The Symbolism of Freemasonry by: Albert Gallatin Mackey, M.D. (1896)

This 1896 book by Albert G. Mackey is one of the most important works in Masonic literature, offering a clear and comprehensive study of the Craft’s symbolic and allegorical foundations. The first edition of The Symbolism of Freemasonry was published in 1869. Rather than a simple catalog of symbols, Mackey presents a structured examination of how Freemasonry teaches moral and spiritual truth through its legends, rituals, and architectural imagery. Symbolism, in his view, is not decorative or optional... it is the core method by which the institution conveys its deeper teachings.

Mackey explains that Freemasonry communicates through two primary channels... its legends and its symbols. Both serve as vehicles for ethical instruction, philosophical reflection, and the gradual unveiling of esoteric meaning. Every tool, gesture, spatial arrangement, and narrative in the lodge exists for a purpose... to guide the initiate from literal understanding toward a higher grasp of moral duty and spiritual insight.

A strength of the book is its historical framing. Mackey places Masonic symbolism within the broader traditions of ancient mystery schools, temple architecture, religious rites, and classical moral philosophies. He does not insist on direct historical descent but shows how Freemasonry adopted and transformed universal symbolic motifs to create a distinctive moral and spiritual system. This helps the reader see Masonic symbolism as part of a long, evolving intellectual and religious heritage.

Throughout the work, Mackey explores key symbolic themes - the lodge as a representation of the world, the significance of the cardinal directions, the working tools, the symbolism of the cornerstone and temple, the legend of the Lost Word, the ineffable Name, and the journey through the degrees. Each topic is treated as a step in the development of a Mason’s inner character. For Mackey, symbolism serves one purpose... the cultivation of virtue, self-knowledge, and a clearer understanding of humanity’s relationship to the divine.

The book functions as both an educational guide and a philosophical treatise. Mackey aims to inspire readers to move beyond rote ritual toward a thoughtful engagement with the Craft’s inner meaning. He presents Freemasonry as a moral science built upon timeless symbols... a system that invites personal growth, intellectual discipline, and spiritual aspiration.

Albert Gallatin Mackey, M.D. (1807–1881), was one of the most influential Masonic scholars of the nineteenth century, known for transforming American Freemasonry into a system with coherent philosophy, consistent symbolism, and serious academic footing. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, he trained as a physician and graduated from the College of South Carolina in 1832. After more than a decade of practice, he abandoned medicine for full-time Masonic scholarship, as recorded in the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.

Mackey entered the Craft in 1841 in St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 10, Charleston. He soon affiliated with Solomon’s Lodge No. 1, where he was elected Worshipful Master the next year. From 1842 to 1867 he served as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina and later as Grand Lecturer, strengthening ritual, expanding Masonic education, and deepening the study of symbolism and jurisprudence.

In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, Mackey served for many years as Secretary-General, shaping ritual commentary, overseeing correspondence across multiple states, and helping maintain the unity of the Rite during Reconstruction. After moving to Washington, D.C., in the early 1870s, he continued his work in the York Rite, affiliating with Lafayette Lodge No. 19, Lafayette Royal Arch Chapter No. 5, and Washington Commandery No. 1, gaining experience across the full spectrum of American ritual bodies.

Mackey was active in learned and esoteric circles, including the American Oriental Society and the Philological Society of Charleston, and he studied Hebrew, antiquities, Kabbalistic literature, and ancient mystery traditions. By the time of his death at Fortress Monroe in 1881, he was recognized as the leading interpreter of Masonic symbolism in the United States. The Supreme Council memorial described him as “the architect of American Masonic literature,” and his legacy continues to guide Masonic scholarship today.