It's essentially the bible of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, and is given to all Master Masons upon initiation into the Scottish Rite. It was published by Albert Pike in 1872, but it's evident there are many people who were used in the writing of this book with backgrounds in Hebrew, Hermeticism, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, the Kabbalah, and other areas of esoteric knowledge. This is the same technique used in the books put out under the name of Francis Bacon in the 1600's, which were also written by groups of initiates into the brotherhood. Morals and Dogma goes through all the degress up to the 32nd degree, and delves into the occult symbolism and initiation rituals for each degree. Like all books put out by the brotherhood, it is written in a way that is interpreted differently depending on who is reading it. There is a lot of esoteric coding in this book that will only be understood by those of the higher degrees, with knowledge into the esoteric and Kabbalah, and will be taken at face value by the lower initiates. This is a huge book and is over 800 pages and two inches thick. It's doubtful the average person will be able to gain anything from attempting to read the book, let alone be able to even make it halfway through in a reasonable amount of time. You have to have some knowledge in the esoteric to really be able to gain anything by reading it. It's been said that for every 100 Masons, ten will read it, three will finish it, and only one will understand it.
Morals and Dogma is a SURVEY of religious and philosopical thought seen through the filter of the times Mr. Pike lived in. The Preface to the book is critical to understanding what Pike was trying to do and how it relates to the Craft. To correct Pressed Rat the book was handed out to people who joined the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. It is not too well known outside of there. The book is a nice survey of thought that reflects the attitudes of the times in which it was written. It is covered in detail here www.masonicrituals.zoomshare.com My posting can be found here http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213564&page=7&pp=10 If you like Morals and Dogma you might also enjoy "The Secret Doctrine".
