Freemasonry at Tong Tong Fair 2016

Tong Tong Fair is a famous, annual Asian festival, which takes place in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 28th May until 5th June 2016 This year, freemasonry and its historical lodge buildings are amongst the themes explored in the festival's exhibition, lecture and actvitities program. For more information, follow this link: tongtongfair.nl/vrijmetselarij/.

Building of Lodge De Vriendschap, Surabaya, founded in 1808.
Photo: CMC Prince Frederik, The Hague.

Enchanted Modernities

'Enchanted Modernities: Theosophy, Modernism and the Arts, c. 1875-1960' is a new interdisciplinary academic project. Bringing together scholars who are experts on the visual arts, music, sound and literature from all over the world, the Network's events will explore what the visual, material and performing arts can tell us about the relationships between Theosophy, modernity and mysticism c. 1875-1960. The research carried out by the Network’s partners will examine where and how artists, writers and performers came into contact with Theosophy and other mystical practices, and how Theosophical ideas, especially those of key figures in the Society in this period, such as Helena Blavatsky and Annie Besant, were given material, visual and audible form and shape. Read more here.

Publications

- Austrian researcher Eugen Semrau has published Erleuchtung und Verblendung. Einflüsse esoterischen Gedankenguts auf die Entwicklung der Wiener Moderne. The book describes the Viennese modernism in art and culture around 1900, with Vienna as the centre of the 'revolution of the mind'. The book contains chapters on the development of 'alternative thinking' in Europe, 'naional' esotericism and the relation between western esotericism, freemasonry and religion.

- John Belton's new oublication, The English Masonic Union of 1813, describes the issues and personalities involved in the bringing together of the Antients and the Moderns in 1813, in order to form the United Grand Lodge of England. Belton offers new perspectives on this important event in the history of British freemasonry.

-The exhibition Egypt in England (The Quadriga Gallery, Wellington Arch, London, 7 November 2012 until 13 January 2013) shows the cultural influence of ancient Egypt, from the Regency period to the Art Deco interiors of cinemas. The exhibition is based on a new book by Chris Elliot, which contains a chapter titled 'Freemasonry: Wisdom from the East and the Pharaohs Apron'.

Exhibitions

- The Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, the biggest university in Spain, has opened a virtual museum on freemasonry: Museo Virtual de Historia de la Masonería. The website offers an introduction into the history of freemasonry, as well as small virtual exhibitions and links to relevant collections.

- The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (Amsterdam) is hosting the exhibition Alchemy on the Amstel - on Hermetic Medicine in the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic (15 October 2012 until 17 May 2013). In the 17th century many apothecaries not only sold medicins based on medicinal plants, but also alchemically produced medicins: the so-called Paracelsic iatrochemical remedies. More information can be found on the website.

- In 2013 the first freemasons' museum of Italy will be opened in Rome. A collection of  historical documents and objects from the Grand Lodge of Italy will be exhibited to the public. The development of the museum is the end result of the study and reorganisation of the archive of the Grand Lodge, a project which was first started in 2007.

Exhibitions in Strasbourg

The Musée Historique de la Ville de Strasbourg is hosting an exhibition on the theme of Les Frères Réunis à Strasbourg, une loge maçonnique engagée until 5 February 2012. It marks the 200th anniversary of the lodge and shows a selection of objects and documents on 19th century freemasonry.

This masonic exhibition will coincide with a larger exhibition on the relationship between art and the occult, organized in the Musee d'Art Modern et Contemporain, also in Strasbourg: L’Europe des esprits ou la fascination de l’occulte, 1750-1950. That exhibition runs until 12 February 2012 and is also discussed in the recent column by OVN board members Marty Bax and Andrea Kroon.

Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica reopens

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in Amsterdam was frequently in the news in 2011 because of financial difficulties. A Dutch bank impounded the historical collection and the Dutch State, which owns part the core collection, transferred books and manuscripts to the Dutch National Library. This effectively split the collection in two and the bank intended to sell the impounded books. A protest and petition were organized by international scholars in the field of study. While attempts to save the library were made, a media silence was imposed.

Although it remains unclear exactly how it was achieved, the BPH has announced that it will formally reopen on 16 December 2011. The organizational and ownership structure of the library has been reviewed, which will hopefully prevent any problems reoccurring.
Keynote speaker prof. Wouter Hanegraaff (Chair for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents at the University of Amsterdam) will give a lecture ‘Per aspera ad fontes’ to mark the reopening on 16 December 2011. This will coincide with the opening of a new exhibition ‘Oneindig Vuur’ (‘Never ending fire’) in the BPH building. The library collection will then be accessible again to students and scholars from 19 December onwards (while the state-owned part of the collection presumably remains accessible in the National Library in The Hague). For more information: bph@ritmanlibrary.nl

The Patriot Mason

Washington in masonic
regalia, portrait presented
by Henry Wellcome.
Photo: www.freemasonry.
london.museum

On Independence Day, Monday 4th July, a new exhibition was opened in the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London: The Patriot Mason: Freemason-ry in American Society. It explores the role of freemasonry in America from the 18th century to the present day, drawing on rarely seen objects from the museum’s own collections. One of the world’s rarest Masonic books – published by Benjamin Franklin in 1734 – will be displayed alongside the elaborate regalia worn by American freemasons. The exhibition will be close un 22 December 2011.

Rose Croix Exhibition

The Belgian Museum of Freemasonry hosts an exhibition on masonic jewelry until 31 October 2011: From Utopia to Knowledge. On display are 134 jewels of the Rose Croix degree from the Guéguen collection. They are dated between ca. 1760 and 1890 and often executed in gold or silver and embellished with precious stones. This private collection was previously the subject of a publication: Robert Vanloo, Les Bijoux Rose+Croix, uitgeverij Dervy 2003.

Exhibition: Freemasonry Unmasked!

The National Heritage Museum in Lexington (USA) has opened a new exhibition: Freemasonry Unmasked! Anti-Masonic Collections in the Van Gorden-Williams Library and Archives. The museum, founded and supported by the 32° Scottish Rite Freemasons in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States, houses one of the most important masonic collections in the USA. The exhibition provides an overview of the most uninformed and absurd claims which have been made about freemasonry during three centuries, and shows many examples from the museum's collection of anti-masonic books.

Exhibition: Freemasonry and the French Revolution

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London is showing an exhibition on 'Freemasonry and the French Revolution' from 1st July until 18th December 2009. The French Revolution which began in 1789 changed forever the relationship between freemasonry and the state. In England, freemasonry was non-political and the discussion of politics at Masonic meetings was forbidden (as continues to be the situation today) but after 1789 English freemasons had to deal with the consequences of revolutionary politics and Masonic lodges avoided closure only by agreeing to register lists of their members with local authorities. This remained a legal requirement until 1967 when the Labour Government led by Harold Wilson abolished the Unlawful Societies Act. Freemasonry had spread from Britain across continental Europe in the early 1700s and there freemasons were blamed for causing the Revolution and the subsequent political and social unrest which many countries experienced. The suspicion of freemasonry which arose at that time has had a longlasting impact on politics and society. The exhibition traces the impact of the Revolution on freemasonry in England and Europe.
Those unable to visit London may be interested in the Museum's online exhibitions, which are regularly expanded to include new topics.

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)