The Porch and The Middle Chamber

Albert Pike’s The Porch and Middle Chamber: The Book of the Lodge: A Ritual of the Scottish Rite Degrees

Without hyperbole, this book is a must read for every dedicated Scottish Rite Mason who is serious about understanding the origins and evolution of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Indeed, every Freemason today should attempt to consider the implications of the ideas encapsulated therein. This book should be on the shelves of every masonic library. Bro. Arturo de Hoyas, 33°, Grand Cross, K.Y.C.H., and the Scottish Rite Research Society are to be commended for publishing this great work of masonic history and ritual.

This book is initially arranged into two parts. The first part of this book presents a well- written and succinct history of the evolution of speculative masonry in Western Europe and its ultimate introduction and proliferation throughout the New World. How Freemasonry diverged into two distinct but, complimentary, rites is also clearly explained. A brief synopsis of the problematic issue known as Cerneauism is also discussed. Part Two and the subsequent facsimile contain the liturgy of the first three degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States codified by our Grand Commander, Bro. Albert Pike, 33° (1809-1891). Much of this information was never previously published but, is now available for Freemasons to study. This books also includes appendixes of some of the earliest known masonic rituals in existence as well as early degree illustrations. This book should be read in tandem with de Hoyas’ publication of Albert Pike’s Esoterika: The Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of  Freemasonry (2008). Freemasons will thus gain powerful insight into both our history and  ritual. We will not only improve and enrich the conferral of our first three degrees but, we will also become better masons thereafter.