Today was even better than Saturday, despite getting very little sleep!
The day began with a presentation by Doug Russell discussing where academia places Freemasonry. His discussion clearly showed that those who study such things in universities around the world place Freemasonry squarely within the Western Esoteric Tradition. Something that I think all Freemasons understand, but in far too many cases try to hide, feeling that for Freemasonry to be broadly accepted by the public, we need to paper over or minimize our esoteric traditions. This belief is misguided, but I fear all too common. We should embrace, not hide, the esoteric aspects of our initiatory society.
We heard a truly superb presentation, the second of the weekend, by noted Masonic author Jaime Paul Lamb in which he discussed the astrological symbolism contained within our Masonic Work, and practices. Including his view that the founding date and time of the first Grand Lodge was chosen for astrological reasons. This was a truly amazing presentation that clearly gave me and everyone I talked with about it, a great deal to think about in the weeks and months to come.
Richard Harris provided us with a presentation about Elias Ashmole, a founder of England’s Royal Society, and one of the earliest Speculative Freemasons to have written about his own initiation into the Craft. This interesting discussion covered a great deal of ground including the times in which Ashmole lived, his great contributions to science and his country, alchemy, and even chess as it relates to the peculiar floors within Lodge Rooms.
Today’s lunchtime wanderings found us at a great little bar, with good burgers and drinks. Clearly our best lunch of the week!
VW Zane McCune provided us with a truly superb presentation on the esoteric/Masonic themes running through the story of Pinocchio. To be honest, the title of the presentation didn’t attract me, but I’m willing and eager to say that I was wrong. It was a truly amazing piece of work, and I learned a great deal. We learned much from it about initiation, but more importantly I think the Chaos of the Abyss.
We heard from Ben Wallace about the Grand Lodge of North Carolina’s Middle Chamber Program. An esoteric educational program put on by the Grand Lodge, that I think we would do well to emulate throughout North America. A large percentage of the young men joining our Fraternity are interested in its esoteric aspects, a program like this would fulfill their immediate needs, and point them in good directions for future study. I’d previously read about this program in the book A Path To Providence, and that book was actually the first one we read here on Emeth as a group. My review of it is here:
Lon Milo Duquette closed the conference with his presentation on the Qabalah Of The Blue Lodge. Brother Duquette is a truly wonderful author and speaker who handled an extremely complex and difficult topic with aplomb. Hearing him speak about our Ancient Craft is truly inspirational.
I managed to snag a few new books while at the Conference as well, from Brothers Duquette and Lamb. They should keep me busy for a while.
A huge Thank You to W Brothers Lane and Spreeuw for putting this Conference on for the benefit of Freemasons throughout the Pacific Northwest. To their spouses for all the kind assistance they gave to the attendees. And to Esoterika and Occidental Lodges. It was a truly wonderful weekend.
This was a superb event in my mind, both from the perspective of what we were able to learn from the presentations, and from the opportunity to reconnect with Masons we know, and the Masons we met for the first time.
I have flown around the country for various Masonic events, and based on that experience, I will say that Seattle’s Esotericism in Freemasonry Conference would be well worth flying to Seattle to experience.
This conference was extremely fun, and equally enlightening. It gave attendees things that we can explore in our own personal Masonic practices, and it gave us things that we can bring back to our Lodges, to strengthen and improve them. It is my strong feeling that every Washington Mason should attend next year.
I found this year’s conference very insightful. The presentations and presenters were exceptional. Whether or not one seeks an deeper understanding and experience of Masonic esotericism, I believe it is important that we as Masons understand that many in our fraternity and those considering petitions seek this knowledge and we have a responsibility as leaders in the Craft to help them find the path to that which they seek. I’m marking my calendar for the first weekend of October 2023 to attend next year.
I agree, it was an amazing conference. The biggest topic that i feel outlined Esoterism and Masonic education, was from Ben Wallace. If we don't implement such a program, eventually we will be reading more about the incline of lodges closing its doors.
With all the negative and divisional influences happening around us through Oligarchy, now is the time to step up so new members find what they are looking for, and hold our communities together.
Now would be a great time to introduce the educational program by Washington Masonic Education and Research.