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The Airlie MS 1705 - the second oldest Masonic Ritual
in the world
Cracking the Freemasons' Code
The author of The Rosslyn
Hoax?, Robert L D Cooper, also wrote a book simultaneously with The
Rosslyn Hoax? (we kid you not!).
Cooper said: "I will
never, ever, again get into a position where I write two books at
the same time", and explained: "I had, had a casual conversation with
one publisher a few years ago and promised to write the book. In
fact I started to write it but after a while I lost interest
especially as there was no contact with the publisher". He
laughed: "Oh that was all my fault - I forgot to follow up the
initial approach, I was too busy at work".
So how did the other book
come to be written? "I was then approached by another publisher to
write on another aspect of
Freemasonry and I was delighted to accept
and I began work on that book during 2005".
 Did the writing of that
book come easy, did you have plenty of time? "Not at all. I was due
to go on a round the world Masonic lecture tour (see:
www.anzmrctour.org) and expected to be able to work on
the book whilst I was traveling - how wrong I was!"
Can you explain and expand
on that? "Sure, I naively thought that I would be able to work on
the book when I was sitting in airports or on days in between
lectures. Have you ever tried to write a book in an airport? - don't
bother". What is the problem with 'writing in an airport' I asked
Cooper. "First and foremost I was not traveling luxury class, I sat
in the same places as everyone else in ordinary class. Lots of
noise, lots of movement, little comfort, no desk or table to sit at
with my laptop and no recharge point".
Okay, we get the idea that
you were not too happy with your 'round the world tour?' Cooper
said: "No, not at all. I had a great time". So what was the problem
writing a book whilst 'on tour' I asked? "Apart from the physical
difficulties mentioned above, that is very easy to answer" said
Cooper. "kindness" he said.
Cooper was expansive here:
"I went to South Africa, India, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand,
California, and Washington State as a guest of
ANZMRC and wherever I went I was treated
with so much kindness that I did not get a minute to myself! A great
way to see the world but not to write a book. It was when I was in
Auckland, New Zealand, that I received a call from the other
publisher (Rider & Co.) reminding me of my earlier agreement to
write a book for them. Having made that earlier commitment I felt
duty bound to agree".
So how did you
write the books? "When I returned home I really had to put my nose
to the grindstone and ended up working long hours at both ends of
the day and at weekends whilst working full-time for the Grand Lodge
of Scotland, the home of
Scottish
Freemasonry" he said. Did writing two books simultaneously not cause confusion
as to what you were writing when? "Only occasionally. You see,
although both books are about
Freemasonry, from a Scottish
perspective, the styles are quite different. The Rosslyn Hoax? is
more of an academic book. Packed with facts and hundreds of
footnotes. For some it will be a pretty dry read. Cracking the
Freemasons' Code by comparison is much lighter, written on a more
personal level. Because of that it was easy to know what book I was
working on at any time".
Which was the hardest one
to write? I asked. "Cracking the Freemasons' Code without a doubt
even although it is about half the size of The Rosslyn Hoax? That is
because it the first piece I have produced in that personal style -
I was simply not used to writing in that way".
What is the book about?
"Much of it t is about
Freemasonry, especially
Scottish
Freemasonry because that is a
subject I know in great detail given that I am the Curator of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library". Is it only about
Scottish
Freemasonry I asked? "No, although
that is a major part. I have tried to be wide ranging within the
limits imposed by this size and style of book. For example, I have
included a brief discussion of other similar societies, principally
the Order of Free Gardeners". I have never heard of them - can you
tell me more. "The Free Gardeners were one 'esoteric' society among
many -
Free
Masonry (now
Freemasonry) was another. At one
time there were dozens of such societies but
Freemasonry is now the largest remaining of its type".
Is there anything else you
can tell me about the book's contents, does it, for example tell us
anything about
Rosslyn Chapel? "I touch on
Rosslyn Chapel especially the idea that
Freemasonry and the St. Clair family were connected. My
other book, The Rosslyn Hoax? is the one you need to read for an
in-depth examination of that subject". (A list is chapter headings
etc. is provided below - Ed.)
Do you have any more books
planned. "Although I would rather have a rest for a while I have had
some interesting ideas and I am the kind of person that need to get
on with things whilst the ideas are still fresh - otherwise other
fresher ideas come along and nothing gets done. I have been
approached by publishers who seem to think that I can string a few
words together. Quite a compliment". Can you let us know what these
projects are? "Yes, um, I'd better not - the publishers might have
plans about releasing that information". Not even a little hint?
"No, I'll have to get back to you".
The author was interviewed
by Eric Wilson, December 2006.
Cracking
the Freemasons' Code - The Truth About Solomon's Key and the
Brotherhood
Cracking the
Freemasons' Code - contents
1 From
Stonemasons to Freemasons
2 The
Father of Modern Freemasonry and the First Modern Freemason
3 The
Mysteries of the Masons
4 The
Earliest Rituals
5 The
Masonic Lodge and the Three Degrees
6 Tools
of the Trade
7
Symbols and Signs
8
Constitutions and Orations
9 Pocket
Companions and the Reworking of History
10 The Order of Free
Gardeners
11 Freemasonry and
the New World
12 A Final Word
Appendix 1 - Original
Masonic Documents
Appendix 2 - Some Famous
Freemasons
Suggested reading
Glossary
Index
The book has a black and
white plate section and a number of in-text line drawings.
Please note: this book
is not for sale from this web site. A link to Amazon.co.uk is
provided below if you wish to purchase the book from that source.
The book is also widely available from most major bookshops.
The
Fortean Times UK web site has another
review of this book - to go there
click here or on the previous link. Use the
back button to return here.
For visitors from America
you might like to know that a USA edition is to be published in
September by
Simon and Schuster Inc. There is a
preliminary page where there is a brief synopsis of the book and the
option to place advance orders for the book. Interestingly the cover
has changed... To go to the
Simon and Schuster Inc. page you
can
click here or on any previous link
- remember you will be leaving this web site - use the back button!
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