Bro. Chris Hodapp

Tracing Boards of Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained

Although most Freemasons will be familiar with the Tracing Boards painted or engraved illustrations developed in the early years of Freemasonry which are used in Lodges to illustrate Masonic symbols and allegories during degree ceremonies and lectures little has been published on them. The Tracing Boards are an essential part of the three Craft Degrees, assisting the Freemason in his quest to de-code and interpret those allegories. There is no publication which adequately explains the Tracing Boards, their use and the meaning of their symbolism, and Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained fills that gap. The first three chapters give a detailed method of understanding and revealing the import of the three craft boards, based on those used in the three degrees by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, known as the Harris Boards, which contain the elements of most of the Tracing Boards used in Lodges throughout England. The fourth chapter gives a brief overview of the history and the development of Tracing Boards in England, with some fascinating illustrations of long-forgotten boards. In the fifth chapter the author draws in many Tracing Boards and Lodge Cloths from other countries, particularly from the USA, and from other Masonic jurisdictions, bringing the art-form right up to the 21stC. This book is richly illustrated, and features boards never before seen outside museums.

by Christopher Hodapp

Freemasonry and the founding of the United States have been intertwined since the very beginning. Now discover the secretive brotherhood of Freemasons at the center of Dan Brown’s novel, The Lost Symbol. Follow the trail of Masonic myths, legends and facts, through the streets and monuments of Washington D.C., and into the innermost lodge rooms and temples of the Order. Christopher Hodapp (author of Solomon’s Builders and the best-selling Freemasons For Dummies) uncovers the true stories behind the Freemasons and the Nation’s Capitol, and interprets the clues and claims of Brown’s book. From Masonic presidents, 33rd degree Scottish Rite Masons and modern-day Knights Templar, to curious cornerstones, statues and zodiac symbols, Deciphering The Lost Symbol is the key you need to unlock the secrets and the truth behind these mysterious ‘widow’s son.