DON'T LEAVE YOUR BOOKS IN A BIND
by Sir Knight C. Bruce Hunter, Jr.
from Knight Templar magazine October 1986

     During his lifetime, a Mason accumulates a variety of
fraternal objects.  Most of us have a ring and a few lapel
pins.  Very active Masons may have a drawer full of regalia,
souvenirs, and perhaps even a few books.
     In fact, there are more Masonic books around than most
of our Brothers realize.  A sizable literature has built up
around the Craft.  For three centuries, both proponents and
critics have published books and pamphlets about
Freemasonry.  New books appear occasionally, and the old
classics are sometimes reprinted.
     Thus many Masons accumulate a small library over the
years.  When they die, however, those books may be dispersed
along with their other possessions.
     Fortunately, heirs are often sensitive to the fate of
Masonic items.  A non-Masonic friend tells of the family
gathering which followed the death of his uncle.  The widow
was giving some of her husband's belongings to relatives,
and my friend admired a ring and asked if he might have it.
The widow, sensitive to the importance the Craft places on
its tokens, replied that this was a fraternal ring and
should be worn only by a Freemason.  No doubt she saw to it
that the ring found its way to a member of our Fraternity.
     But this is not always the case.  Often the mementos of
a lifetime enter the second-hand market.  Books, especially,
may be found at yard sales or in neighborhood stores.
     However, not all of these books are then lost.  Many
still have a long and useful life.  Since Masonic books are
not "mass market" items, specific titles can be hard to
find, and the dusty shelves of a quaint store are sometimes
the only source of older volumes.
     In fact, there is an active collectors' market for
Masonic books and memorabilia.  This secondary market
provides interesting treasure hunts for scholars and makes
out-of-print classics available to people who otherwise
might never see them.  In addition, it benefits those who
are not yet Masons.  No doubt many of our Brothers
originally discovered the Craft in the pages of an
accidentally found book.
     Still, we should make an effort to keep our books in
the Fraternity.  Many Masons would like to read about the
Craft, but don't know where to find books on the subject.  A
friend might treasure a book left to him by a lifelong
Brother, and many Lodges value the small libraries they have
inherited over the years.
     If you want to be sure your fraternal items stay in the
Fraternity, take a little time to make your wishes known to
your family and friends.  A clause in your will or
instructions to your wife and children will insure that your
books and other artifacts of our Craft will not be dispersed
needlessly.

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