 |
||
 |
||
 |
'A Handbook for the Freemason's Wife' - RRP £9.99 Publisher: Lewis (19 Feb 2009) 'Have you ever wondered why men want to be Freemasons? How do they become one and what does it involve? Everyone has heard at least one thing about the Masons - good or bad - but what is the truth? Written by the wives of two well-established Freemasons, "A Handbook for the Freemason's Wife" aims to give a simple and straight-to-the-point guide to the basics of Freemasonry, steering the reader through the initially bemusing concepts towards a clear understanding of the path of moral learning the men folk will be involved in. It demystifies the myths and puts paid to the rumours and in doing so helps make the reader feel reassured, more knowledgeable and respectful of a wonderful Craft. Whether you are the girlfriend, wife, partner or close relation of a Freemason or Freemason-to-be, you will find within this light-hearted book the answer to almost every question you will initially need to know about Freemasonry. From the initial queries about becoming a Mason, to the role of 'Lady' at Ladies Night, the answers and suggestions are here. This is a perfect book for every Freemason's wife!' So says the promotional 'blurb' for the book 'A Handbook for the Freemason's Wife'. This is a charming book which is filled with information that will be of interest not only to the wife of a Mason but also to anyone who wishes to know more about Freemasonry: given the 'mystery' that surrounds becoming a Mason, perhaps children or other relatives might find it useful too! A mixture of facts and stories are used to aptly illustrate the Masonic experience as seen from the point of view of a Freemason's wife and from that perspective it is amusing and engaging, as well as being a useful source of information. It explains what Freemasonry is, provides a glossary of terms used by Masons as well as details of how to become a Mason and a broad outline of what happens as a chap progresses through the various ceremonies and offices. In addition it also contains details of Masonic Ladies' Festivals and charity functions: this includes a review of the various Masonic charities in the UK. The one criticism I have is that this book is fine for those ladies whose husbands have just become Masons, but it does not really explore the way that Freemasonry can change a chap or the way that a Freemason's wife finds her own life changing as a result of her husband's involvement with 'The Craft'. For example, and from a purely selfish perspective, I would have liked a bit more information on how to write a decent speech for my Ladies Festival (a truly terrifying prospect!) with perhaps a few more examples so that I could have pinched bits from them! This book does contain some quite indispensable information but it doesn't by any means replace the advice and support that, in an ideal world, can be gleaned from the more established wives at your husbands Lodge. However, we don't all live in an ideal world so, for the new Masonic wife who perhaps doesn't know other ladies at the Lodge or who is a bit shy or apprehensive about asking questions/approaching them (I remember it well, it really can be quite daunting!), it provides a valuable stepping stone towards feeling included and in helping a wife to appreciate and enjoy what Freemasonry can offer HER in addition to helping her to understand how she can support her husband as he moves forward in 'The Craft'. For what it's worth, in my opinion, this book ought to be given by a chap's proposer (or the Lodge) to every EA for his partner (and himself!) to read. Sarah White December 2009 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
