Harry C. Trexler Masonic Library

08/03/2026

Found in the Archives:

At first glance, this is simply an autographed portrait of Jacob Laudenslager, a member of the Building Committee responsible for constructing Philadelphia's Masonic Temple.

Turn it over, however, and you'll find something even more interesting: a 2-cent federal revenue stamp.

During the Civil War, the federal government imposed a tax on commercially sold photographs to help finance the war. From August 1, 1864, through July 31, 1866, photographers were required to affix a revenue stamp to each photograph they sold and cancel it with ink so it couldn't be reused.

That little blue stamp tells us this photograph was produced during that two-year period, making it several years older than the 1868 cornerstone laying and the 1873 dedication of the Temple. While the portrait later became associated with one of the men who helped build the Temple, the photograph itself predates the building it helped commemorate.

Sometimes the smallest details tell the biggest stories. In this case, two cents' worth of paper quietly preserved the date of a photograph for more than 160 years.

These and many more original photographs of the men who planned, built, and dedicated Philadelphia's Masonic Temple can be found in YOUR Trexler Masonic Library.

07/29/2026

The Royal Mail Reveal!

We're pleased to add Volume II of "The Devil in the 19th Century (Le Diable au XIXème Siècle)" by Léo Taxil, translated by Aurélie Dekoninck, to our growing collection. We were fortunate to acquire Volume I last year, and now the story continues.

More than 130 years ago, French journalist Léo Taxil convinced much of Europe, including influential figures within the Vatican, that a secret Luciferian cult had infiltrated Freemasonry and was plotting the destruction of the Catholic Church. According to his sensational tale, Albert Pike received his marching orders directly from Satan himself, who supposedly appeared every Friday afternoon at three o'clock in Charleston, South Carolina.

It was, of course, one of history's greatest literary hoaxes.

Presented as the firsthand account of the mysterious "Dr. Bataille," *The Devil in the 19th Century* is part travel narrative, part investigative report, and part gothic horror story. Although entirely fictional, Taxil's work became one of the most influential sources of anti-Masonic mythology, with claims that continue to resurface even today.

This Kickstarter edition of Volume II continues Dr. Bataille's extraordinary "investigation" while also including biographical material on Léo Taxil and the remarkable story behind his infamous hoax. The Harry C. Trexler Masonic Library received both a beautiful signed, slipcased hardcover edition and a softcover reading copy for our members to enjoy. As an added bonus, translator Aurélie Dekoninck included a personally signed thank-you card with the shipment.

We're grateful to continue building what is becoming one of the few collections where readers can explore this infamous work in English and better understand one of the most enduring hoaxes in Masonic history. Both Volumes I & II are available for your diabolical reading pleasure at YOUR Trexler Masonic Library

07/27/2026

We got a mysterious international package from Royal Mail at the Library! Whatever could it be? 🤔

07/21/2026

One of the things I enjoy most about serving as Library Director, and even more as a Master Mason, is the opportunity to visit other lodges and immediately feel a connection with the brothers there. Whenever I travel, I always look to see if there's a stated meeting I can attend.

During the first week of May, I had the pleasure of visiting Waynesville Masonic Lodge No. 259 in Waynesville, North Carolina. It was a wonderful evening with a great group of brothers, and I hope to visit again.

This morning, I received a package in the mail from one of the members containing a Traveling Masonic Gnome! What a thoughtful surprise and a wonderful reminder of my visit. Thank you, Brothers, for your kindness and hospitality!

07/20/2026

Found in the Archives: How Freemasons Mourned in 1873

One of the things I enjoy most about this collection is that an ordinary document often turns out to tell an extraordinary story.

At first glance, this is simply a summons issued by Kingston Lodge No. 1010 in Hull, England, calling the Brethren together for their meeting on June 4, 1873. The evening's principal business was to raise a Brother to the Master Mason degree before adjourning for the summer months. But the lower half of the circular tells a different story.

Just a few weeks earlier, Thomas William Coke, 2nd Earl of Zetland, Past Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, had died. His passing was significant enough that Grand Lodge directed every lodge under its jurisdiction to observe six months of mourning.

This wasn't simply a request to wear black. The notice prescribed exactly how each Mason was to alter his regalia according to his rank.

- Grand Officers were to wear three black crepe rosettes on their aprons and one on the point of the collar above the jewel.
- Masters, Past Masters, and Master Masons were to wear three black crepe rosettes on the apron.
- Fellow Crafts and Entered Apprentices were to wear two black crepe rosettes on the lower part of the apron.
- White gloves completed the prescribed mourning attire.

Today we often think of Masonic history in terms of famous members, beautiful buildings, or elaborate regalia. Documents like this remind us that Freemasonry was also a living institution with customs and traditions that marked moments of joy, celebration... and loss.

Sometimes an ordinary lodge summons preserves far more than the date of the next meeting. It preserves a glimpse into how our Brethren honored one of their own over 150 years ago.

This, and many more fascinating pieces of Masonic history, can be found in YOUR Trexler Masonic Library.

07/16/2026

Found in the Archives: Who Signed This?

One of the things I enjoy most about this collection is that every so often an item asks a question I wasn't expecting.

Recently I came across two nineteenth-century Scottish Rite circulars from the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Both bear what appear to be original ink signatures of Josiah H. Drummond, Sovereign Grand Commander.

One circular is a memorial notice from 1867 announcing the death of Ill. Bro. Charles R. Starkweather. The other is an administrative circular outlining changes affecting subordinate Scottish Rite bodies.

However, on the second document, alongside Drummond's signature, is what appears to be an original ink signature of Joseph H. Hough, Deputy for the State of New Jersey. At first glance, it seems perfectly ordinary... until you begin comparing the handwriting.

The capital "Jo" and the "H." in both signatures are remarkably similar. So are the stroke, slant, and apparent pen pressure. Were they actually written by the same hand?

Many official circulars were distributed in large numbers, and it was not uncommon for secretaries or clerks to be authorized to sign documents on behalf of senior officers. Business houses, government offices, and fraternal organizations all relied on trusted assistants to handle an enormous volume of correspondence. A signature on an official document did not always guarantee that the named individual personally held the pen.

These documents certainly contain contemporary ink signatures, but without additional examples of Hough's or Drummond's handwriting, I can't honestly say whether both names were written by the officers themselves or by an authorized hand.

Or perhaps Drummond and Hough simply had remarkably similar signatures. Who knows?

Sometimes the most interesting discoveries in an archive aren't the answers. They're the questions. Those questions, and countless others, are waiting to be discovered in YOUR Harry C. Trexler Masonic Library.

07/13/2026

New to the Library this week:

An August Order of Light Bonanza!

We are pleased to announce the addition of four publications relating to the August Order of Light and the Garuda Temple tradition:

• "Ceremonies from the August Order of Light: A Study Guide for Initiates"
• "Wisdom from the Garuda, Volume I: Origins and Inner Light"
• "Wisdom from the Garuda, Volume II: The Ritual Life and Hidden Knowledge"
• "Wisdom from the Garuda, Volume III: Modern Mystics and Living Tradition"

The August Order of Light is a modern initiatic and philosophical society that draws upon a wide range of Western esoteric, Hermetic, Neoplatonic, and mystical traditions. While distinct from Freemasonry, the Order reflects many of the same historical and intellectual currents that have influenced generations of Masonic scholars, philosophers, and seekers.

The *Wisdom from the Garuda* volumes contain essays and studies exploring the history, philosophy, symbolism, ritual practice, and spiritual traditions associated with the Order, while *Ceremonies from the August Order of Light* provides insight into its initiatic and ceremonial framework.

As part of our mission to preserve and provide access to materials relating to Freemasonry and its broader intellectual, philosophical, and esoteric context, we are pleased to add these volumes to the growing collections of the Harry C. Trexler Masonic Library.

These and many other works exploring the rich traditions of symbolism, philosophy, and initiatic study are available in YOUR Trexler Masonic Library!

07/07/2026

This is what happens when libraries are deemed irrelevant.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING LIBRARY NAME CHANGE & RELOCATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DETROIT, MICH - JULY 2, 2026

Our name has changed a few times over the past 143 years, but our mission has always remained the same: to preserve the rich history of Freemasonry in Detroit. With this in mind, we have decided to re-adopt our original 1882 name: Masonic Library of Detroit. These changes will be gradually rolled-out over the coming weeks and months. We feel this historic name better represents our broader purpose, and is more appropriate following recent events.

On June 30th, 2026, the long-standing lease for our space on the 4th Floor of the Detroit Masonic Temple expired, and the Masonic Temple Association of Detroit declined to offer a renewal lease. We are deeply saddened by having to leave our home of 100 years, but we remain steadfast in our mission, particularly the preservation and digitization of our historic documents & 10,000-volume collection of Masonic books. Our new business address for donations and correspondence is: 1401 W Fort St. #32090 Detroit, MI 48233.

While we have thoroughly enjoyed providing engaging & informative tours of the Detroit Masonic Temple in partnership with the Masonic Temple Association of Detroit for the past decade, as of February 2026, the Masonic Temple Association terminated our tour operating agreement without notice. We are unaware of what plans the Masonic Temple Association may have for tours going forward. We will certainly miss sharing our knowledge, passion, and love of the Detroit Masonic Temple with our Brothers as well as the public at large.

We wish the Detroit Masonic Temple a happy Centennial Anniversary, and wish the Masonic Temple Association of Detroit success in their future endeavors.

For further inquiries, please contact us at: [email protected]

07/07/2026

Found in the Archives:

Recently rediscovered in the collections of the Harry C. Trexler Masonic Library is this beautifully illustrated copy of *Ward's Catalog Number Forty-Seven: Masonic Lodge Supplies*, published by the C. E. Ward Company of New London, Ohio, circa 1910.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, companies such as C. E. Ward supplied nearly every material aspect of Masonic life. Their catalogs offered everything a lodge might require: officer jewels, aprons, furniture, columns, gavels and mauls, costumes for degree work, ceremonial equipment, and regalia for the many affiliated Masonic bodies.

More than simply a sales catalog, publications such as this provide a fascinating window into the material culture of American Freemasonry during its period of greatest growth. The elaborate costumes, finely crafted jewels, and ceremonial furnishings illustrated in its pages remind us of the importance placed upon ritual, symbolism, and visual presentation by our Masonic predecessors.

The catalog itself is also a remarkable example of early twentieth-century commercial design and printing, preserving not only the objects used by Masons, but also the artistic tastes and manufacturing practices of the era.

Items such as this serve as a reminder that archives preserve more than names and dates; they preserve the lived experience of generations of Freemasons and the material world in which they practiced the Craft.

What other treasures remain hidden in the archives? We continue to find out.

07/04/2026

A Semiquincentennial Special Edition

As America marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, we remember Paul Revere (1735-1818), one of the most skilled craftsmen of the Revolutionary era. Though best known for his famous midnight ride, Revere was also a silversmith, engraver, printer, inventor, and manufacturer whose work helped shape both the Revolution and the early republic.

Born in Boston and trained in his father's trade, Revere became one of colonial America's most accomplished metalworkers. His engravings and political cartoons helped spread revolutionary ideas, while his skills as an artisan led him to produce silverware, bookplates, seals, currency plates, and other works that remain prized historical artifacts today. During the Revolution, he served as a courier, artillery officer, and supplier of military materials to the patriot cause.

After independence, Revere continued to contribute to the growth of the young nation. He established America's first copper rolling mill, supplied materials for the USS Constitution, manufactured church bells, and helped advance American industry. His work survives not only in museums and historic sites, but also in libraries, archives, and collections throughout the country.

As we commemorate the nation's Semiquincentennial, Paul Revere reminds us that the founding of the United States was shaped not only by statesmen and soldiers, but also by craftsmen whose skill, ingenuity, and labor helped build a new nation.

As always, this and more information on Paul Revere and other famous founding fathers of the United States can be discovered in YOUR Trexler Masonic Library.