3/26/2009

Le Droit Humain's historical archive

The Dutch Federation of the International Order of Mixed Freemasonry 'Le Droit Humain' is preparing the move of its historical library and archives, dating back to the foundation of it's first lodge in 1904. The planned move provided a good opportunity to make a start with the necessary conservation and registration of the collection. The whole archive is transferred to acid-free boxes, and all files are noted in a basic registration, which can be used to make a more detailed inventory at a later date. The OVN Foundation has an advisory rol in this process, and is also assisting the daily work.
At the upcoming national meeting of Le Droit Humain it will be decided where this historical collection will be housed. Options are: realising new housing using the Order's own means or finding room within an existing heritage organisation, where conditions for storage are already available at an optimal level. The possibilities to make the archive between 1904-1945 accessible for research will also be considered.

[Photo 1: The uninventoried archive in it's old depot. Photo 2: All files are wrapped in acid-free archive folders and then transferred to acid-free cardbord boxes, in order to prevent decay.]

3/10/2009

Call for book proposals: Suny Press

The series Western Esoteric Traditions, published by SUNY Press, is now in its twentieth year and contains over fifty volumes. Authors include Antoine Faivre, Wouter Hanegraaff, and Arthur Versluis. The series is currently open to submissions. Send queries or proposals for books to David Appelbaum, series editor, Department of Philosophy, State University College, New Paltz, NY 12561, USA.

AAR conference 2009

The Western Esotericism Group of the American Academy of Religion is preparing several sessions for the yearly conference, which in 2009 will be held in Montreal, Canada, on 7-10 November.
A first session will discuss the topic of science and Western Esotericism. A persistent theme, particularly in alchemical, pansophic, theosophical, and similar works from the Renaissance to the present is a longing for a universal science that would provide a holistic understanding of the varied dimensions of human experience. Papers will address the topic of esotericism and Western science either from a theoretical point of view or by studying specific historical cases from earliest times to the present. The second session is cosponsored with the Religion, Media, and Culture Group. The chosen topic is the commodification of the esoteric, which will address the way various media, both in the past and present, promote the comodification and consumption of esoteric knowledge. The third session deals with the supernatural and the demonic in popular culture, and is cosponsored with the Religion and Popular Culture Group. More information: Allison P. Coudert (University of California, Davis), apcoudert@ucdavis.edu

3/09/2009

Masonic Medals

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London is organising am evening lecture on Wednesday 25th March 2009. In 'Symbolism Made Metal' the curator, Mark Dennis, will talk about a lesser known part of the collection- Masonic medals often produced to commemorate special events or individuals. A special display of these medals will be on show for the evening. For bookings and information: libmus@ugle.org.uk

New publications

Karlheinz Gerlach, Die Freimaurer im Alten Preußen 1738-1806. Die Logen in Pommern, Preußen und Schlesien, Studienverlag, Innsbruck 2008 (Quellen und Darstellungen zur europäischen Freimaurerei, Band 9), 1032 pages, ISBN 978-3-7065-4383-5. Price: € 144,90. This second book in the series to describe the development, membership and social engagement of German lodges also included annotated membership lists.

Dr. I. Erdtsieck, Maçons met mededogen. De politieke en maatschappelijke invloed van de vrijmetselarij op de samenleving, Uitgeverij gegarandeerd onregelmatig, ISBN: 978-90-78641-13-1. Price: € 19,50. The history of lodge Le Profond Silence in Kampen, described in biographies of seven influential members.

Isabel Martín Sánchez, El mito masónico en la prensa conservador (Vol II), Escuadra y Compás, Tenerife 2008, ISBN: 978-84-8382486-3, 632 Págs. Price € 23,95. Study of anti-masonic attitudes expressed in four important Spanish journals.

'La Franc-maconnerie et la Culture Russe', special issue Slavica Occitania (2007) 24, for resumes of articles see website, including:
- Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire, 'Marie-Daniel Bourrée de Corberon et Karl-Heinrich von Heyking: deux itinéraires maçonniques entre Paris, Varsovie et Saint-Pétersbourg, à la tombée des Lumières';
- Alexandre Stroev, 'Francs-maçons aventuriers et voyageurs au XVIIIe siècle';
- Vladislav Rjéoutski, 'Les Français dans la franc-maçonnerie russe au siècle des Lumières: hypothèses et pistes de recherche';
- Fabian Linde/Sergeï Tchougounnikov, 'Les influences suédoises sur la franc-maçonnerie russe: des “architectes” du Nord parmi les “bâtisseurs” russes';
- Natalia Kotchetkova, 'Les femmes et la franc-maçonnerie russe du XVIIIe siècle et du début du XIXe';
- Hélène Yvert-Jallu, 'La Société Savante Amicale';
- Elena Bespalova, 'Les francs-maçons de Simbirsk au XVIIIe siècle et au début du XIXe';
- Galina Mirolioubova/Irina Oukhanova, 'Objets maçonniques russes de la fin du XVIIIe siècle et du début du XIXe dans les collections de l'Ermitage';
- Mikhail Lepekhine, 'Iakov Ivanovitch de Saint-Glin (1776-1864), franc-maçon pour le service du tsar';
- Jean Breuillard, 'La loge russe de Maubeuge (1817-1818)';
- Philippe Evreinoff, 'La franc-maçonnerie russe et le pouvoir (1698-1825). Des liaisons dangereuses';
- Andreï Serkov, 'Franc-maçonnerie et politique en Russie au début du XXe siècle (1910-1917)';
- Vitali Startsev, 'Les émigrés russes francs-maçons en France (1918-1939)'
- Vsevolod Sakharov, 'Les espérances du vieil Adam: l'homme dans la philosophie des francs-maçons russes';
- Gleb Urman, 'Tchaadaev';
- Alexander Levitsky: 'Mikhaïl Kheraskov aux sources des Lumières russes : l’influence du “Poète de l’immortelle Rossiade” sur Gavriil Derjavine et Nikolaï Novikov';
- Jean Breuillard: 'Bog [Dieu], de Mikhaïl Кheraskov (traduction)';
- Stéphane Viellard: 'Proverbe et franc-maçonnerie. L'expérience du proverbe chez Nikolaï Novikov';
- Rodolphe Baudin: 'La symbolique maçonnique dans Le Gentilhomme philosophe de Fedor Ivanovitch Dmitriev-Mamonov [1769]';
- Leonid Heller: '«Tout est arrangé d'après le nombre», ou les codes ésotériques de Zamiatine';
- Zsuzsa Hetényi: 'Un pont sur la rivière. Code maçonnique et code dantesque dans le roman de Vladimir Nabokov La Défense Loujine';
- Jean Breulliard: publications: 'Cantiques maçonniques russes en langue française'/'Un incident à la loge du Sphinx Mourant';
- Irina Ivanova: Bibliographie sommaire.

Call for papers: CMRC 2009

The Canonbury Masonic Research Centre has announced a call for papers for its eleventh international annual conference on 24-25 October 2009:The origins of Freemasonry. Scholars of all disciplines are invited to submit ideas for papers on sociological, political, cultural, religious, esoteric and prosopographical themes relating to early Freemasonry. Papers can be wide ranging in content or more narrowly focused, however, all should be fully documented as the CMRC plans to publish a volume of post conference transactions. All proposals for papers (max. 250-300 words) should include contact details and a short CV. The deadline for all submissions is 24 June 2009. For further information please contact the conference organiser at: biee@btinternet.com

3/02/2009

Vacancy: Assistant Professor Western esotericism

The Center for “History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents” (GHF) at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities, is looking for:

An Assistant Professor (m/f)
History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period


The Center for “History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents” (Geschiedenis van de Hermetische Filosofie en verwante stromingen; GHF) at the University of Amsterdam (www.amsterdamhermetica.nl) is a pioneering institution for research and teaching in the academic study of Western Esotericism. It concentrates in particular on the history of Renaissance Platonism and Hermetism, prisca theologia and occulta philosophia in the early modern period and their later developments; alchemical, magical, astrological, Paracelsian and Rosicrucian currents; Jewish and Christian kabbalah; Christian theosophy and Illuminism; and various occultist and related developments during the 19th and 20th centuries, including the New Age movement.

GHF has currently a vacancy for the position of Assistant Professor (“Universitair Docent”) for the History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period. A successful candidate will have a good record of high quality academic publications focused on one or more currents in this domain, and solid general knowledge of the domain as a whole. As a generalist in the study of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period s/he can teach all its main aspects on both undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Research. The Assistant Professor will be expected to initiate personal research projects in the field of esoteric currents in Western culture since the Renaissance, focusing on the early modern period (15th-18th cent.), and to publish actively in the appropriate scholarly media. S/he will also be expected to collaborate in common research activities with the other staff members of the subdepartment, and with staff members of other departements of the Faculty if the occasion calls for it.
- Teaching. GHF offers a “minor” Western esotericism in the context of the Bachelor program Religious Studies (in Dutch), and a full-time trajectory “Mysticism and Western Esotericism” in the context of the Master program Religious Studies (in English). The Assistant Professor will be expected to teach courses in both programs, both in lecture and in seminar settings. If necessary, s/he is expected to master the Dutch language during the first two years of the appointment.
- Organization/Administration. Within reasonable limits the Assistant Professor may be asked to be active in one or more special committees of the Faculty.

Candidates should fit the following profile:
- Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a discipline of the humanities.
- Specialization in, or relevant to, one or more areas of historical research belonging to the domain of “Western esotericism” in the early modern period (15th-18th century), having resulted in academic publications of high quality.
- Active interest in interdisciplinary research and teamwork in the context of the humanities and the social sciences.
- Good didactic qualities.
- Good command of Latin and English non-native Dutch speakers must achieve fluency in Dutch within two years.
- Willingness to develop in a multidisciplinary capacity in order to be able to participate in multiple areas of the Faculty's curriculum.

Appointment: this is a temporary appointment for two years, starting on 1 September 2009. Satisfactory performance is subject for a permanent appointment. The gross monthly salary will range from € 3195 (scale 11) to € 4970 (scale 12), based on a full-time appointment (38 hours a week).

Deadline for letters of application: 23 March 2009. Letters of application, with C.V. and list of publications, should be sent to: Prof. Dr. W.J. Hanegraaff, Fac. Of Humanities/Department of Art, Religion and Cultural Studies, Oude Turfmarkt 147, NL-1012 GC Amsterdam, The Netherlands, w.j.hanegraaff@uva.nl. For general information, contact Mrs. H. Nobach (secretary) at the same address, or by e-mail: hermetica-fgw@uva.nl.