William Smith's The Book M or, Masonry Triumphant (Masonic Book Club Edition - 2026)

Pre-order Window:  Monday, July 6, 2026, through Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Two different versions of the book are available for pre-order:

• Standard Edition: $40

• First Day of Issue, Signed Edition: $55

**Please note: 

• This is a pre-publication order—this title has not yet been printed. If we receive enough orders during the pre-publication sale window to publish the title, we anticipate the books to ship in late Fall 2026. If we do not receive sufficient orders, then we will inform you, and you will receive a refund. 
• The title page shown here may differ from the final version.
• This book is not eligible for the 10% SRRS discount.

For further questions about the Masonic Book Club, please visit https://scottishrite.org/media-publications/masonic-book-club/.

Introduction by Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Cross

In the decades following the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1717 and the publication of James Anderson’s The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1723), Freemasonry was undergoing both consolidation and public exposure. William Smith’s The Book M or, Masonry Triumphant (1736), participated in this transition by offering a blend of history, ritual elements, and songs which reflected the increasing literate and social mobility of the Craft’s membership. The Book M is essentially a “Pocket Companion” augmented with original commentary on Northern English Masonry, “Memorables,” and ceremonial observations. This dual format, part historical narrative plus musical/occasional material, informed and entertained Brethren as well as promoting a positive self-image of the fraternity. The author was likely the same William Smith who was initiated at Swalwell Lodge (Lodge of Industry No. 48) in 1733.

Internal evidence suggests that The Book M represents the traditions of the “Harodim,” an early form of Masonry distinct from the “Moderns” (post-1717) and “Ancients” (post-1752). Some scholars suggest that the Harodim encompassed ritual elements later found in other high degrees, such as the Rose Croix, the Passing of the Bridge, and the Mark, Ark, and Link ceremonies. However, historical records indicate that the Harodim was primarily a lecture-based assembly. It preserved some of the older traditions of Masonry, including Noah and the Flood, the Tower of Babel, Enoch’s Columns, and the construction of Solomon’s Temple as part of the Fraternity’s mythology.

Although published in a relatively large edition, surviving copies are quite rare, with fewer than ten known to exist. This attractive Masonic Book Club edition, which was re-typeset for clarity, preserves the pagination and some of the engravings of the original. Some of the engravings have been reproduced or reimagined. A new introduction by Arturo de Hoyos adds a historical context and frames the book within the traditional works of the Craft.