This book is divided into three parts, as everything Masonic should be: Prophecy, History, and Interpretation. The first part has to do with the hints and foregleams of Masonry in the early history, tradition, mythology, and symbolism of the race--finding its foundations in the nature and need of man, and showing how the stones wrought out by time and struggle were brought from afar to the making of Masonry as we know it. The second part is a story of the order of builders through the centuries, from the building of the Temple of Solomon to the organization of the mother Grand Lodge of England, and the spread of the Order all over the civilized world. The third part is a statement and exposition of the faith of Masonry, its philosophy, its religious meaning, its genius, and its ministry to the individual, and through the individual to society and the state. Such is a bare outline of the purpose, method, plan, and spirit of the work, and if these be kept in mind it is believed that it will tell its story and confide its message. When a man thinks of our mortal lot--its greatness and its pathos, how much has been wrought out in the past, and how binding is our obligation to preserve and enrich the inheritance of humanity--there comes over him a strange warming of the heart toward all his fellow workers; and especially toward the young, to whom we must soon entrust all that we hold sacred. All through these pages the wish has been to make the young Mason feel in what a great and benign tradition he stands, that he may the more earnestly strive to be a Mason not merely in form, but in faith, in spirit, and still more, in character; and so help to realize somewhat of the beauty we all have dreamed--lifting into the light the latent powers and unguessed possibilities of this the greatest order of men upon the earth. Everyone can do a little, and if each does his part faithfully the sum of our labors will be very great, and we shall leave the world fairer than we found it, richer in faith, gentler in justice, wiser in pity--for we pass this way but once, pilgrims seeking a country, even a City that hath foundations. /$ J.F.N. _Cedar Rapids, Iowa_, September 7, 1914. $/ TABLE OF CONTENTS /$ THE ANTE-ROOM vii PART I--PROPHECY CHAPTER I. THE FOUNDATIONS 5 CHAPTER II. THE WORKING TOOLS 19 CHAPTER III. THE DRAMA OF FAITH 39 CHAPTER IV. THE SECRET DOCTRINE 57 CHAPTER V. THE COLLEGIA 73 PART II--HISTORY CHAPTER I. FREE-MASONS 97 CHAPTER II. FELLOWCRAFTS 127 CHAPTER III. ACCEPTED MASONS 153 CHAPTER IV. GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND 173