‘Lookit this line-up of speakers!’

    

Registration is open now for the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education, this time in Indianapolis May 2-4. These are the speakers waiting for you in the majestic Indianapolis Masonic Temple:

• Dr. Heather K. Calloway, Executive Director of University Collections at Indiana University

• Bro. Daniel Gardiner, Past Master of Helena Lodge 10 and Idaho Lodge 1

• Bro. Adam Kendall, Editor of Heredom (Scottish Rite Research Society) and President of the Philalethes Society

• Bro. Chris Hodapp, Masonic author

What is the MCME? From the publicity:

This conference is comprised of the grand jurisdictions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. The conference was formed in 1949 at a gathering of interested Masons from Illinois and Iowa. The outcome was to continue getting together by establishing its first annual meeting which was held in December 1950 in Cedar Rapids.

The organization is comprised of a loose and ever-changing collection of Masonic educators from grand lodges in twelve north-central states and the Province of Manitoba. Other participants frequently include chairs of Masonic education as well as grand lodge officers. Their aim is to promote Masonic education, in part, by providing a forum for educators to gather, freely discuss Masonic issues, socialize, and learn from sharing experiences while building beneficial relationships.

In addition, the conference initiates special projects, such as collecting data on educational practices across all North American jurisdictions, as well as encouraging Masonic research and writing by individual educators.

The conference meets once a year, usually in late April or early May, in one of the member jurisdictions. Responsibility for conducting the annual meeting rotates, eventually being hosted by all member jurisdictions before repeating. A typical program schedule includes presentations by well-known Masonic speakers, experiential as well as scholarly participant presentations, roundtable discussions, and jurisdiction reports. Sufficient time is also arranged to provide informal chats among attendees.

For more than a half century, our participants have expressed the view that our conference is well worth the time, effort, and cost in order to gain the many benefits from attending and participating.

Maybe somebody (not me) here in the Northeast could arrange something similar?

     

‘Midwest Conference on Masonic Education’

     
Evidently we have to look into 2021 for a resumption of larger-scale Masonic events in the United States. While this one is far outside my usual orbit, maybe you can attend. From the publicity:

2021 Midwest Conference

on Masonic Education

Hosted by the Grand Lodge of Illinois

April 23-25 at Chicago Scottish Rite

Tentative Schedule:

Friday, April 23: Open session
Saturday, April 24: Main session with dinner and featured speaker
Sunday the 25th: “No host” breakfast and travel day

The 2021 session will be packed with presentations, and we also will have plenty of MCME business items to handle. Our Illinois Brothers are hard at work setting up a great schedule of events. Please mark your calendars now. Details will be posted to the MCME website when they are available.

Call for Papers!

The purpose of the Conference is to share best practices in spreading Masonic education and light in our jurisdictions. If you have something that you would like to share at the 2021 meeting, please send us an e-mail with a short summary of your presentation. Even if we don’t have time to put it in the schedule, we can still share it on the website after the conference.

Since 1949 we have endeavored to:

• Provide a communications and support network for our member jurisdictions.
• Conduct an annual forum for Masons who have a vital interest in Masonic Education.
• Offer the opportunity to share Masonic experiences, knowledge, and insights.
• Publish occasional newsletters, communications, and the proceedings of its annual meetings.

All Master Masons from recognized Masonic jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, and worldwide are encouraged to contact us and become part of our Conference on Masonic Education.

We also encourage recognized Masonic jurisdictions to inquire on how to become a member jurisdiction of MCME.

MCME on YouTube here.