Tracing Boards of Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained

Although all Freemasons will be familiar with the Tracing Boards - painted or printed boards developed in the early years of Freemasonry which are used in Lodges to illustrate Masonic symbols during lectures - little has been published on them. Haunch's book, "Tracing Boards: Their Development and their Designers", has been in print for over 40 years but is primarily an historical treatise. The Tracing Boards are an essential part of the three Craft Degrees in the way they illustrate the allegories and symbols used. There is no publication which adequately explains the Tracing Boards, their use and the meaning of their symbolism, and this book fills that gap in the market. The first part of the book will give a history of the development and use of Tracing Boards; the book then concentrates on explaining the role of the Tracing Boards in the First, Second and Third Degrees, and the specific symbolism of the Board used for each. Detailed descriptions of the Boards are given, particularly those used in the three degrees by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, known as the Harris Boards, which contain the elements of most of the Tracing Boards used in lodges throughout Britain. The book will be A4-sized and attractively illustrated to show the variety of historical and colorful Tracing Boards throughout the UK.