For several years, Jim Shaw's book, "The Deadly Deception", lay in dusty corners unknown and unacknowledged. Then, with the rush to find 'dirt' by online anti-Masons, it was given a LOT of attention by those who want to 'prove' how evil Masonry 'really' is! Passages and claims were repeated by many who had never read the book but were happy to repeat things.

Jim Shaw was indeed a Mason and was active in the Scottish Rite bodies of Florida. He became a Mason in 1945 and demitted (requested that he be removed from active membership) in 1966. Despite the claims made in his book, he was NOT the Master of a Masonic lodge nor did he ever receive the honorary 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.
Art deHoyos and S. Brent Morris, noted Masonic authors, undertook an extensive analysis of Shaw's book and reveal the many inaccuracies it contains at this site. In addition, deHoyos has added additional documentation copies here. While some folks may try to 'enhance' their past, few are brazen enough to publish such provable untruths as Shaw has done.

Morris and deHoyos have documented through publicly available records that Jim Shaw not only was not the Master of his lodge as he claims but that he was never even an elected officer!!! Beyond that, they also prove - using public documents and materials available throughout the world - that he never received the 33rd Degree of Scottish Rite Masonry. The only "Deadly Deception" is the deception Shaw foists on his readers.


No Mason would have qualms with a decision by Jim Shaw to leave Masonry. What Masons do find objectionable are the distortions and lies used to 'justify' it!