The Stray Reader

Author:	Austin R. Shifrin
Genre(s):	➡️ Nonfiction ➡️ Freemasonry
Series?	❎ No
Goodreads Rating:	⭐ 4.0 (4 ratings; 2 reviews)
Personal Rating:	⭐ 3 / 5 Overall

BLURB

This book delivers a collection of the author’s articles from RiteNow, the magazine of the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, along with a history of Freemasonry – both worldwide, and in the Pittsburgh area specifically. It provides the reader a comprehensive overview of the roots and tenets of the world’s most ancient and honorable Fraternity. Whether you are a mason looking to expand your knowledge of the craft, or a curious member of the general public, looking for the right volume to make your first foray into an otherwise daunting subject, this book is for you.

Source: Goodreads

🌟Review (3/5) 🌟

I knew exactly two things about freemasonry before I picked this book up:

1. What their logo looks like; and
2. That they’re a brotherhood

Because of the air of exclusivity and secrecy around it from the adults I met when I was child, I just always thought they’re a variation of a gang where the violent initiation process just happens to be more confidential but that they still deal with shady activities. Imagine my surprise (and relief because, duh, they’re everywhere) when I read ‘More Light’ and learned that that is not what they are!

“Masonry has many facets —fellowship, charity, spirituality […]”

— “Light on Light”

Aside from the last portion that talked about the history of freemasonry in America, most of the articles are reflections associated with the core principles of the organization which I really liked. It gave me an idea of what the organization stands for, what their activities are, and what they want to achieve in society. Because of that I dispelled many preconceived notions I had prior to reading this book and felt a little more educated on the subject.

“Freemasonry, among several tenets, attempts to teach us to extend charity (not just of material means but charity of spirit) toward our brother, and to gradually extend that charity to all humankind.”

— “Living in the Chamber of Reflection”

In fact, I find myself admiring the kind of relationship and societal impact they encourage. I learned that ultimately what they want to achieve is help each other become the best versions of themselves, and that they participate in many enlightening talks and charitable activities.

Unfortunately, since these are articles written by a freemason for other freemasons, it was personally hard to fully connect to the texts as I feel like I’m an outsider (as I am). As a lover of literary fiction, it’s just a very unusual feeling for me as a reader. It’s not necessarily a bad thing… just unusual. As expected, there are terms used normally that while I can understand them based on context (e.g.: ‘blue lodge,’ the ‘Chamber of Reflection,’ the ‘Scottish Rite,’ etc.) it did make me feel a little intimidated. It’s like that feeling when I read a fantasy novel and foreign languages enter the texts before the meaning is explained.

However, I very much liked that most of the articles are relatable in its philosophical musings because these are discussions on how freemason philosophies are applied in the real world like in politics, religion, and even the effectivity or compliance of communal worship during the time of COVID.

“It is not, itself, a religion and does not purport to take the place of a member’s religion. If anything, it encourages him to be an enthusiastic practitioner of his own religion and to find suitable ways to express his own belief.”

— “Beyond Toleration”

Recommendation

I rarely like reading nonfiction, but this is one of those books that encourage me to read more from the genre. While fiction gives me so many emotional highs and lows that makes my heart sing, nonfiction books like ‘More Light’ touch my heart in just a tad more vulnerable way because it encourages philosophical discussions out here in the real world using examples of real people. I certainly learn a lot too!

If you’re also a non-freemason like me who wants to learn more about it without going through the boring slides and just get to the heart of it, give ‘More Light’ a read from Amazon!