Gift books were a popular mid-nineteenth-century publication. Usually issued in a highly decorative binding and illustrated with engravings, gift books were collections of poetry, fiction (both usually of a sentintmental nature), ...

While the official website for Masons (Knightstemplar.org) gives an extensive account of the history of the Knights Templar, it also provides a disclaimer that there is no proof of a direct connection between their group and the ancient order. The ...