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Brother Truman: The Masonic Life and Philosophy of Harry S. Truman
Brother Truman is the story of one of the few Great American Statesmen. It is the story of the human Harry S. Truman - a man with a philosophy anyone can emulate; a man who deeply loved his family, his country, and his fellow man; a man who refused to prostitute the title of President of the United States. Truman was the George Washington of the Twentieth Century. In Brother Truman you will find a man who considered others before himself; who felt strongly; who believed in and fought for his country and its citizens. Harry S. Truman was the right man in the right place on many occasions, especially during the trying days preceding during and following World War II. Few men, if any, could have so successfully carried the United States from the hells of war through the problems of peace. Within these pages will be found the Harry Trueman saved much of the world from despotism. Through his vision the starving in war-torn Europe were fed and the naked clothed. Because of his actions, ravaged industry, cities and countries were rebuilt, and an international forum was established which gave the world the prospects for no more global wars. Through his decisiveness he stopped the enemies of freedom on many fronts. Over the years more and more of Harry Truman's former critics have come to realize he was far more often right than wrong. Many have publicly apologized for their past criticism. Others have wished his successors have been as strong and unselfish. --- from book's dustjacket
- GenresBiography
297 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1985
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June 3, 2025
Well researched, expertly written but sometimes hagiographical Masonic study of the life of President Harry S. Truman, America's premier White House Freemason
Master Mason Allen E. Roberts in his time was a popular American historian of that fraternal secret society known as the Freemasons. Roberts, who wrote numerous well-written and researched books on the history of Freemasonry and famous American Freemasons, was a member of its Research Lodge (his national titles include Past Grand Master of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America and Past Grand Chancellor of the Grand College of Rites of the United States). As such, he served as its general purpose public relations mouthpiece (He also produced Masonic films). He published this special edition of Brother Truman for the Missouri Grand Lodge of which Truman was a past Grand Master Mason.
I say all that because, as President Harry S. Truman was among the Society's most active and successful political members, it cannot be helped that a Masonic book, written by it's leading PR man, to extoll the virtues of both Truman and the society to which he belonged, could read like anything more than a hagiography in the plainest sense of the word. But even a hagiography--when it's well-researched, well-written and filled with intimate details of one of America's most beloved public figures--can be a worthy read. This one is. It is an excellent history of a side of Truman most Americans would never see in a standard political biography.
And this is an important book to truly understand the institution that shaped the man.
Because President Harry S. Truman was a Freemason down to his core. Freemasonry was his religion and the one thing he pursued with even greater success and energy than he did the White House.
Let me add right here that I am not a Freemason. But I am interested in studying its influence in our Nation's history. This is the second book I have read by Allen and I will read more. His research is impeccable.
Much of Freemasonry is a fraternal service organization at best, promoting the Brotherhood of Man as its core virtue. At its worst, it IS a secret society, despite the denials of its members, and it is a religious order (one man has referred to its doctrines as Kabbalistic Judaism for Gentiles--a fair assessment of its rites, in my opinion... but I digress). But the existence of any Secret Society, be it Yale's Skull and Bones or the Loyal Order of Moose, that has as many of its members occupying key positions in government, politics, business and the military, does have the potential to wield a vast amount of influence over the rest of us (the profane) who are ignorant of its devices. Thus, Truman's presidency was truly a penultimate achievement for Freemasonry (His predecessor, FDR, was also a Freemason, as were LBJ and Gerald Ford. Both Obama and Biden were awarded honorary Masonic degrees, the 32nd and 33rd respectively. But none of them were as actively involved as Truman).
This book is a gold mine for three reasons:
1. For the behind the scenes details of Truman's life that were connected to Freemasonry.
2. For the vast amount of information about Freemasonry also included in this book. The glossary is a godsend for those outside the Lodge to grasp all of the terms, acronyms, and associated orders related to Freemasonry.
3. Much of the 20th Century American political establishment that shaped so much of our modern world was intimately connected to a handful of lodges, fraternities, and secret societies to which many of the elites were connected. Thus, a look at any US political figure of that period through their association with a fraternal society will yield interesting connections and insights.
Harry Truman was a Freemason through and through. He was a Grand Master, A Shriner, a lecturer, and a devoted ritualist of the Fraternity. While he actively sought to keep his Masonic activities from being politicized, it is obvious that his active role in the Fraternity gave him much of the access and influence that he needed to be a successful politician.
And he is generally regarded as one of the greatest presidents in our national history.
So regardless of one's opinion on Freemasonry, this book is an important historical reference well worth reading.
If you are interested in US history, politics/political history, freemasonry, establishment studies, World War I and II history, or a biography of a great man, this book is...
HIGHLY RECOMENDED.
Master Mason Allen E. Roberts in his time was a popular American historian of that fraternal secret society known as the Freemasons. Roberts, who wrote numerous well-written and researched books on the history of Freemasonry and famous American Freemasons, was a member of its Research Lodge (his national titles include Past Grand Master of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America and Past Grand Chancellor of the Grand College of Rites of the United States). As such, he served as its general purpose public relations mouthpiece (He also produced Masonic films). He published this special edition of Brother Truman for the Missouri Grand Lodge of which Truman was a past Grand Master Mason.
I say all that because, as President Harry S. Truman was among the Society's most active and successful political members, it cannot be helped that a Masonic book, written by it's leading PR man, to extoll the virtues of both Truman and the society to which he belonged, could read like anything more than a hagiography in the plainest sense of the word. But even a hagiography--when it's well-researched, well-written and filled with intimate details of one of America's most beloved public figures--can be a worthy read. This one is. It is an excellent history of a side of Truman most Americans would never see in a standard political biography.
And this is an important book to truly understand the institution that shaped the man.
Because President Harry S. Truman was a Freemason down to his core. Freemasonry was his religion and the one thing he pursued with even greater success and energy than he did the White House.
Let me add right here that I am not a Freemason. But I am interested in studying its influence in our Nation's history. This is the second book I have read by Allen and I will read more. His research is impeccable.
Much of Freemasonry is a fraternal service organization at best, promoting the Brotherhood of Man as its core virtue. At its worst, it IS a secret society, despite the denials of its members, and it is a religious order (one man has referred to its doctrines as Kabbalistic Judaism for Gentiles--a fair assessment of its rites, in my opinion... but I digress). But the existence of any Secret Society, be it Yale's Skull and Bones or the Loyal Order of Moose, that has as many of its members occupying key positions in government, politics, business and the military, does have the potential to wield a vast amount of influence over the rest of us (the profane) who are ignorant of its devices. Thus, Truman's presidency was truly a penultimate achievement for Freemasonry (His predecessor, FDR, was also a Freemason, as were LBJ and Gerald Ford. Both Obama and Biden were awarded honorary Masonic degrees, the 32nd and 33rd respectively. But none of them were as actively involved as Truman).
This book is a gold mine for three reasons:
1. For the behind the scenes details of Truman's life that were connected to Freemasonry.
2. For the vast amount of information about Freemasonry also included in this book. The glossary is a godsend for those outside the Lodge to grasp all of the terms, acronyms, and associated orders related to Freemasonry.
3. Much of the 20th Century American political establishment that shaped so much of our modern world was intimately connected to a handful of lodges, fraternities, and secret societies to which many of the elites were connected. Thus, a look at any US political figure of that period through their association with a fraternal society will yield interesting connections and insights.
Harry Truman was a Freemason through and through. He was a Grand Master, A Shriner, a lecturer, and a devoted ritualist of the Fraternity. While he actively sought to keep his Masonic activities from being politicized, it is obvious that his active role in the Fraternity gave him much of the access and influence that he needed to be a successful politician.
And he is generally regarded as one of the greatest presidents in our national history.
So regardless of one's opinion on Freemasonry, this book is an important historical reference well worth reading.
If you are interested in US history, politics/political history, freemasonry, establishment studies, World War I and II history, or a biography of a great man, this book is...
HIGHLY RECOMENDED.
September 5, 2019
He seems like a really plain person for how historically significant he was. Definitely a man of his era. Amazing that he was able to accomplish so much simultaneously and this was before the catch phrase of multitasking. Plain or not,worth consideration. Not a huge fan of the writing style, or perhaps it was the substance more than the style. In Either case found it more difficult to work through than other Presidential Biographies. 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews