Encyclopedia Masonica

The worship paid to any created object. It was in some one of its forms the religion of the entire ancient world except the Jews. The forms of idolatry are generally reckoned as four in number.
1. Fetichism, the lowest form, consisting in the worship of animals, trees, rivers, mountains, and stones.
2. Sabianism or Sabaism, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars.
3. Shintoism, or the worship of deceased ancestors or the leaders of a nation. 4. Idealism, or the worship of abstractions or mental qualities.

Brother Oliver and his school have propounded the theory that among the idolatrous nations of antiquity, who were, of course, the descendants, in common with the monotheistic Jews, of Noah, there were the remains of certain legends and religious truths which they had received from their common ancestor, but which had been greatly distorted and perverted in the system which they practised. This system, taught in the Ancient Mysteries, he called the Spurious Freemasonry of antiquity.

The Encyclopedia Masonica exists to preserve the wealth of information that has been generated over the centuries by numerous Masonic authors. As Freemasonry is now Speculative and not Operative, the work of a Mason is now conducted in the quarries of symbolism, literature, history and scholasticism. Freemasonry encourages intellectual exploration and academic achievement in its members and many Masons over the years have taken up this calling. The result has been that an incredible amount of philosophy, symbolic speculation and academic insights have been created. However, as Freemasonry teaches, human knowledge is frail and fragile. It is easily lost in the turnings of the ages and unforeseen catastrophes can result in great setbacks to human knowledge.

For too long these great works have sat on forgotten shelves, gathering dust and concealing the light that could be shed on the darkness of our ignorance. The Encyclopedia Masonica has been created to act as an ark, sailing through time, to ensure that future generations of Freemasons have access to the same knowledge that inspired the Brethren that came before them. It will contain the works of such Masonic Luminaries as Albert G. Mackey, Manly Palmer Hall, G.S.M. Ward, Albert Pike and many others. The Encyclopedia Masonica is a living work and the volunteers of Universal Co-Masonry will continue to labor until the most comprehensive Masonic reference work the world has ever seen has been created. The Encyclopedia Masonica is open to any who wish to use it and will remain open so that the treasures contained within may increase the wealth of all those who seek its wisdom.