Special Collection · Initiate Access
The Yarker Texts Collection
The complete public domain works of John Yarker (1833–1913) — the foremost authority on the Rite of Memphis-Misraïm and one of the most prolific Masonic scholars of the Victorian era.
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Major Works
1833
Born
1913
Died
95°
Memphis Misraïm
About John Yarker
John Yarker (1833–1913) was a Manchester-born Freemason, author, and the leading English authority on the Rite of Memphis-Misraïm. He was initiated into Freemasonry in 1854 and spent the next six decades collecting, preserving, and publishing Masonic texts that would otherwise have been lost.
As Grand Master of the Antient and Primitive Rite in England, Yarker worked to preserve the full 95-degree system at a time when many Grand Lodges sought to suppress or simplify it. His journal Kneph and his masterwork The Arcane Schools remain essential references for any serious student of Masonic history.
Works in the Collection
All public domain. Texts marked Restored Edition include Lighthouse of Wisdom annotations and corrections.
The Arcane Schools
Restored EditionYarker's magnum opus — a comprehensive survey of the secret schools of antiquity and their connection to Freemasonry. Covers Egyptian mysteries, Pythagorean schools, Gnostic sects, Rosicrucians, and more.
Notes on the Scientific and Religious Mysteries of Antiquity
An early work examining the scientific and religious knowledge preserved in ancient mystery schools and its transmission through Masonic tradition.
The Magian Mysteries
Yarker's examination of the Magian tradition and its influence on Western esotericism and Freemasonry.
Masonic Charges and Regulations
Restored EditionA collection of historical Masonic charges and regulations, with Yarker's commentary on their origins and significance.
The Rites and Mysteries of the Ancient Egyptians
Yarker's study of Egyptian religious mysteries and their parallels with Masonic symbolism and ritual.
Kneph: The Official Organ of the Antient and Primitive Rite
Restored EditionThe complete run of Yarker's journal for the Antient and Primitive Rite (Memphis-Misraïm), containing degree work, history, and correspondence.
The Rosicrucians: Their Rites and Mysteries
A thorough examination of Rosicrucian history, symbolism, and their relationship to Freemasonry and other esoteric traditions.
Speculative Freemasonry
Yarker's defense of speculative Freemasonry against its critics, with a survey of the philosophical foundations of the Craft.
Degrees of the Ancient and Primitive Rite
Restored EditionRitual texts and commentary for the degrees of the Antient and Primitive Rite, compiled and edited by Yarker.
Access the Complete Yarker Archive
All Yarker texts, including restored editions with annotations, are available to Initiate members.