‘Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century’

    

The announcement is out, so let me be the last to share the great news of a conference being planned to discuss the purpose of research lodges in Freemasonry today. This collective effort will be hosted by William O. Ware Lodge of Research in Kentucky with support from the Rubicon Masonic Society, Lexington Lodge 1, and the Philalethes Society at Spindletop Hall on the weekend of September 19.

Being active in three research lodges, I certainly will be there.

Rubicon Masonic Society

A glimpse of last year’s festive board.

On the night of Friday, September 19, a festive board awaits us. This thirteenth annual Rubicon Masonic Society black tie affair will bring MW John L. Cooper, III, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California, to the lectern for the keynote address “Delivering the Message of Freemasonry.”

The conference itself, “Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century,” will follow on Saturday. W. John Bizzack, the principal organizer of this event, will begin the day; and W. Brent Morris will share the findings of his current survey of research lodges and societies.

During the majority of the day, all in attendance will be expected to participate (and, man, do I have a lot to say!), so there will be no schedule of speakers, and this definitely is not a meeting for presenting research papers.

Conference moderators will be MW David Cameron of Ontario; RW David Daugherty of Ohio; RW Andrew Hammer of the Masonic Restoration Foundation; and W. Rich Hanson of Kentucky.

Three dozen research lodges and societies from across North America, plus the British Isles and Australia, have committed to attend this conference. If you are a research lodge Mason, you should get there too. Read all about it here, and I’ll see you there.

     

‘Rubicon conference: Shapers of Our Ritual’

    

The Rubicon Masonic Society will be back next month for its twelfth annual festive board and conference, this time rallying around the theme “The Shapers of Our Ritual.” Four Masonic educators will take turns discussing the four historical figures who, indisputably, have the most to say about the degrees and other ceremonies in our lodges today.

This will be the weekend of September 27 at Lexington, Kentucky. From the publicity:

➤ William Preston, presented by RW Andrew Hammer

➤ Thomas Smith Webb, presented by RW Timothy L. Culhane

➤ Jeremy Ladd Cross, presented by RW S. Brent Morris

➤ Rob Morris, presented by W. John W. Bizzack

MW Terry L. Tilton, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, will deliver the keynote address at the Festive Board, presenting “The Use of Scriptures in Our Ritual.”

Brethren, it is through ritual that Freemasonry connects us and communicates with us harmoniously through the hourglass of time to teach us its aim and purpose. Come and greet old friends, make new ones, and engage in an in-depth exploration of our ritual and the men who shaped it.

The festive board and conference are separate events; for tickets, hotel, and the rest, click here.

     

‘Lexington & Rubicon lectures’

     
It’s becoming very difficult to stay abreast of all the Masonic lectures offered online these days. I no longer make much of an effort to keep track, but instead just look at the many mentions from friends that I see here and there. Even after this Chinese Virus fades away, online discussions will endure, and I believe they will chart the future of Masonic activities in the mainstream Masonic world. Private talks will remain private, but a lot of what’s available now involves general topics, and they are made accessible to the public. This—real Freemasons discussing real Masonic subjects—will accomplish more in Masonic outreach than would any ridiculous Dan Brown story, while also allowing Masons trapped in do-nothing lodges to see what is possible when Masons who know their business are at labor.

In Kentucky, both Lexington Lodge 1 and the Rubicon Masonic Society co-host a ten-part Masonic education series online. Tonight, Andrew Hammer will speak on “In Consideration of and Purpose of Our Craft.”

That will be 7 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to get started. Take note of the terms and conditions.

The series of lectures began May 4 and will end July 6. Previously, the brethren heard from Oscar Alleyne, Chris Hodapp, and Brent Morris. Future speakers will include:

• June 1—Christopher Murphy on “The Tavern Myth: Reassessing Early Lodge Culture”
• June 8—Dan Kemble on “Who’s Left Standing: Freemasonry After COVID-19”
• June 15—Michael Stoops on “Grand Lodges Today and Grand Lodges Tomorrow”
• June 22—John Bizzack on “Ode to the Way It Was: The Long-Standing Masonic Epidemic”
• and others to be announced.

The talks are recorded, and can be enjoyed here.