Freemasonry’s Royal Secret: The Jamaican “Francken Manuscript” of the High Degrees

Many have heard of the Thirty-third Degree and the Scottish Rite, but lesser known is that it sprung from an equally important Masonic system. Created by the Frenchman Stephen Morin in the 1760s, the 25-degree system known as the “Order of the Royal Secret” used many of the most important Masonic degrees of the time. With its genesis in the French Caribbean, by 1764 these “high degrees” were established in New Orleans, and by 1767 they were brought to Albany, New York. Ultimately, its rituals were absorbed into the Scottish Rite at its creation in 1801. This original work, copied from a rare manuscript, provides the complete original system, from 4° Secret Master, to 25° Prince of the Royal Secret. Also included are the detached degrees of Select Master of 27°, Knight of the Royal Arch, and Grand Master Ecose, which appeared at the back of the original manuscript.

Stratagems of Land Warfare in the Ancient World: A Collection of Essays

The essays in this book investigate warfare from the late Bronze Age of Egypt and the Near East, through the historiographic period of ancient Greece and Rome. While the themes of these essays reveal the changes that took place in warfare within these three periods, the overarching lesson demonstrates the changes that took place in warfare over the course of ancient history—from the late Bronze Age to the period just before the beginning of Imperial Rome.

A Historic Point of Departure: Bringing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict to a Close and Creating a New Regional Geopolitical Order

Suzan Khairi is a novelist whose passion for storytelling is deeply rooted in her experiences as a lawyer and as a member of the Yazidi community. Born and raised in Sinjar town in Iraq, Suzan was profoundly impacted by the tragic events of August 3, 2014, when her people faced genocide. This harrowing experience inspired her to use her voice and pen to shed light on the plight of her community and to explore themes of resilience, survival, and hope in her writing.

Thirst: A Story of a German ISIS Member & Her Yazidi Victim

Suzan Khairi is a novelist whose passion for storytelling is deeply rooted in her experiences as a lawyer and as a member of the Yazidi community. Born and raised in Sinjar town in Iraq, Suzan was profoundly impacted by the tragic events of August 3, 2014, when her people faced genocide. This harrowing experience inspired her to use her voice and pen to shed light on the plight of her community and to explore themes of resilience, survival, and hope in her writing.

Queer Diplomacy: A Transgender Journey in the Foreign Service

Join Robyn McCutcheon, an out and proud transgender woman, on her journey as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. Follow her on travels that took her through the Soviet Union as a historian, to the stars as an engineer in the Hubble Space Telescope project, and onward to Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan as a Foreign Service Officer representing her country on everything from human rights to nuclear arms control. Find out what it was like to transition gender while serving full-time overseas and to become an icon to the LGBTQIA+ communities in Romania and in Central Asia. Follow her as president of glifaa, one of the best known LGBTQIA+ associations in the federal government. This is a story of perseverance and personal triumph. Simply put, this is queer diplomacy at its best.

The French Rite: Enlightenment Culture

This book, focused on the French Rite, covers the founding principles of the Enlightenment and their influence on the birth of modern Freemasonry as we know it today. The authors revisit the fundamental values of the Enlightenment, from a rational approach to religious tolerance and cosmopolitanism. The French Rite is the direct heir of the Grand Lodge of England founded in 1717/1721. The philosophical, religious, and political culture of the Enlightenment permeates the French Rite today.

Insilio: La cárcel del silencio: Invisibilidad lesbiana y resistencia

In this remarkable book, Skidmore discusses his “atypical life and career,” and reprints representative articles and book chapters from his long life in academe. The first of the essays considers Alito’s Dobbs decision, demonstrating that it distorts history, ignores the 13th and 9th Amendments, and relies on reasoning uncomfortably similar to that undergirding the worst decision in the Court’s history: Dred Scott. It points to the danger arising from denying a right to abortion because the Constitution does not contain the word: the Court’s major power, judicial review, itself is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.

Notes from Flyover Country: An Atypical Life and Career

In this remarkable book, Skidmore discusses his “atypical life and career,” and reprints representative articles and book chapters from his long life in academe. The first of the essays considers Alito’s Dobbs decision, demonstrating that it distorts history, ignores the 13th and 9th Amendments, and relies on reasoning uncomfortably similar to that undergirding the worst decision in the Court’s history: Dred Scott. It points to the danger arising from denying a right to abortion because the Constitution does not contain the word: the Court’s major power, judicial review, itself is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.

The Case for an Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian Confederation Why Now and How?

Brethren: Behold Your Supreme Council is a reference volume about the Leadership of the Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States from its inception on May 31, 1801, to present time. During these 222 years, 565 Deputies and Sovereign Grand Inspectors General passed the torch of the “sacred fire” through nine generations.

Brethren: Behold Your Supreme Council: Bio-Bibliographical Dictionary of the SGIG and Deputies of the Supreme Council, 33°, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A

Brethren: Behold Your Supreme Council is a reference volume about the Leadership of the Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States from its inception on May 31, 1801, to present time. During these 222 years, 565 Deputies and Sovereign Grand Inspectors General passed the torch of the “sacred fire” through nine generations.

Ancient Mysteries and Modern Masonry: The Collected Writings of Jewel P. Lightfoot

Jewel P. Lightfoot. Former Attorney General of the State of Texas. Past Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. From humble beginnings in rural Arkansas, he worked to become an educated man who excelled in law and Freemasonry. He was a gentleman of his time, well-known as a scholar, public speaker, and Masonic philosopher.

This book contains Brother Lightfoot’s recently discovered speeches, essays, and personal notes. In these pages, he walks us through a journey of Masonic symbolism and customs originating in ancient Brahman practices, which were transmitted through the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Hebrews, and into Renaissance Europe.

How the Rampant Proliferation of Disinformation Has Become the New Pandemic, and What To Do About It

How the Rampant Proliferation of Disinformation has become the new Pandemic, examines the causes of the overwhelming tidal wave of fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda, and the increase in information illiteracy and mistrust in higher education and traditional, vetted news outlets that make fact-checking a priority.

Sinking into the Honey Trap: The Case of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Sinking into the Honey Trap: The Case of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict describes how Israeli society has positioned itself in the comfort zone, ignoring the reality in which it exists. It is about the story they tell us, and most of the people accept it. This story shapes the consciousness of the Israeli Jewish society, by explaining the half truth about the past, hiding the present and describing a deceptive vision for the future. It explains the mechanisms that make it possible to ignore the reality and live in a situation that prolongs the conflict with the Palestinians and push the solution to an unseen future with ongoing violence.

Essay on The Mysteries and the True Object of The Brotherhood of Freemasons: Considerably expanded and corrected from the original in 1776

There is a need for a third edition of Essai sur les mystères. The first English translation (W.H. Reece, 1862) is long out of print and contains errors that may hinder readers’ comprehension of the anonymous 1771 letter it contains. This version, discovered in the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, has edits made to the French by an unknown editor in 1776, potentially making it more faithful to the original. The revisions range from minor corrections to significant changes, such as altering the recipient’s gender. However, the identity of the author and recipient may not be all that germane to the timeless message here: Freemasonry’s role as a society of symbolic philosophers who cultivate their minds, practice virtues, and engage in charity. Additionally, this work compares Freemasonry and ancient mystery groups, underscoring the importance of brotherhood, morality, and goodwill, and also addresses the deceitful attacks Masons have endured for centuries.

James Hoban’s Secret Society

James Hoban’s Secret Society is a pocket guide to Hoban’s fraternal legacy. This concise history delineates the opportunity and rise of a skilled immigrant craftsman in colonial America. Hoban’s family-centric approach to his work helped establish a tight-knit group of professional woodworkers who stayed with him throughout his entire career. Hoban’s work brought credibility and notoriety to the Irish Labor Movement of the 18th century.

Siddhartha: Life of the Buddha

Siddhartha: Life of the Buddha is an illustrated story for adults and children about the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and work for social justice. It includes illustrations from Pagan, Burma which are provided by Rev. Sitagu Sayadaw. The story is inspirational about the perfection of wisdom, translating spiritual practice into action aimed at healing the world.

User-Centric Design

Designing applications can be a challenge for many designers. The user can play a crucial role in the development process by including them in the different development phases. The user can provide information on what is critical for the application and where user-centric design begins.

Freemasonry, Heir to the Enlightenment

Modern Freemasonry may have mythical roots in Solomon’s time but is really the heir to the Enlightenment. Ever since the early eighteenth century freemasons have endeavored to convey the values of the Enlightenment in the cultural, political and religious fields, in Europe, the American colonies and the emerging United States.

Energy Law and Policy in a Climate-Constrained World

This book addresses different aspects of the phenomenon and tackles the energy field from the double perspective of law and policy. Scholars from France, the U.K., and the U.S. have written chapters on different areas of energy law and policy, analyzing different instruments, provisions, and objectives, and questioning the role of actors and institutions.

Masonic Myths and Legends

Freemasonry is one of the few organizations whose teaching method is still based on symbols. It presents these symbols by inserting them into legends that are told to its members in initiation ceremonies. But its history itself has also given rise to a whole mythology. Freemasons are the heirs of the builders of cathedrals. They were protected by the Stuart kings in Scotland from the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century, and the Stuarts were their secret Grand Masters. Freemasonry preserves the teachings of a primitive Judeo-Christian gnosis. In order to better understand these legends and myths and their significance, Pierre Mollier has studied their origins and attempted to find their sources.

Un amor que se atrevió a decir su nombre: La lucha de las lesbianas y su relación con los movimientos feminista y de la disidencia sexual en el Abya Yala

Desde la voz de las actoras, la autora articula una historiografía y análisis del movimiento lésbico, feminista y de la disidencia sexual. En los estudios de caso de México, Argentina, Brasil, Perú, Chile, Costa Rica, y Nicaragua. Encuentra similitudes que le permiten periodizar la acción colectiva de esos tres sujetos sociales.

Our Father: The Lord’s Prayer for Our Persecutors

by Charles L. Manto Purchase Color Edition in Print or Kindle   |  Purchase Greyscale Edition in Print “As sometimes happens, this new perception of the prayer opens a window of new possibilities…an invitation to new ways of prayer and of action in relation to personal and corporate conflicts. It is a discovery of hidden treasure.”… Continue reading Our Father: The Lord’s Prayer for Our Persecutors

Frontline Diplomacy: A Memoir of a Foreign Service Officer in the Middle East

By William A. Rugh Purchase In short vignettes, this book describes how American diplomats working in the Middle East dealt with a variety of challenges over the last decades of the 20th century. The stories include: the Palestinian siege of the U.S. embassy in Damascus; the bombing of the embassy in Jidda; the delicate relationships… Continue reading Frontline Diplomacy: A Memoir of a Foreign Service Officer in the Middle East

Brought to Light: The Mysterious George Washington Masonic Cave

Purchase in greyscale | Purchase in color by Jason Williams MD  The George Washington Masonic Cave near Charles Town, West Virginia, contains a signature carving of George Washington dated 1748. Although this inscription appears authentic, it has yet to be verified by historical accounts or scientific inquiry. Like all great legends, there is probably a… Continue reading Brought to Light: The Mysterious George Washington Masonic Cave

The Athenian Year Primer: Attic Time-Reckoning and the Julian Calendar

by Christopher Planeaux Purchase Ancient Athenians typically used two or, at times, three separate calendars from the 6th to 1st Centuries BCE. Scholars have long known that all ancients followed the Moon, Sun, and Stars to organize their lives, but exactly how the Calendars of Ancient Athens functioned on a daily basis has remained a point… Continue reading The Athenian Year Primer: Attic Time-Reckoning and the Julian Calendar

Policy Perspectives from Promising New Scholars in Complexity: Volume V

Editors:  Dr. Liz Johnson and Dr. Joseph Cochran  Purchase The world is getting more complex causing policy problems to seemingly get bigger and become more intractable. Traditional approaches and conventional methodologies alone are no longer adequate to solve policy problems in our interconnected global environment. Promising new scholars in the field of policy and complexity are… Continue reading Policy Perspectives from Promising New Scholars in Complexity: Volume V

Contests of Initiative: Countering China’s Gray Zone Strategy in the East and South China Seas

by Dr. Raymond Kuo Purchase China is engaged in a widespread assertion of sovereignty in the South and East China Seas. It employs a “gray zone” strategy: using coercive but sub-conventional military power to drive off challengers and prevent escalation, while simultaneously seizing territory and asserting maritime control. Contests of Initiative: Confronting China’s Gray Zone… Continue reading Contests of Initiative: Countering China’s Gray Zone Strategy in the East and South China Seas

Una brújula para la crisis: México: Lecciones derivadas del COVID-19

by GC Genera, Compiled by Daniel Tapia Quintana (Comprar color) Purchase full color  |   Comprar escala de gris (Purchase grayscale) La pandemia COVID-19 ha implicado grandes cambios para las sociedades y los países a nivel mundial. México no ha sido la excepción. Los desafíos que tendrá que enfrentar son múltiples y complejos. La pandemia ha… Continue reading Una brújula para la crisis: México: Lecciones derivadas del COVID-19

Managing Challenges for the Flint Water Crisis

Edited by Toyna E. Thornton, Andrew D. Williams, Katherine M. Simon, Jennifer F. Sklarew  Purchase The field of emergency and crisis management covers countless natural and human-induced hazards as well high threats. Focusing events occur at every level of governance; however, it is at the local level in which the ‘rubber’ response efforts meets the… Continue reading Managing Challenges for the Flint Water Crisis