The Symbolism of Freemasonry

The Symbolism of Freemasonry is a book by Albert G. Mackey, first published in 1869. Written in the language of the late 19th century by one of America’s most prolific Masonic scholars, the work surveys the rites, emblems, legends and philosophical underpinnings of Freemasonry and aims to explain how its symbols function as a moral and metaphysical language.

Mackey treats each emblem — from the square and compasses to more elaborate allegories drawn from biblical, classical and esoteric tradition — with a systematic, historically minded approach that privileges meaning and continuity over novelty. Clear-eyed and scholarly rather than devotional, the book has long served as a reference for students and lodges seeking a coherent account of Masonic symbolism and ritual practice.

Its influence lies less in offering new doctrine than in collecting, organising and interpreting a wide range of Masonic traditions for practical study; readers seeking authoritative background on Masonic emblems, ritual interpretation, or the intellectual history of Freemasonry will find Mackey’s methodical explanations a durable starting point.