The Builders, A Story and Study of Masonry

by Joseph Fort Newton

Overview

Joseph Fort Newton's work The Builders: A Story and Study of Freemasonry, first published in 1914, is perhaps his most famous work, and is commonly regarded as a masterpiece on the subject of the spirit and history of Freemasonry.
The book is a general survey of Masonic origins, history and philosophy. It was at one time given to every new Mason in Iowa, probably a better choice than Morals and Dogma, which is almost three times as long and much more difficult reading. This is a scholarly but approachable treatment of Masonry and will be enlightening both to practicing Freemasons and a general audience. Newton is a rationalist and deflates claims of an ancient origin for Masonry per se; rather he illuminates the historical precedents of the group. Newton claims that the world has benefited greatly because of the Masonic ideals of liberty, fraternity and equality. The Builders tells the Masonic side of this story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788417732981
Publisher:	MASONICA
Publication date:	06/01/2020
Series:	Masonic Essays , #11
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	692,958
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Joseph Fort Newton (1880–1950) was an American Baptist minister. He attended Southern Baptist Seminary, and Harvard University. While at Harvard he studied under William James. Newton held the honorary degrees of Doctor of Hebrew Literature (Coe College, 1912), Doctor of Divinity (Tufts University, 1919), Doctor of Humane Letters (Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1926), and Doctor of Laws (Temple University, 1929). Newton was ordained a Baptist minister in 1895. He held Baptist pastorates in Texas, and led non-sectarian and Universalist congregations in Illinois and Iowa. While in Iowa, he taught English literature at the extension campus of the University of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. While in Cedar Rapids, many of New- ton's sermons were published and gained wide circulation. Their popularity in England led him to be called to the pulpit of the City Temple (Lon- don) in 1916. During his four years at City Temple, he made trips throughout the British Isles and gained international fame[1] through sermons in which he urged understanding between England and the United States as a basis of world order and abiding peace. In 1920, Newton returned to the United States and assumed the pulpit at the Church of the Divine Paternity, New York City, NY. While there Newton served as an editor of the Christian Century, edited the Best Sermons of the Year series, and preached at colleges and universities across the United States. Newton authored over 30 books, perhaps his most famous being The Builders: A Story and Study of Freemasonry, published in 1914, and translated into six different languages. The Builders is still regarded as one of the best books on the topic.