‘MRF registration is open!’

    

Registration for the Masonic Restoration Foundation’s Fourteenth Annual Symposium opened this afternoon. The brethren will gather in Hamilton, Ontario the weekend of August 15. Click here. From the publicity:

The Masonic Restoration Foundation Symposium is the largest gathering of Masons in North America who are expressly committed to observing the highest standards of excellence in the Craft. This year, for only the second time, we are returning to Canada, to one of its most majestic Masonic locations: the Hamilton Scottish Rite Temple in Ontario. The Symposium will take place from August 15-17 and will be hosted by Templum Lucis Lodge 747.

As usual, the event will begin with a Harmony [Festive Board] on Friday evening, conducted by the MRF Board, and featuring comments from our Keynote Speaker, WB Ric Berman, Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 in London, England.

Along with our usual line-up of interesting speakers, brothers will have the opportunity to witness a Fellow Craft Degree conferred by Heredom Lodge 749 on Saturday afternoon.

Registration for the Symposium costs $125 USD/$175 CAD, or $75 USD/$100 CAD for the Saturday session only.

We are hoping this Symposium will be an opportunity for an exchange of different perspectives and methods of Masonic practice in North America, and one that will especially bring in brothers from across Canada. All the information you need to participate is found here. We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium!

Featured Speakers & Panelists

Ric Berman, Past Master, Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076, England; Past Grand Sword Bearer, UGLE.

Ed Burridge, Past Master, Templum Phoenix Lodge 57, Fredericton, NB; Past Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of New Brunswick.

David Cameron, Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Canada [Ontario]; Secretary, Templum Lucis Lodge 747, Stratford, ON; Secretary, MRF.

Donald Carducci, Master, Victory Through Harmony Lodge 94, Montreal, QC.

Jean-Frédéric Dicaire, Past Master, Victory Through Harmony 94, Montreal, QC.

Philip Durell, Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon; Board Member, MRF.

Dan Graham, Master, Templum Lucis 747, Stratford, ON; Past Grand Director of Ceremonies, Grand Lodge of Canada [Ontario]. 

Andrew Hammer, Past Master, Alba Lodge 222, Washington, DC; PJGD (Hon.) & Deputy Grand Lecturer, Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia; President, MRF.

Chad Lacek, Secretary, Illumination Lodge 5, Chicago, IL; Grand Lodge Education Committee, Grand Lodge of Illinois.

Keynote Address

Origins, Allegory,

and the Enlightenment:

From the Horn Tavern

to Solomon’s Temple

Ric Berman

Ric Berman is a renowned Masonic historian and author of numerous books on the history and development of Freemasonry, and is a past Prestonian Lecturer. His Keynote Address on Friday evening will speak to the idea of the origin of Speculative Masonry, and why the trigradal system is the essence of the art. 

Opening Address

Why Do We Bother?

Andrew Hammer

Andrew Hammer serves as Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, and is the Chair of its Committee on Work and Lectures. He is author of Observing the Craft, a Fellow of the Philalethes Society and the Masonic Society.

Brother Hammer speaks to lodges throughout the world on observant Masonry, as well as philosophical aspects of the Craft. As President of the Masonic Restoration Foundation, he will give the opening address on Saturday morning. 

Closing Address

Kipling, Burns, and Observant Masonry

David Cameron

A long time advocate of observant Masonry, Brother Cameron was instrumental in supporting the effort of brethren to build observant lodges in Ontario whilst Grand Master. His closing address will deal not only with the thread that ties our weekend together, but also ties our work today with those who came before us.