‘Eugenius Philalethes at Masonic Week’

    

I swore off attending Masonic Week several years ago so I may allocate my limited travel budget (both money and time) to other destinations, but I may have to revert to setting aside a February weekend in Virginia for the Philalethes Society. With the dissolution of the Masonic Society, the Friday night dinner slot again belongs to Philalethes and, on February 6, the Society will host its banquet at seven o’clock. From the publicity:

Philalethes Society Banquet

Friday, February 6, 7 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia

The Philalethes Society will host the Friday night banquet during Masonic Week 2026. Follow Your Guide: Thomas Vaughan and Freemasonry presented by Martin Faulks, FPS. 

The pseudonym “Eugenius Philalethes” itself carries significant esoteric and, eventually, Masonic weight. The earliest use of the name was Thomas Vaughan (1621-66), a Welsh clergyman, philosopher, and alchemist. Vaughan’s writings explored Rosicrucian philosophy, alchemy, and Christian Mysticism, and he was known as a member of the “Society of Unknown Philosophers.” While Vaughan predates the formal establishment and widespread influence of modern Freemasonry, his patron was Sir Robert Morray, who is known to have been a member of the Craft. In addition to this, we find many hints of Freemasonry in his alchemical works. Hoodwinked figures being led on journeys, experiences of being divested of metal, and much more can be found for those who have eyes to see. Likewise, Vaughan’s writing has also been quoted and included in the rituals and teaching of Masonic orders. In this talk, Martin Faulks will explore all these themes and showing connections that never have been noted before.

Martin Faulks

Bro. Faulks is a specialist in memory and meditation. Known for his demonstrations of recall and mind over matter, he has written more than twenty books on, or related to, the mind sciences. A keen student of philosophy, he has travelled the world to train with teachers of different traditions and cultures. His interest in history, self-development, and memory led him to Freemasonry, and he was initiated into Burlington Lodge 96 in December 2001, raised to the Third Degree in 2003, and he took the chair in 2009.

One of the earliest founded lodges in England, Burlington was the first ever to have an Inner Guard. It was also one of the two founding lodges of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement (which he still attends regularly), which went on to found Emulation Ritual, the most popular form of Craft ritual in the United Kingdom today. 

Having found a passion for Freemasonry, Bro. Faulks, who was at the time running a book distribution company, felt he would like to put more into the Craft and so approached David Allan to see if there was an opportunity with such an eminent firm as Lewis. He was first offered the position of Marketing Manager of the Lewis Masonic imprint in 2005 and later promoted to General Manager in 2012. In 2021 he took over the reins and became the new managing director of the company. Through his work with Lewis Masonic, he has made it his duty to help spread the good works of Freemasonry and promote a positive image of the Craft.

The banquet is open to all Masonic Week attendees and their guests. Tickets cost $65 each and are reserved via the Masonic Week 2026 website.

In addition to the banquet, Philalethes will host its 98th Annual Assembly the following morning. Click here for the entire itinerary of the weekend.