Two masonic scholars examine an aspect of the fraternity's history that often gets overlooked. Brother Clegg looks at Freemasonry and Monasticism in the Middle Ages, while Brother Leadbeater examines a wide range of historical topics within both speculative and operative masonry, from that era of history.

Masonic author Carl Claudy presents 24 tales, in the form of advice being given to a younger mason, by the Old Past Master. These are all on masonic topics such as: brotherly love, charity, landmarks, symbols and much more. Any one of them is a great jumping off point for a lodge presentation or discussion.

Two masonic authors examine quotations from a number of William Shakespeare's plays, in which the Bard appears to leave clues familiar to members of a certain fraternity.

Masonic scholar Albert G. Mackey outlines the biography of our most notable American president, George Washington. This was originally a lecture given by him, in South Carolina. Additionally, presented here is the masonic testimony of George Washington. Also included is supplementary material relating to the masonic biographies of other U.S. presidents.

This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.