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(Sub-title, 'A Celebration of the Craft').
General Editors: John Hamill and Robert Gilbert.
Editorial Researcher: Andree Buisine.
Published by Greenwich Editions. 1998. ISBN: 0-86288-210-9 (Hardback). £30.00
This is the only current 'Coffee-table' book about Freemasonry known to the
reviewer and what a superb publication it is. 
Filled with photographs and images to illustrate the enormous diversity of Freemasonry throughout the
world this is a veritable visual feast for those who are, in any way, interested in Freemasonry. There is something for everyone in this book.
The five chapters are imaginatively devised into: Origins, History of the Craft, Masonic Ideals, The Five Virtues and a Gallery of 275 Famous Masons.
This is a very refreshing approach to Freemasonry and Brothers Hamill and Gilbert, with the assistance of a female - Andree Buisine - are to be
complimented on a quality production. Included is a useful Glossary of Masonic terms and a very useful Bibliography for further reading. The
photographs are excellent and it is obvious that a great deal of time and effort has gone into their selection and reproduction.
From a Scottish point of view the book is a little disappointing for the contribution of the Scottish Craft in the transition from Stone Masonry to
Modern Freemasonry is given a very cursory examination. It is clear that the authors are not Scottish historians and seem to avoid, rather than confront,
Scottish evidence of the existence of Modern Freemasonry in Scotland prior to 1717. Provided that the reader is aware of this shortcoming the book must
be highly recommended.
As far as the reviewer is aware the authors did not approach the Grand Lodge of Scotland for information and advice and this has led them to produced a
few 'howlers' of error and omission which should be corrected.
In the Gallery of 275 Famous Masons, a serious omission is James ANDERSON who, in 1723, produced the first Constitutions (or rules) for the Grand Lodge of England. He was a Scot, from Aberdeen, whose father was Master, several times, of the Lodge in that town.
Other mis-attributions include:
DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930). English novelist and short-story writer. Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
BURNS, Robert, the National Bard of Scotland in mentioned also. The entry under his name is in error in
stating that he was a member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No.2.
HAIG, Douglas, First Earl (1861-1928) is described as an English soldier. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
These errors are relatively minor given the scope of this work and should not deter Masons from buying this book for it is an invaluable work for some
insight as to what motivates men to join the Craft. At £30.00 it is expensive but the quality is reflected in the price.