Lecture Ars Macionica

The Belgian Lodge of Research Ars Macionica organizes a (public) lecture each year. In 2009, this will take place on 28 februari in Brussels. The invited speaker is drs. Andréa Kroon, chairwoman of the OVN Foundation. She will discuss the theme of her PhD-research at the Department of Art History at the Leiden University on the subject of Freemasonry in Asia: lodges as a socio-econical network in the 18th and 19th century?. The lecture is in Dutch. Information: Kristiaan.Thys@just.fgov.be.

Lodge collection management

Although the central collections of masonic orders are usually cared for by the national Grand Lodge, many individual lodges also house historical collections. These private collections are vulnerable and require professional care, which can pose both a practical and financial problem to their owners. Lodges of other fraternal and esoteric organizations experience the same problems, and have the same wish to preserve their heritage and make it accessible to members and students. But within their own organizations, the necessary practical know-how and financial means are often lacking.
This is why the OVN organized a practical course on preventive conservation, collection management and heritage subsidies for lodges on 12 December 2008. It was attended by 21 participants from both masculine and mixed masonic Orders in the Netherlands, and the Dutch association of Spiritualists, Harmonia. Having established that there is a need for this kind of information, the OVN intends to publish a brochure with practical information for lodges on how to care for their archives, libraries and object collections, including do's and dont's, addresses of suppliers of conservation materials, and information on relevant subsidies. In 2009, a practical course will be organized on the theme of heritage subsidies, offering practical assitance with the application process in order for individual lodges to secure funding for the conservation of their collections.

Reviewers wanted for JRFF

The new Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism (announced in an earlier post on this blog) is seeking reviews of recent works dealing with any aspect of freemasonry and fraternalism.
English or French reviews of circa 500-750 words should provide a critical summary of the chosen book and place its findings in the context of current academic research. More in-depth review essays dealing with several books on a given subject are also welcome.
If you are interested in contributing a review, please contact the review editor at rpeter@lit.u-szeged.hu. The deadline for review submissions is 25th January, 2009.

Website: Pietre Stones

More and more literature on the history of freemasonry is being made available on the net, for instance on the Italian website Pietre Stones, Review of Freemasonry. The site provides reprints of articles by academic researchers, as well as online versions or pdf-files of 18th century exposures on freemasonry. It also makes the work of well-known 19th and 20th century authors, such as Gould and Mackey, available to a wide audience.
There are some points of criticism: first time visitors might have some trouble navigating the site, and making a clear distionction between articles with academic and masonic viewpoints is left to the reader. But the continual expansion of the information adds to the importance of this site for students and scholars.

Conference: The Expression of Freemasonry

The Chair for Freemasonry as an Intellectual Current and Socio-cultural European Phenomenon (The Leiden Institute of Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University) has recently appointed music historian Malcolm Davies as its new professor. Professor Davies' inaugural lecture will take place on 25 November 2008 at the Leiden University. From September to December the chair will offer a series of lectures on the history of Dutch freemasonry for students, which is also open to other participants. The chair is also organizing an international conference on the theme of The Expression of Freemasonry: Its oratory, poetry, music, literature, art and architecture on 27-28 November 2008.

The event will be opened by drs. Diederik van Rossum, Grand Master of The Grand East of The Netherlands. Speakers are:

- Prof. Dr. Natalie Bayer, (Trinity University, San Antonio, USA), Masonic Influences on the Emergence of National Russian Literature: Eighteenth-Century Case Studies,
- Dr. J.K. Birksted (The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, UK), Le Corbusier, the Parisian Avant-Garde and Freemasonry: problems of interpretation, - Prof. Dr. David Bjelajac (George Washington University, USA), Freemasonry and the Alchemy of John Singleton Copley’s Watson and the Shark,
- Diane Clements (Library and Museum of Freemasonry, London, UK), Victorian illustrations of freemasonry,
- Dr. Giovanna Costantini (Universities of New York, Michigan, USA/American Academy of Rome), A Merry Death: Nicolai Evreinov and the Theatre of Transformation ,
- John Crow (University of Amsterdam), Duncan’s Royal Arch Ritual as a possible framework for Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’,
- Prof. Dr. James Stevens Curl (The Queen’s University Of Belfast, UK), Imagery associated with Mozart’s Masonic works: stage-sets and their sources,
- Prof. Dr. Malcolm Davies (Chair for the Study of Freemasonry as an Intellectual Current and a Socio-cultural European Phenomenon, Leiden University, The Netherlands), title to be announced,
- Dr. Max de Haan (Editor in Chief of Thoth, The Netherlands), Friendly Societies and Freemasonry,
- Pauline van den Heuvel (Independent Researcher, The Netherlands), Performing Artists and Freemasonry in Amsterdam, 1795-1844,
- Jimmy Koppen MA (Free University, Brussels /FREE, Interdisciplinary Research Group Freemasonry, Belgium), The Masonic Network around the Royal Flemish Theatre in Brussels from 1875,
- Drs. Andréa Kroon (University of Leiden/OVN Foundation, the Netherlands), The Origins of George Washington’s apron: Myth or Reality?,
- Leonard H. Lubitz MA (City University of New York, USA), Masonic Symbolism and Architecture in American Cities,
- Aimee E. Newell (National Heritage Museum, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA), King Solomon’s Temple Samplers: An Expression of Shared Ideals,
- Dr. Andreas Önnerfors (Centre for Research into Freemasonry, University of Sheffield, UK), title to be announced,
- Dr. Andrew Pink (UCL, London, UK), Patrons, Performers and Politics: Freemasons in Early Eighteenth-century London Theatres,
- Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Thyssens (Free University Brussels/ FREE, Interdisciplinary Research Group Freemasonry, Belgium), Masonic Tombstones.

The conference has the support of masonic organizations, such as The Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of The Netherlands, The Dutch Masonic Study Fund (MSF), and The Cultural Masonic Centre ‘Prince Frederik’ (CMC), as well as academic organizations, including The Foundation for the Advancement of Academic Research into the History of Freemasonry in The Netherlands (OVN), The Leiden Institute for the Study of Religions (LISOR) and departments in other universities.

Costs (incl. coffee/lunch/reception): two days € 110,- (students € 45,-). Conference Location: The International School of The Hague, The Netherlands. For more information and registration: f.m.conference.leiden08@gmail.com

Future of the CMC

Earlier this year, the Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands announced plans to move its administrative headquarters and historical collections (library, archive and museum) to a ‘central location in the Netherlands’ by 2011. It invited the representative bodies of lodges in each province to submit a proposal for a ‘National Masonic Center’: a combined Freemason’s Hall, national headquarters and collection facility. The plan will have a significant impact on the future of the historical collections, currently housed in the Cultural Masonic Centre ‘Prins Frederik’ in The Hague (C.M.C.).

The Regio-Convent Den Haag (the body representing all lodges in and around The Hague) requested a formal advice on the future of the collections of the OVN foundation. The OVN provided a report, which underlined the great importance of these collections as cultural heritage on a national level, as well as a significant study collection on an international level.
The report was in places critical of the policies of the Order regarding the conservation, heritage management and public function of its collections, housed in the C.M.C. It further pointed out, that the collection had historically grown in The Hague since 1734, as the Order was founded here and remained closely tied to the Dutch Royal family and government, as well as numerous prominent historical figures and organizations based in this city. The collection is historically, physically and logically inextricably bound to The Hague. It forms a 'fitting puzzle piece' to the collections of the nearby National Library, National Archives, the Royal Family Archive and Museum Meermanno in The Hague, which all keep archives of historical figures and organizations which were involved in the Order. To move the C.M.C. to another location in another part of the country would 'rip' the collection from its historical and geographical context and sever ties with related collections and heritage organizations, but also move it further away from the Leiden University chair for the study of freemasonry.
The report proposed the development of a stable, long-term vision for professional heritage management, such as: cooperation with academic and professional heritage organizations; applying for heritage and cultural subsidies; realizing a more professional level of conservation and exploitation, as well as extending the public and academic function of the collections in the intended National Masonic Centre. In order to do so, the collections could be housed separately from the Order's headquarters and lodge rooms and form an independent organizational unit. A strong plea was made to re-examine the relocation plans, as the available options in The Hague (such as remaining in the current location, acquiring other accommodation in The Hague, or even sharing accommodation with nearby heritage institutions and university collections) have not been considered.

The Regio-Convent Den Haag carefully considered the report. However, it decided not to present a relocation plan, but instead made a strong plea for postponement of the plan. Unfortunately, this plea was rejected at the yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge and its lodges in June 2008. Of the proposals of other provinces, the plans for relocation to Bilthoven or Arnhem will now be discussed in more detail at next year's meeting, implying the loss of the collections for The Hague.
Scholars in the field of study are alarmed and concerned about these events. Most of the voting lodge members are unfamiliar with the history and contents of the collection, as well as the complex factors involved in heritage conservation and collection management. Although the decision process is democratic and the decision about a private collection obviously lies with its owners, the future of unique and important national heritage is at stake here. One would expect heritage organizations or deparments to have been involved as external advisors at an early stage of any relocation plans of a collection of this size and international importance.
Hopefully, other options will be considered before a final decision is made in June 2009. As several other Dutch masonic Orders have indicated that they are considering new plans for their historical collections, the OVN foundation is calling for a joint effort to form a professional heritage centre in The Hague.

A rediscovered masonic object

The website of the Musée de la Grande Loge de France lists several recent aquisitions. One of those caught the attention of Dutch researchers: a large cup, dating from 1872. It was a gift of lodge Het Vrij Geweeten in Breda, the Netherlands, to its Worshipful Master P.J. Six, celebrating his rule of 20 years as Master of the Lodge. It is described in lodge archives as a 'milieu de table', made of silver and crystal, decorated with heraldic and masonic emblems and an inscription.
This appears to have been one of the many possessions of Dutch lodges, which were looted by occupying forces during World War II. Many objects of masonic silver were melted at the time, but this must have travelled through Europe instead, passing from owner to owner. Luckily, the object ended up in a masonic museum, where it can now be viewed and studied. But to the Dutch lodge, it remains a 'missing' part of its heritage.

ESSWE prize

The European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE) is introducing a PhD Thesis Prize. Nominations are invited for the first biennial ESSWE PhD Thesis prize, awarded by the board of ESSWE. The prize will be given for an outstanding European PhD thesis completed between 1 January 2007 and 1 March 2009 on any aspect of Western Esotericism (broadly conceived), which means studies of the history of freemasonry could also be considered. See the ESSWE site for more information.

Exhibitions in Belgium

Vrijmetselarij in Mechelen - Over meer dan 200 jaar vrijmetselarij in onze regio, until 19 October 2008, VOC Mechelen, Belgium. This small exhibition on 200 years of local freemasonry was made possible by contributions by Musée Belge de la Franc-maçonnerie, the Liberaal Archief, MADOC, the Municipal Archive of Mechelen and several local lodges.

Sous l'équerre et le compas. La franc-maçonnerie se dévoile, until 14 December, Chateau de Waroux, Ans, Belgium. Exhibition of ca. 140 objects from the collection of the Musée Belge de la Franc-maçonnerie.

(Thanks to Jimmy Koppen for the info)

Women's agency

Some scholars think that women first got involved in freemasonry at the end of the 19th century, as a result of the emancipation movement. This is incorrect: women have been structurally part of the masonic enterprise from at least the middle of the 18th century. Yet, little is known about the ways in which they themselves obtained and exercised power to influence the systems they were involved in, in order to adapt them to be more appropriate to their needs.
A new study, which will shed new light on the role of women in freemasonry is co-edited by OVN board member Jan Snoek. The publication concentrates on two aspects: Women’s agency (i.e. the power women gained and exercised in this context) and rituals (i.e. the role of men and women in changing and shaping the rituals women work with). These two aspects are closely related, since it requires some agency to realise changes in existing rituals. The number of Dutch contributions is relatively large, as the table of contents shows:

- 'Introduction', Jan A.M. Snoek,
- 'The Relationships of Androgynous Secret Orders with Freemasonry; Documents on the Ordre des Hermites de bonne humeur in Sachsen-Gotha (1739-1758)', Bärbel Raschke,
- 'The Grand Lodge of Adoption, La Loge de Juste, The Hague, 1751: A Short-lived Experiment in Mixed Freemasonry or a Victim of Elegant Exploitation?', Malcolm Davies,
- 'Maçonnerie des Dames: The Plans of the Strict Observance to Establish a Female Branch', Andreas Önnerfors,
- 'Freemason Feminists: Masonic Reform and the Women’s Movement in France, 1840-1914', James Smith Allen,
- 'The ‘Women’s Question’. The Discussion, Especially in the Nineteenth Century, About Opening Membership of the Dutch Grand Lodge to Women', Anton van de Sande,
- 'Women and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn: Nineteenth Century Occultist Initiation from a Gender Perspective', Henrik Bogdan,
- 'Stretton’s "Operative" Masonry: Legacy or Forgery?', Bernard Dat,
- 'Freemasonry and Suffrage: The Manifestation of Social Conscience', Ann Pilcher Dayton,
- '"Builders of the Temple of the New Civilisation": Annie Besant and Freemasonry', Andrew Prescott,
- 'Diversity In Unity? Background and History of the Different Masonic Traditions Within the Craft Lodges of the Dutch Federation of the International Order of Mixed Freemasonry "Le Droit Humain"', Anne van Marion-Weijer.

This book provides new insights into the development of freemasonry, the historiography of which has until concentrated on masculine orders. As such it is well worth the investment.

Alexandra Heidle/Jan A.M. Snoek (red.), Women’s Agency and Rituals in Mixed and Female Masonic Orders, (Aries book series 8) Brill, Leiden 2008. ISBN 978-90-04-17239-5, 450 pp., prijs: € 139,-.

New publications

The Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism has proudly announced the planned publication of the firts issue of The Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism, to be published by Equinox Publishers. A call for papers for the first issue, themed 'The Impact of Freemasonry and Fraternal Organizations upon the Formation of National Identity', is available on the website of the publisher. The Guest Editor will be Professor Jeffrey Tyssens (Free University of Brussels). No doubt this new journal will provide a strong impulse to cross-disciplinary research into freemasonry's rich history.

In 2006 the OVN published Symbolism in 18th Century Gardens. The Influence of Intellectual and Esoteric Currents, such as Freemasonry (ISBN 9080777838) after a conference on the subject in the masonic garden at Schwetzingen in 2006. Scholars working on related topics may be interested in a new study of the masonic symbolism in Parc Monceau in Paris and the garden at Louisenlund in Güby has been pub: Franz Wegener, Der Freimaurergarten. Die geheimen Gärten der Freimaurer des 18. Jahrhunderts, KFVR - Kulturförderverein Ruhrgebiet e.V., Gladbeck 2008, ISBN : 978-3-931300-22-7, 224 pages, € 24,80.

There are many fraternal organizations related to freemasonry, the history of which still needs to be described. OVN board member Jan Snoek has recently documented the history of the Independent United Order of Mechanics, an organization which may be new to many readers of this blog. Snoek concludes that the rituals of this Order are closely linked to masonic rituals, and - although the oldest known document of the Order dates from 1833 - that its roots lie in the 18th century (in accordance to oral history, which tells of its foundation in 1757): Jan A.M. Snoek, Ritual Dynamics in the Independent United Order of Mechanics, (Forum Ritualdynamik. Diskussionsbeiträge des SFB 619 Ritualdynamik der Ruprecht - KarlsUniversität Heidelberg) to be published end 2008.

Despite of the obvious language barrier, two Dutch publications deserve to be mentioned here, as they touch upon topics and persons which are relevant to scholars in other countries:

C.P.C. Heller, Vrijmetselaarsloge La Vertu en haar leden, bezien in het Leiden van de negentiende eeuw, Wiseman Publishing,ISBN 978-90-8963-004-9, 118 pages, € 15,95. Publication of an MA-students final paper on the lodge La Vertu in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Jan A.M. Snoek. 'De vele en schreeuwende faiten teegen de broederschap begaan' door [John] George Smith (ca. 1728-ca. 1785)', in: C. van Heertum/T. Jongenelen/F. van Lamoen (red.), De andere achttiende eeuw. Opstellen voor André Hanou, Uitgeverij Van Tilt , Nijmegen 2007, ISBN 978-90-77503-67-6, 288 pages, € 22,50. An article on the rogue and freemason George Smith.

The newsletter of the French Institut d'Etudes et de Recherche maconniques (IDERM) regularly discusses new titles in the field of study. A small selection from recent issues:
- Philippe Libert, Les Vrais Amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis, Grand Orient de Belgique 2007, 428 pages, € 23,-. History of a the lodge Les Vrais Amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis in Brussels from 1782 onwards.
- Benjamin Franlin, un américain à Paris, tentoonstellingscatalogus Musée Carnavalet, Paris 2007, 272 pages, € 39,-. About Franklin’s membership of the lodge Les Neuf Soeurs.
- Guy Chassagnard, Aux sources du Rite Ecossais Ancien et Accepté, Editions Alphee 2008, 640 pages, € 24,90. Historica loverview of the Scottish Rite and its sources.
- Gearges Lamoine (red.), Le Manuscrit Francken de 1783, Editions Snes, Toulouse 2007, 216 pages, € 19,-. Annotated reprint of the famous manuscript ritual.
- Marc Labouret, Les méteaux et la mémoire, la franc-maçonnerie française racontée par ses jetons et medailles, Maison Platt, 2007, 398 pp., € 100,-. Richly illustrated publication on French masonic commemorative coins and tokens.