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Irvine Valley Lodge #671

Irvine Valley Lodge #671  Free & Accepted Masons

Lake Forest, Orange County, California

IRVINE VALLEY LODGE LIBRARY

We have the intention on these pages, as time permits, to show the many magazines, books, videos, cassettes, and other resources we have available to our members in our lodge library. 

Full List of Books as of Jan 2005

     Freemasons for Dummies

     Wiley Publishing, Inc.

     ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9796-1 

Not that we're insinuating anything, but this really is a good book, so good, that we're keeping a "Lodge Building Copy" in the lodge dining room for everyone to peruse.  Also available in the lodge library for you to check out.  Full of facts and info, and a little humor.  It's a great compilation of who, what, where & why, and what is and isn't true.   Highly recommended for all, especially new Masons and their family                     

  Click Image at left for Table of Contents                                 

 

California Freemason Magazine                 

 

We have them, but you can also read the more current issues on line at the California Masonic Grand Lodge website.  Click image at left.

                                                            

 

Mozart and the Masons Mozart and the Masons

Author H.C.Robbins Landon
Thames and Hudson (London 1982 and 1991)
ISBN 0-500-27647-1

This book is a small documentary about Mozart's connection with Freemasonry in the 1780's known from his correspondence and from his explicitly Masonic works.  It includes an anonymous 18th century painting of a Viennese Lodge meeting on which Mozart is identified.   The analysis of the author of the Viennese Lodge meeting will be of great interest for an understanding of Mozart's vital relationships with leading figures in Viennese society and of the history of Freemasonry in Austria in the composer's lifetime.   Other books from the same author "Mozart: the Golden years, 1781- 1791", also "Mozart and Vienna" and last but not ... "1791: Mozart's Last year".  According to THE INDEPENDENT : 'H.C.Robbins Landon is the leading (and most readable) Mozart scholar of modern times'.

 

 

Old Tiler

Old Tiler Talks

Author Carl H. Claudy
The Temple Publishers

This book is a compilation of a few of the many "Old Tiler Talks" printed in the Fellowship Forum, a fraternal newspaper published in Washington DC, from 1921 until the depression, when the Fellowship Forum closed.  They deal with advice from an "Old Tiler" to a New Mason, who is quick to speak, and, as the Old Tiler says: 

"I rather like you, my son; you say what you think and while you very seldom do think, you think you think. "

Although the stories date from some 80 years ago, the issues that bring on the Tiler's sharp wit and biting sarcasm along with his courage and philosophy, are still current today.  Probably my favorite book.   For samples of the stories click on the picture.

 

 

The Man who would be King by Rudyard Kipling

"Brother to a Prince and fellow to a beggar if he be found worthy" 

A story of two rascal Masons who decide to go in search of fame and glory and end up getting their just reward.  This story was made into an exciting movie starring Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Christopher Plummer and was directed by John Huston.  We have a copy of the movie on DVD and VHS in our library - The original story is also in the public domain. 

 

We also have the non-fiction "The Man who would be King" by Ben McIntyre - 19th-century maverick Josiah Harlan, whose adventures probably inspired John Huston's version of Kipling's tale.  But the research of British journalist Macintyre (The Englishman's Daughter) gives readers both Harlan's story and a thought-provoking perspective on the history of superpower intervention in Afghanistan.  Born to a Pennsylvania Quaker family in 1799, the self-educated Harlan studied Greek and Roman history before becoming a Freemason and shipping out to Calcutta at age 21.  Jilted by his fiancée, Harlan decided to seek his fortune on the Asian subcontinent.  Calling himself a doctor, he briefly served as a military surgeon with the British army in the Burma War, before tales of Afghanistan fired his imagination.  Disguised as a Muslim holy man, Harlan wheeled and dealed his way to Kabul, buying up mercenaries and bribing tribal leaders like a seasoned Afghan warlord.  In 1838, Harlan was crowned king of the fierce Hazara people, although the British overthrow of the sitting Afghan ruler soon forced his departure.  While mapping Harlan's adventures, Macintyre entertains readers with odd episodes (e.g., Harlan visiting an Afghan sauna fueled by burning night soil) and myriad ironies (e.g., Freemason Harlan trading secrets with an old Rosicrucian sorcerer in an Afghan cave).  Harlan's story alone is fascinating, but its resonance with modern-day struggles—Harlan urging the British to try "fiscal diplomacy" (i.e., gold) instead of "invading and subjugating an unoffending people"—makes it compelling. (review from Publishers Weekly)

 

Short Talk Bulletins MIC.jpg (14267 bytes) 

An excellent source of concise Masonic writings - published monthly by the Masonic Service Association since 1923.  We do not yet have a complete collection but many are available in our online library here.  The list of bulletins is provided in order by title, topic and date.  We hope to soon provide it by author as well.