Hamill Heads Tercentenary Project

In 2017 Grand Lodge will be celebrating its tercentenary. As part of the celebrations it is planned to produce a major history putting Freemasonry into the context of the social and cultural history of the country, demonstrating the part that generations of Freemasons have played in the development of their local communities.
     John Hamill, who has been Grand Lodge’s Director of Communications for the last ten years, has been appointed Director of Special Projects to mastermind the research and writing of the history.
     John commented ‘I am delighted to be returning to my roots. I spent a very happy 28 years working in the Grand Lodge Library and Museum before being asked to set up the Communications Department in 1999. It will be a real pleasure to get back to research and writing again.’
     ‘The history project is a huge task which is going to involve the combined efforts of both masonic researchers and academics. I plan to put together a team to research specific aspects of our history. The papers they produce will be published on the Library and Museum web site and will be the basis from which an editorial team will produce the history itself.’
     As part of his new role, John will liaise between Grand Lodge and the Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism at Sheffield University, which will also have an important part to play in developing this comprehensive history.
     His expertise in other areas will not be lost, as he will continue as an official spokesman with the media and will remain a member of the External Relations Committee. The Rulers and the Board of General Purposes will be able to draw on his extensive knowledge and experience in those areas, and we wish him well in his new appointment.

Canonbury: Eleventh International Conference

Following on from ten years of successful international conferences, the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre has announced a call for papers for its eleventh international annual conference, which this year will be on The Origins of Freemasonry.
     Scholars of all disciplines, whether Freemasons or not, are invited to submit papers, and presentations can focus on the sociological, political, cultural, biographical, religious and esoteric aspects of early Freemasonry. Papers can be wide-ranging in content or more narrowly focused, however, all should be fully documented. All proposals should consist of more than 250-300 words and be sent to: Conference Organiser, Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, Canonbury Tower, Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ.
     Please enclose both your contact details and a brief CV with each proposal. The deadline for all submissions is 24 June 2009.

Cornerstone Conference

The Cornerstone Society has announced preliminary details of its 2009 conference, to be held on Saturday, 31 October at the Tapton Hall, Sheffield. Final details will be shortly be posted on the Society website at www.cornerstonesociety.com. The conference is open to all Master Masons under the United Grand Lodge of England or a constitution recognised by them.
     All enquiries to Mark St John Qualter, secretary@cornerstonesociety.com or write to 13 Victoria Road, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 1LE, enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope. Keep in touch with all future Cornerstone events and news by subscribing to the free email list. Details are on the website.

Manchester Events

Meetings of the Manchester Association of Masonic Research.

27 May: Association Centenary Celebrations (non-masons welcome).

24 September: Freemasonry in Scotland (Robert Cooper, Curator, Grand Lodge of Scotland Library and Museum).

24 November: Freemasonry in the Edwardian City (Andrew Prescott, formerly Director, Centre for Masonic Research, Sheffield University).

Regalia is worn at all meetings except that on 27 May. For further information contact Kevin Horne at kevinhorne@lineone.net or by post to 2, Blackburn Road, Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire BE1 8JZ, tel: 01282 772 373.