Culture Book reviews
9/05/2022 06:35 Page 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
d Fellow of the Victorian Lodge of Research, and a former longns. He is also a member of, and in most cases a Past Master (or Masonic Orders, and is the secretary of four lodges. He is a former President, of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Lecturer for Victoria in 1994. He was also a Founding Fellow of
oks and papers on Freemasonry, including Masonic World Guide ; The Masonic Grand Masters of Australia (Drakeford, Melbourne, – A New Guide to the Masonic World, Volumes One and Two , Melbourne, 1998 and 2000 – with co-author Tony Pope); hers (Global Masonic Publications, Melbourne, 2001); Millennial lobal Masonic Publications, Melbourne, 2002) and 300 Famous Masonic Publications, Melbourne, 2016). of South Australia’s Diploma of Masonic Education, and he was iversary Commemorative Medal in 1993 by the Grand Lodge of ontribution to international Masonic Research’. He is often sought on Lecture Tours to several countries. He has spoken in lodges in Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Canada, the United States, and
Famous Freemasons who Changed the World
ft) with the Right Honourable the Earl of Dunmore
Henderson, Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Education, Graduate of Education, Past Junior Grand Warden (Victoria, Australia), is a in Australia and overseas and the only ever Australian full member h, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 EC, London; having been
Famous Freemasons who Changed the World
www.lewismasonic.co.uk
KENT HENDERSON
with a Foreword by Rt Hon the Earl of Dunmore
Printed in England
FA M O U S F R E E M A S O N S W H O C H A N G E D T H E W O R L D BY KENT H EN DERSON
I NVE NTI NG TH E FUTU RE: TH E 1723 CONSTITUTIONS BY RIC BERMAN
Very readable stuff
A Masonic watershed
What do Harry Houdini, Clark Gable, George VI and Rick Wakeman have in common? The answer will likely be obvious: Freemasonry. Aside from these, there are 106 other biographical sketches in this excellent book. Here, you will fi nd Churchill, Washington, Wellington, Mozart and more. Most entries are handily on a double-page spread with a portrait of the subject. This splendid publication is the work of distinguished Australian Freemason Kent Henderson, a teacher by profession. Among many other accolades, his skill and assiduity as a Freemason have been recognised by his election as the fi rst Australian to gain full membership of Quatuor Coronati Lodge. This is the sort of book that provokes the question: why has no one written it before? It is such an obviously good idea, but no one seems to have had it previously. Thank heavens for Henderson’s good thinking. His ability to condense a great life into a couple of pages
This is a landmark year in English Freemasonry, being the 300th anniversary of the writing of the new Constitutions of the Premier Grand Lodge, which had been founded a few years earlier. The Constitutions embraced Enlightenment principles and opened up Freemasonry to men of any religion. This anniversary was marked by a special meeting of Grand Lodge in January, at which the history and significance of The 1723 Constitutions were explained. In fewer than 150 pages, Berman covers a lot of ground, from the societal context the authors of The Constitutions were working in, including the recent formation of Grand Lodge, biographies of key individuals, such as Desaguliers, Payne and Anderson and the fi rst noble Grand Master, the Duke of Montagu, as well as a host of other key individuals. Berman also covers the contents of The Constitutions themselves, how they were different to what had been
Short biographies of notable Freemasons is a considerable achievement. Clearly knowing the main features of his subjects well, he has a canny style of keeping enough detail in to make a worthwhile read, while never labouring matters. His writing is fresh, well-structured, informative and engaging. Henderson is (I note from the blurb and the foreword by Past Junior Grand Warden Lord Dunmore) a renowned Masonic lecturer and an experienced Masonic author. Based on this book, I would like to hear one of his talks. Surely, he could be a candidate for the Prestonian Lecturership? A handsome addition to any bookcase, this would make an excellent gift, regardless of whether the recipient was a Freemason or not. Review by Stanhope Famous Freemasons who Changed the World, by Kent Henderson, Lewis Masonic, 267pp, £27.99
The far-reaching effects of 1723
before and the impact they had across the world. The book gives especial prominence to the impact in America, including linking many of the Enlightenment principles in The Constitutions with those found in the US Declaration of Independence. If you are at all interested in the history of Freemasonry, then this is a must-read book, especially if you have wondered where phrases such as ‘brotherly love, relief and truth’ come from. If you went to that special meeting of Grand Lodge, then this would be an excellent souvenir to remind you of an amazing meeting. If you didn’t, it would be a chance to catch up on what you missed. Review by Oughtred Inventing the Future: the 1723 Constitutions, by Ric Berman, The Old Stables Press, 159pp, £10
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FMT Summer 2023
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