‘The province in Freemasonry’

     

Courtesy Freemasonry Today

Bro. Aubrey Newman

The next speaker coming in the Open Lectures on Freemasonry series will be Bro. Aubrey Newman!

Practically a legend in the Craft, Newman is one of those eminent figures who make me wonder how they get it all done. The Past Junior Grand Deacon is a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati 2076 and a Past (2003) Prestonian Lecturer. He received the rare Order of Service to Masonry in 2017, at age 90, having been selected by HRH the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, himself.

Also, I think Newman was with us in the Masonic Light group years ago. I’ll have to check with Josh on that.

His subject on Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time will be “The Place of the Province in Freemasonry,” something that has been central to Newman’s research for many years.

Visit Open Lectures on Freemasonry here.

Bro. Oscar Alleyne’s lecture from Saturday is on YouTube:

     

‘Oscar is next OpenLFM speaker’

     

I can’t prove it, so I probably shouldn’t say it, but I think Oscar has cloned himself. How else can one reasonably explain the pace he maintains in his various stations and places and concerns and employments?

If that is true, then it surely is secret, so I’ll keep it inviolate.

Anyway, it’ll be Oscar Alleyne’s turn at the lectern for this month’s Open Lectures on Freemasonry session. From the publicity:

The Masonic Legend

of Count Roume de St. Laurent

by Bro. Oscar Alleyne

Saturday, February 27

2 p.m. Eastern Time

In the year 1832, there arrived in the City of New York the Count de St. Laurent. He was a member of the Supreme Council of France and Grand Commander (ad vitam) of the Supreme Council 33 for Terra Firma, New Spain, South America, Puerto Rico, Canary Islands, etc. He found the old council sleeping in consequence of political and anti-masonic troubles existing at that time. This lecture discusses his role in resuscitating that council and many of the mysteries connected to him as he introduced Scottish Rite to African American Masons.

More info here.

Register here.

     

‘British Freemasonry, 1717-1813’

     

Happy St. John’s Day! I hope it was possible for you to celebrate someway.

The Open Lecture folks took this weekend off, and they shall return next month with a panel of scholars. From the publicity:

We will be back January 23, 2021 with another excellent OpenLFM Lecture which will be delivered by Róbert Péter, Cécile Révauger, Jan A. M. Snoek. The trio will introduce their five-volume British Freemasonry, 1717-1813 collection, while Andreas Önnerfors will chair the session and initiate post-discussion afterwards.

For more information, please visit our website.

In this lecture, the volume editors introduce the British Freemasonry, 1717-1813 resource collection and highlight some of the findings. The objective of the edition is to collate diverse rare print and manuscript materials, which provide insights into the history and culture of British and Irish Freemasonry between 1717 and 1813 from a broad spectrum of perspectives. The majority of the sources, including rituals, funeral services, sermons, orations, pamphlets, letters, theatrical epilogues and prologues, newspaper, periodical and magazine articles, have been overlooked in scholarship on the fraternity. The five themed volumes cover Institutions (1), Rituals (2-3), Debates (4) and Representations (5).

The Magpie Mason hereby signs off for calendar year 6020. I wish you all a Happy New Year. Here’s to a calmer, saner 6021 back in our lodges.

     

‘Build Your Inexpensive Masonic Library’

     

Every month, Open Lectures on Freemasonry takes to Zoom to share with viewers a, well, lecture on Freemasonry. This month, John Belton will present “Build Your Inexpensive Masonic Library.” From the publicity:

Open Lectures on Freemasonry

Saturday, June 27

2 p.m. Eastern

“Build Your Inexpensive

Masonic Library”

Presented by John Belton

Register here

The world of the written word has changed at a phenomenal speed over the past couple of decades, and in these days of Covid-19, when so many are locked down at home, it is possible to see rare Masonic documents in the near flesh, and to do serious research while sitting at home. The aim is to display the options from a modern “print on demand” production line, and to show where you can find 300-year-old books to download. You too can build yourself a digital Masonic library!

John Belton is a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 in London, and he is the author of the books The English Masonic Union of 1813: A Tale Antient and Modern, Dudley Wright: Writer, Truthseeker & Freemason, and the anthology A Questioning Eye on Freemasonry. His main interests are for exploring those less travelled angles to (Masonic) history that often prove the most fascinating. Professionally, John started work as a microbiologist, then changed to marketing and worked for the pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca.

Only registered users could get an invitation which will be sent two days before the lecture date. Please note that the size of the audience is limited by technical capacities.

OpenLFM is an independent, informal, and benevolent initiative unrelated to any Masonic body or scientific institution. It is a collaboration of a researchers’ group with different formations, and coming from various parts of the world.

In this era, where the printed and manuscript word becomes ever more available through digital technology, new wider panoramas for the curious can open. OpenLFM, through its online lecture series on Freemasonry given by prominent scholars, will aim to demonstrate a range of new perspectives for academics, Freemasons, or simply the curious.

Lectures are audible, within technical limits, to those who are interested in the topic to be presented. Participation requires prior registration. Registration is free of charge. Registered users will be invited to OpenLFM Googlegroups and will be informed about forthcoming activities. OpenLFM beholds the right to reject any registration with no further explanation.