MAX GILLEY'S REVIEW OF THE LOST SYMBOL

Brethren, I recently finished reading Dan Brown’s latest novel, The Lost Symbol. I thought I would offer a few comments to spur interest in this fascinating tale, which uses Freemasonry and especially the Scottish Rite as its backdrop. As almost everyone is aware, Dan Brown is the author of the wildly successful The Da Vinci Code and his readers have eagerly awaited his next novel, which was preliminarily titled The Solomon Key, with an expected late 2008 release. Well, both the title and publication date changed and now The Lost Symbol is finally in bookstores.

Any Mason familiar with The Da Vinci Code’s unflattering portrayal of the Catholic Church and Opus Dei in particular has certainly speculated that Freemasonry might possibly be portrayed similarly. Fortunately, the exact opposite is true. Masonry could not have hoped for a more honest depiction. The usual misconceptions regarding our fraternity are addressed as early as page 29, while the beneficial aspects of Freemasonry are mentioned consistently throughout the book. The lessons that all Masons learn in our degrees - the equality of all men based on their character, the tolerance of all religious and political viewpoints, and the belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man - are held up as ideals worthy of emulation and adoption by all societies. Dan Brown is not a Mason, but based on the scope of his research into Masonry, he is without a doubt more knowledgeable than your average lodge member. There is much to be learned here. This is the primary reason why every mason should read The Lost Symbol. This book is filled with insights into Masonic philosophy, symbolism and ritual. Additionally, the Masonic history of Washington D.C. and its architecture will be of great interest to Masons.

In conclusion, if you like a fast-paced and exciting story written by an accomplished author, and a storyline with Masonry prominently and favorably featured, then The Lost Symbol certainly should be on your reading list.

Max Gilley, Hillcrest Lodge #1318

For more information, visit The Lost Symbol and Freemasonry website which is a joint effort of The Masonic Society, The Masonic Service Association of North America, and the George Washington Masonic Memorial.