The Double Headed Eagle of Lagash on the cover of Morals and Dogma. The motto reads Ordo Ab Chao Deus MeUmque Jus

Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, or simply Morals and Dogma, is a book of esoteric philosophy published by the Supreme Council of the Thirty Third Degree, Scottish Rite for its Southern Jurisdiction in the United States. It was written by Albert Pike and first published in 1872. There have been several subsequent editions. While now out of print, copies are still widely available. Image File history File links The Double-Headed Eagle of Lagash: emblem of the 33rd° of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. ... Image File history File links The Double-Headed Eagle of Lagash: emblem of the 33rd° of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. ... The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is a Masonic Order. ... Albert Pike (* December 29, 1809 in Boston; † April 2, 1891 in Washington, D.C.) was an attorney, soldier, writer, and Freemason. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The book is a truly imposing tome. There are 861 pages of text and 218 pages of index, and the book itself is over two inches thick. There are thirty two chapters, each discussing the philosophic symbology of a degree of Freemasonry in exhaustive detail. Most Masons, even those that own the book, will admit to never having read it. The Preface to the 1950 Edition says of Pike: the Square and Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ...

In preparing this work, the Grand Commander has been about equally Author and Compiler; since he has extracted quite half of its contents from the works of the best writers and most philosophic or eloquent thinkers. Perhaps it would have been better and more acceptable if he had extracted more and written less.

Though it discusses the minuate of Masonic rituals at length, it is written so as not to reveal the Masonic secrets. Ritual motions and objects are named and elaborated upon, but not described. Even so, in some older editions, the title page of the book declares in large, bold letters: ESOTERIC BOOK, FOR SCOTTISH RITE USE ONLY; TO BE RETURNED UPON WITHDRAWAL OR DEATH OF RECIPIENT. Some Masons feel that this text was put in older editions to restrict circulation because it contains some rather politically incorrect content, not because it provides any insight to outsiders about the rituals of Freemasonry, which most Masons contend cannot be understood unless they are experienced.

External Links

• Full text online
• A modern analysis