710', by David Stevenson.

Stevenson's book is the only work on the origins of Freemasonry I have ever seen that ignores the movement's vast myth-making literature and focuses instead on the surviving records of the earliest known masonic lodges. Stevenson--who teaches history at the University of St. Andrews--paints a solid, sober, believable portrait of Freemasonry's rather prosaic origins in the operative masonic lodges of early 17th-century Scotland.

"Scotland's Century" is a welcome and refreshing antidote to all the junk that has been written about Freemasonry in the past three centuries. It explodes Masonic authors' extravagant claims for an origin in ancient civilizations and possession of power supernatural secrets. It also undermines anti-Masonic authors' equally bizarre accusations of pacts with supernatural forces of evil. It replaces these fanciful images with the story of a remarkable human institution whose recent, humble, workaday origins are far more interesting than its myths.

John J. Robinson was not a Freemason when he wrote _Born in Blood_, in which he made a very strong case for Freemasonry as the descendant organization of the Knights Templar, which had been officially disbanded in the 1300s. After he wrote _Born in Blood_, he did the usual author thing of visiting everywhere he could to sell the book. In the process, he went to many lodges and many Masonic events of various types, and appeared on many talk radio shows -- in short, he became an outside expert on Freemasonry. This book (A Pilgrim's Path) tells about that journey, as well as the conclusion of it, in which he joined a Masonic lodge.

This book does not tell that he went on to write a massive history of the Knights Templar (Dungeon, Fire and Sword) and the Crusades, and that he saw some of the projects he mentions in the book beginning to take shape before he died.

It also does not tell that he was made a Honorary 33 Degree Mason (the highest honor for a Scottish Rite Mason) while he was in the hospital dying. Consider that the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say.

This is an excellent book for those who THINK they know what Freemasonry is, and those who actually know will find some enlightenment here, as well.

I finished the Pilgrim's Path a few weeks ago and am only to sad that John Robinson can not continue his work in promoting the craft. After reading the Robinson's book I was enfused with even more joy in being raised a true brother of mankind. I am very proud to be a Mason and see myself as the pilgrim who must bring light to my fellow man throught the glory that is masonry. A very important point I derieved from reading A Pilgrim's Path is that as church attendance declines and greed increases in the world many are wrongly attacking the one originization that could bring new life and morality into the world. I strongly feel that churches that seek more active members within there churches should encourage members to learn about the greatness that is Masonry.

I feel that pious men who learn the truth about Masonry would join and throught the teachings of Masonry become better men who are more active in their respective church. Ever since I have become a Mason I have returned to regular church service and have become more active in my church. I proudly where the emblems of Masonry and eagerly enlighten those who ask, "What is that?".

And feel very fortunate that I have some of the knowledge gained through the reading of the Pilgrim's Path to give an educated response to those who have a less than positive view of Masonry.

This is the best book for anyone to read who wants to know the truth about Freemasonry. It is especially appropriate for those concerned about some of the anti-masonic rhetoric that has been published recently and for those men who want to decide whether they should seek membership in the fraternity. In addition to reviewing Freemasonry's principles and basic orgainzation, the late John Robinson also describes his personal journey that led him to seek membership in Masonry.

Whatever you're a Masonic expert or have no idea what Freemasonry is, you can enjoy "A Pilgrims Path". Robinson's years of research and study about Freemasonry have been put into this book all for your enlightenment and enjoyment.

The book begins by summing up just what Freemasonry is and what it's not. Mainly that Freemasonry is the world's oldest fraternal order and not a religion or even quasi religion. He also covers briefly the debate over the origins of the fraternity and it's leading theories.

The heart of the book deals with debunking recent and current "Anti Masonic organizations and persons". Robinson does a terrific job of exposing these themes. With simple research he points out that almost all Anti Masonic claims are A) Outright Lies or B) Items that are taken out of context so far they are twisted beyond recognition. He goes on to point out this propaganda is usually used for personal gain and more often, pure profit making schemes.

Not only does "A Pilgrims Path" expose Anti Masonry propaganda for the lies it is but it also exposes just what Masonry really is. Robinson's accounts of Masonic charity will touch your heart. Such as the well-known Shrine children's hospitals will never charge a dime for their care.

Finally, Robinson leaves a few ideas behind about his ideas for the future of fraternity every Mason should read and consider.

Interested in the truth about Freemasonry? This is the story of one man's years of research. It's also the story of why he joined the Craft.

A clear and honest review of most polemic topics about freemasonry. The author is an authority in masonic affairs, and brings to us many unknown aspects of the Craft. Very rich in citations and knowledge, history and general information.