The Revd Neville Barker Cryer is approaching 60 years as both an Anglican priest and a Freemason. In "Belief and Brotherhood", he explains why it is possible for a Christian of whatever tradition to hold membership in both these societies. He has taken especial care to address the criticism of two previous Anglican clergy, the Revd Fr. Walton Hannah and the Revd John Lawrence, and to endeavor to provide what the former of these writers called for, 'that no intelligent answer to my case has been ever attempted'. It is hoped that those who have followed in his steps may regard this as intelligent enough. Not surprisingly, in the light of the other books which Cryer has recently written, he has sought to show the relation of the historical origin or development of the Craft to the apparent difficulties of which its opponents speak. It is therefore hoped that non-Masons and Freemasons of whatever personal faith they hold will be able to understand and appreciate "Belief and Brotherhood" afresh. Contents include: introduction; a little bit of history; why is there concern?; the craft degrees and the holy royal arch; the Christian orders; the additional degrees; some issues of faith epilogue; and, an index.

Returning to the unanswered questions of "The Hiram Key", best-selling author Robert Lomas, uses newly available information to uncover the roles of Viking Pirate kings, Pretenders to the Crown of Scotland, Custodians of Holy Relics and Political Opportunists to reveal an unexpected story. His quest takes him back to the beginnings of civilization to reveal a startling legacy of religious symbolism and belief which has its roots in the beginnings of a religion of farming, which he reconstructs using computer simulation to explain the latest archo-genetic findings. On Saturday 13th Oct 2007 it was seven hundred years to the day since the Knights Templar were struck down in a secret dawn raid by the King of France. Their assets were seized, their members were arrested and they were accused of heresy. So began one of the most mysterious and tenacious conspiracy questions of history.

It has long been recognised in Lodges that a Mentor can provide invaluable support, advice and information to Candidates. Grand Lodge is investigating formally raising the profile of the role and in the meantime increasing numbers of Lodges are setting up mentoring programmes, some as formal appointments and others as informal schemes. For all there is a need for an accessible book outlining the best practice for a Mentor and giving advice on how best to fulfill this role. In this book Richard Johnson presents a practical guide to the Mentor (see details attached). He introduces the role and why it has become increasingly necessary to appoint Mentors. The main part of the book then deals with how the Mentor can assist the Candidate for initiation and the member after initiation, passing and raising. The Mentor is involved in all aspects of running the Lodge as he can guide Members through their career in the Lodge. Richard Johnson also gives a useful bibliography of various official booklets and leaflets that are available on many of the individual aspects of the role. The proposed chapters are: Introduction, The Candidate for Initiation, The Member After Initiation, The Member After Passing, The Member After Raising, and The Member After Occupying the Chair of the Lodge.

A practical and useful guide giving extensive information of all the duties and responsibilities for any Freemason taking on the important role of Secretary within a Lodge. The well-being of a Lodge largely depends upon its Secretary. He has a unique position in it, with multi-dimensional reflections. The Secretary undertakes almost continuous year-long responsibility amidst his numerous livelihood chores. In the past many Secretaries used to be permanent officers of the Lodges, with the benefits that an experienced Secretary would manage the affairs of the Lodge smoothly, but current thinking is that no one should serve for more than two years so that junior members can involve themselves in Lodge affairs. The newcomers to this office often lack experience and this book is written with this background in mind: to provide guidance on the one hand and to help introduce modern management tools on the other. Each major topic which needs some action on the part of the Secretary is given a chapter. Checklists of activities relevant to each chapter are appended at the end of the chapter with cells against each activity to mark the date on which the activity is completed. The general principles in this practical guide hold good for the side degrees as well, with only minor and contextual modifications.

In Compendium of Prayers and Graces, acclaimed and accomplished author Revd Neville Barker Cryer focuses on the very ancient practice of saying of grace before dining. An act of expressing thanks to God for the provision for our food, drink and fellowship in which to share them, saying grace is a practice that is still observed on many occasions. The same is true at all meetings of British Free and Accepted Masons, adopting the ancient Jewish custom of saying grace both before and after dining, and the author explains why there are different graces for before and after meals. Originating from the Latin word "Gratias," meaning "thanks," grace has always been attached to the Latin "Deo," "to God," therefore blessing the Creator for the divine provision of food. The sincere offering of grace can be a necessary and helpful introduction to sharing and being thankful that we have food to eat when so many are hungry. It is an act that binds us to share, not least the Freemasons belief and trust in a Supreme Being, private to each one of us, but yet forming a shared conviction. The graces and prayers gathered within Compendium of Prayers and Graces are from new and many older sources. It is hoped that they may enable those who act as Chaplains in Lodges, as well as others charged with that important duty, to vary the content and purpose of what they are offering.

Over the years the Revd Neville Barker Cryer has delivered many lectures to Lodges throughout the country. His lectures manage to both entertain and inform the lodge members and one perennially popular subject is the Royal Arch Journey. In this volume, the author draws on his many years of research into the topic to present an analysis of the history of the Royal Arch, its origins and development, and its place in the present day Masonic tradition. His findings may prove controversial for some as he goes back to its origins in the 18th century but all readers will find this book presents a fascinating and compelling argument. The book has two objectives: to tell the story of how the degree, later known as the Order, of the Holy Royal Arch in England emerged and developed. The other is to show, through that story, why the Royal Arch is essential to the Speculative Craftsmen and has always been regarded by many as the culmination of Freemasonry.

This title will contain a complete set of fully adaptable toasts and responses to toasts the Freemasons can use at short notice at the festive board. Containing multiple versions of all possible Masonic toasts including, the toast to the initiate, the toast to the guests, responsible half of the guests, the toasts to the worshipful master etc. This book is written in the inimitable style of professional Toastmaster and public speaker Yasha Beresiner author of the bestselling Masonically Speaking. Which means that each and every toast will be witty and entertaining and easy to perform and adapt to one's own needs. Never again will you get caught out by a last-minute request. The small format will be popular with Freemasons as it will give them a product that they can carry in their bag should they get asked to make a speech or respond to a speech at the last minute. Each toast will contain witty toasts, one-liners and themed jokes so that any Freemason can stand up with confidence at the festive board. Although we do have three titles on Masonic speech making this title is not about Masonic speech making - it is in fact a book of ready prepared Masonic speeches lasting about four speech making each.

Written by some of the founders of complexity theory and complexity theories of cities (CTC), this Handbook expertly guides the reader through over forty years of intertwined developments: the emergence of general theories of complex self-organized systems and the consequent emergence of CTC. Examining studies from the end of 1970 through to the current leading approach to urbanism, planning and design, the book provides an up-to-date snapshot of CTC. Insightful chapters are split into five parts covering the early foundations of the topic, the evolution of towns and cities and urban complexity, the links between complexity, languages and cities, modelling traffic and parking in cities, and urban planning and design. The Handbook on Cities and Complexity concludes with the contributors' personal statements on their observations of COVID-19's impact upon global cities. This book will be an invaluable resource for those researching cities and complexity and also for scholars of urban studies, planning, physics, mathematics, AI, and architecture.

An honest, no holds barred account of Freemasonry - its history, its aims and its relevance to the modern age. It's time to forget the fairy stories, the lies, the propaganda and the wishful thinking. It's time for the truth, the reality Remove the hoodwink of what you thought you knew about Freemasonry, its aims and origins.... This remarkable book, now available in paperback for the first time, is about to bring the picture into focus in a way never before possible. Discover the true story of the world's most influential brotherhood, Join the author on a journey into the mystical past that reveals the true source of Masonic wisdom. Discover the amazing world of the Alchemists, mystics and political visionaries who made the order what it is today. Discover the secret divine aim at the heart of Freemasonry and see the real meanings in the now completely misinterpreted rituals and symbols of the craft. Written by academic historian and Freemason Tobias Churton, this book will allow you to see the Masonic lodge and brotherhood in a completely new light.

Jacob Hochstetler is a peace-loving Amish settler on the Pennsylvania frontier when Native American warriors, goaded on by the hostilities of the French and Indian War, attack his family one September night in 1757. Taken captive by the warriors and grieving for the family members just killed, Jacob finds his beliefs about love and nonresistance severely tested.

Jacob endures a hard winter as a prisoner in an Indian longhouse. Meanwhile, some members of his congregation the first Amish settlement in America move away for fear of further attacks.

Based on actual events, Jacob's Choice describes how one man's commitment to pacifism leads to a season of captivity, a complicated romance, an unrelenting search for missing family members, and an astounding act of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Inspired by Keith Jackson's classic book Beyond the Craft, Neville Barker Cryer delves further into the world of Freemasonry to investigate the origins and meaning of this most fascinating of misunderstood orders. In this historical guidebook to the Masonic Orders that are beyond the Craft, Cryer researches this fascinating subject in more detail, and not only delves in depth into the history of each Order, but also looks at the degree system and regalia of each Order. This book will be a fascinating read as it reveals the complexity of these Orders, many of which can trace a pedigree back to the earliest days of Freemasonry in England. Included here are histories of the Mark Degrees, the Ark Mariner, the Secret Monitor, the Cryptic Degrees, the Allied Degrees, the Ancient and Accepted Rite, the Red Cross, the Knights Templar, and the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests.

Equity is the tool to achieve diversity and inclusion that will help eliminate injustice and fairly distribute the benefits of an equitable environment to everyone. Corporate culture around the world has already stated efforts for sustainable development through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in rural areas. This infrastructure must be strengthened so that the rural community can become an active part of changing the world of work. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts of Businesses in Rural Areas evaluates growth trajectories and educational opportunities in rural areas. It further explores the inclusion efforts of marginalized groups in rural society. Covering topics such as the construction industry, rural populations, and workplace inclusivity, this premier reference source is a valuable resource for policymakers, investors, professionals, business leaders and managers, economists, sociologists, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Over the last 25 years, nearly two billion people across the globe have risen out of poverty and income levels have risen worldwide. Yet in the US, the top 1% earn twice the amount of income as the poorest 50% of the population. In the midst of rising prosperity, economic dissatisfaction--driven by the persistent fear felt by many that they are ''falling behind''--is higher than at any point since the 1930s. In Understanding Economic Inequality, the author brings an economist's perspective informed by new, groundbreaking research on inequality from philosophy, sociology, psychology, and political science and presents it in a form that it is accessible to those who want to understand our world, our society, our politics, our paychecks, and our neighbors' paychecks better. As any history of the 21st century would be incomplete without understanding ''the 99% versus the 1%'', the insights provided by the author will prove valuable to any reader. This book also provides the foundation for undergraduate courses on wealth and income inequality, and an essential reading for introductory economics, labor economics, public policy, law, or sociology courses.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Analysing the causes and effects of widespread gentrification, this Advanced Introduction provides an innovative insight into the global debate instigated by this process. Examining the impact of gentrification on lower income groups and other issues, Chris Hamnett discusses research into the socio-economic causes and effects of gentrification in a variety of cities worldwide. Key features include: A detailed examination of both contemporary and historical sources Exploration of the history, geography and development of gentrification and some of its more recent forms Chapters covering a selection of central topics including urban displacement and social class change. Composed of succinct but highly informative chapters, this engaging Advanced Introduction will prove to be an essential read for urban geography, urban studies and planning students as well as scholars with a particular interest in urban sociology and social policy.

With human-induced environmental impacts disrupting human life in deeper ways and at a wider scale than anything previously experienced, this multidisciplinary book looks at the ways that current knowledge bases seem inadequate to help us deal with such realities. It offers a critical appraisal of the current knowledge infrastructure, including science, technology, innovation, education and informal knowledge systems. Contributions from a wide spectrum of social scientists, philosophers, activists and decision-makers tackle the importance of knowledge for the Anthropocene using a mosaic of data, theories, cases, models, methods and experiences. Chapters highlight what relevant knowledge will become critical to dealing with deteriorating environmental conditions, as well as how science, technology, education and innovation can be radically transformed to deal with these challenges. The book further explores the behavioural, economic, social and cultural aspects of the Anthropocene, and how knowledge impacts both these and our possible futures. This will be a critical read for human geography and environmental science scholars, as well as social science scholars more broadly, particularly with its in-depth glossary and digital resource list. It will also aid practitioners in the planning, design, management and evaluation of knowledge systems by providing deeper understandings of the potential circumstances of knowledge in the Anthropocene.

Whatever does the word 'Bauseant' mean? Why does the Malta Cross have eight points? Whatever is a Turcopolier and why do knights have an Admiral? Over the last 25 years, whilst becoming Provincial Prior in two areas, the Revd Neville Barker Cryer has produced shorter booklets providing some of the answers to these and other similar questions. So successful have they been in explaining various aspects of the degrees of Knight Templar and of Malta that it was decided to expand the number of subjects dealt with and make them available to any knight in England. Stories about the Knights Templar and their exploits abound; here is something to help Masonic knights become more informed about what they do and say.Subjects include: Templar Churches and the Holy Sepulchre, Why Is the Royal Arch Linked with the Knights Templar?, The Pilgrim's Hat, The Accolade of Dubbing, What Is the Significance of the Mediterranean Pass?, What Does the Patte Cross of the Degrees Mean?, The Malta Banners, What Exactly Was the Office of Conservator?, The Knightly Garments, Is there any Link between the First Templars and Freemasonry?

The meanings of the words used in Masonic ritual have changed over the last 200 years. This handy little book describes the origins and original meanings of the sometime obscure words used in Masonic ritual. This book is a must for any serious mason.

Whatever does the word 'Bauseant' mean? Why does the Malta Cross have eight points? Whatever is a Turcopolier and why do knights have an Admiral? Over the last 25 years, whilst becoming Provincial Prior in two areas, the Revd Neville Barker Cryer has produced shorter booklets providing some of the answers to these and other similar questions. So successful have they been in explaining various aspects of the degrees of Knight Templar and of Malta that it was decided to expand the number of subjects dealt with and make them available to any knight in England.Stories about the Knights Templar and their exploits abound; here is something to help Masonic knights become more informed about what they do and say. The subjects include: Templar Churches and the Holy Sepulchre, Why Is the Royal Arch Linked with the Knights Templar?, The Pilgrim's Hat, The Accolade of Dubbing, What Is the Significance of the Mediterranean Pass?, What Does the Patte Cross of the Degrees Mean?, The Malta Banners, What Exactly Was the Office of Conservator?, The Knightly Garments, Is there any Link between the First Templars and Freemasonry?

Infrastructure systems provide the services we all rely upon for our day-to-day lives. Through new conceptual work and fresh empirical analysis, this book investigates how financialisation engages with city governance and infrastructure provision, identifying its wider and longer-term implications for urban and regional development, politics and policy. Proposing a more people-oriented approach to answering the question of 'What kind of urban infrastructure, and for whom?', this book addresses the struggles of national and local governments to fund, finance and govern urban infrastructure. It develops new insights to explain the socially and spatially uneven mixing of managerial, entrepreneurial and financialised city governance in austerity and limited decentralisation across England. As urban infrastructure fixes for the London global city-region risk undermining national 'rebalancing' efforts in the UK, city statecraft in the rest of the country is having uneasily to combine speculation, risk-taking and prospective venturing with co-ordination, planning and regulation. This book will be of interest to researchers and scholars in the fields of business and management, economics, geography, planning, and political science. Its conclusions will be valuable to policymakers and practitioners in both the public and private sectors seeking insights into the intersections of financialisation, decentralisation and austerity in the UK, Europe and globally.

Everyone agrees that Masonic speeches should be fun, entertaining and inspiring. So it seems rather strange that previous books on the subject have had none of these qualities! This book is different, it's not a dry ponderous ""how to" guide, it's a hilarious journey. Because it is such an enjoyable read, you will learn and remember whilst being entertained. By the time you have finished the book you will know everything you need to make a confident and enthralling speech, even at short notice. Written by professional after-dinner speaker Yasha Beresiner, this book offers the best guide to help you prepare for any speech, Masonic or otherwise.