Toronto Society for Masonic Research (TSMR)

(Click on the link for the poster -- 600k PDF)

Possible topics for Salon-style discussion

1. Is Freemasonry's mission the intellectual, spiritual and social advancement of humanity?
a. If no then what is its mission, guiding principles and how does it achieve its aims?
b. If yes how what are its guiding principles and how does it achieve its aims?

2. What are the most pressing issues in society at present and what relationship does Freemasonry have to these issues?

3. Read the "I am Regular" paper by Karen Kidd who won the UGLE Internet Lodge Short Paper Competition in 2007 and then discuss.

4. What is and should be the role of the Grand Lodge in the future of Freemasonry in Ontario?

2008-03-10 Centre for Research into Freemasonry welcomes new director. [X] [X]

The lecture will be given on Thursday 13 March 2008 by Doctor Andreas Önnerfors. ...

The lecture, which is entitled `Press between the private and the public: Freemasonry as a topic in 18th Century journals´, will explore how various European journals from the 1700s covered the secret and public images of freemasonry and how they reflected European thoughts of the time. ...

Dr Önnerfors is a widely-published expert on freemasonry and joined the Centre as the new director earlier this year. Originally from Germany, he has also conducted research into Swedish cultural identity, as well taught courses on European Studies.

2008-03-08 Prince Hall Delegation at 2008 CGMNA [X] [X]

The 2008 Conference of Grand Masters in North America (CGMNA) was held in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 17-19.

"This year history was made when the conference invited and received a delegation from the Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters, lead by its president, MWGM Shelton D. Redden of the MWPHGL of Maryland.

GM Redden accompanied by several past and present Grand Masters and two Past Masters attended the conference and were graciously received."

2008-03-07 9th World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges [X] [WorldConference]

List of Topics

Standing Up to Darkness

Ethics: cultivating ethical behavior in a civil society

Brotherhood of Man: countering fanaticism, intolerance, and tyranny

Masonic Integrity

Guarding Against Manipulation: countering forces trying to infiltrate lodges for their own objectives

Maintaining Grand Lodge Integrity: preventing schisms

Global Fraternal Networking

Strengthening civil society: assisting civic groups to establish worldwide partnerships for the betterment of humanity

Developing and promoting cultural and academic exchanges among Masons worldwide

Are there similarities with the topics of [X] ?

2008-01-28 Can Freemasonry be Secular? [X] [X] [X]

"The Grand Orient de France's Freemasons in UK invite you to a conference

Saturday 2nd February, 10am to 12pm

Can Freemasonry be Secular?

Free entry

"Priest-wrought and law-protected"? Approaches to the History of Secularism and Laicite in Great Britain
Dr Andrew Prescott

History of Belgium's Freemasonry Progress and Secularism
Jeffrey Tyssens

The social impact of French Freemasonry over three centuries: a global approach
Pierre Mollier ...

Central axis of French Freemasonry

... Today, [the Grand Orient de France] is the only large traditional Order to maintain friendly relations with all the other Orders [in France], including mixed and feminine orders, to which it recognizes full Masonic legitimacy.

The freedom of conscience

During the eighteenth century, the Grand Lodges throughout the world decided to recruit not only among Christians, but also to open lodges to men of all religions. During the nineteenth century, the Grand Orient de France went even farther by proposing the Masonic initiation to all men, provided that they respect the "Moral Law" as stated in the Anderson Constitutions. In 1877, to remain "the centre of the union between people who would otherwise remain total strangers," the Grand Orient abolished the requirement by which its members had to acknowledge the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. This was the beginning of a Freemasonry that accepted believers and non-believers, and left members completely free to pursue their own conscience and personal research. The Grand Orient considers metaphysical concepts are entirely personal. The lodges of the Grand Orient de France therefore work according to their own orientation, either under the invocation of Universal Freemasonry, or to the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe. They pursue a balanced humanistic approach between a reflection on the society and the initiatory work."

In 1723, Modern Free-Masonry declared: [X]

"only to oblige them to that Religion in which all Men agree" ...
"that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour and Honesty" ...

"whereby Masonry becomes the Center of Union, and the Means of conciliating
true Friendship among Persons that must have remain'd at a perpetual Distance."

On Religion and State: [X] [X] [X] [X]

2008-01-16 "Hermetic Code" On CBC TV News This Sunday [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]

Morley Walker, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January, 2008:

"Word reaches us that CBC News: Sunday will feature a 10-minute piece on scholar Frank Albo's groundbreaking research into the history of the Manitoba Legislative Building.

Albo and his discovery of the building's Freemasonic symbolism were the subjects of last year's Winnipeg Free Press-published non-fiction book The Hermetic Code, co-penned by Buzz Currie and Carolin Vesely. ...

Albo said by e-mail the piece is slated to run this Sunday. The hour-long program, with hosts Evan Solomon and Carole MacNeil, airs twice, at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

But a CBC official said Tuesday that an air date has not been confirmed. A former Winnipegger, Albo is based at Cambridge University in England, though he retains a research fellowship at the University of Winnipeg."

According to the CBC Sunday News web site, the program also airs on CBC Newsworld, at 09:00, 21:00, and 00:00 (Monday).

Since it's a news program, the interview may or may not be aired, depending on whatever newsworthy event may pre-empt it. So, it may be in the morning slot, the evening slot, both, or neither.

[The story was titled "Winnipeg's Secret Code". It was aired in the morning, but not in the evening. Be sure to watch the video (link above). Also, read the comments on the CBC page (link above).]

2008-01-07 Grand Orient of France votes Against Considering Admitting Women [X] [X]

In March 2007 the Grand Oriend of France held a conference on the question of Mixed Freemasonry in the 21st Century.

On 2007-09-04 the 1200 delegates at the Annual Convent voted 60% against considering the question of allowing the individual lodges the choice to admit women as members.

On 2007-10-01 an Internet Domain was registered for the "Grand Orient Mixte De France".

What proportion of Grand Lodge delegates in the U.S. would vote for such a motion? Probably not even 1%. After all, U.S. Freemasons must swear not be be present at the initiation of a woman, which almost all of them interpret to mean that there can be no such thing as a woman Freemason. Reading some of the more than 100 comments on the Burning Taper story reveals some of the attitudes common among U.S. Freemasons.

NEWS & VIEWS 2007 ARCHIVES [X]

[2007-01-25]
[2007-01-26]
[2007-01-31]
[2007-02-05]
[BryceSystem]
[Carter]
[Cheer_Leaders]
[EuRegularity]
[EuroSpeech]
[ExMasons]
[G15]
[GOUSA]
[Graeter]
[Haas]
[Halcyon]
[JeffPeace]
[Landmarks]
[Liberty]
[OOTS]
[RoyalSociety]
[YaleReligion]