The Freemason’s Monitor – Daniel Sickels – 1864 | Illustrated York Rite Manual

The Freemason’s Monitor by Daniel Sickels is a richly illustrated ritual and reference manual covering the full scope of 19th-century American York Rite Freemasonry. First published in 1864 by Clark & Maynard of New York, this edition consolidated Sickels’ ritual instruction with chivalric drill content into a single, compact format. Presented in four parts, the volume spans the Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery bodies, while also including tactical material for Masonic Knighthood and organizational texts such as the Government of the Fraternity, Masonic Calendar, and Funeral Services. Nearly 300 symbolic engravings accompany the ritual texts, reflecting the publisher’s ambition to unify symbolic and instructional elements in a single, authoritative work. Sickels, a 33rd-degree Mason and leading 19th-century Masonic publisher, built upon the framework of Robert Macoy’s earlier manuals while extending their reach and detail.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Freemason’s Monitor; containing the degrees of Freemasonry, embraced in the Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery; embellished with Nearly 300 Symbolical Illustrations. Together with Tactics and Drill of Masonic Knighthood. Also, Forms of Masonic Documents, Notes, Songs, Masonic Dates, Installations, Etc.
• Author: Daniel Sickels
• Publisher: New York: Clark & Maynard
• Edition: First edition, [1864]
• Binding: Full leather, journal-style
• Format: Sextodecimo (16mo), 4 parts in 1 volume
• Size: ~ 4.75in x 3in (12cm x 7.5cm)
• Collation: vi, [7]–211, [1]; 120; 19, [1]; 94
• Illustrations: Nearly 300 symbolic engravings throughout
• Contents Include:
  • Government of the Fraternity
  • Admission of Candidates
  • Dedication of Masonic Halls
  • Funeral Services
  • Order of the Priesthood
  • Knight Tactics and Drills
  • Masonic Calendar
• Provenance: Ownership label of Hind A. Leask (1923-2005), a PFC during WWII, on leather binding

Condition:

Good. The journal-style leather binding is tight and secure with moderate rubbing to boards, edges, and hinges. The spine is intact and secure. Pages show some foxing, mostly confined to the preliminaries, but remain clean and legible throughout. Collation is complete across all four parts.

Why Collect This?

• Notable Civil War compilation by 33rd-degree Mason
• Includes Knight Templar drill and tactics
• Nearly 300 symbolic engravings
• Features ritual, administrative, and ceremonial texts in one volume

Item Number: # 31119