Finally a workshop that crosses two of my principal interests, namely the works of Rudolf Steiner and Freemasonry, and such on the other side of the globe.

The University of Sheffield’s Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism is presenting the following:

Workshop on The Temple Legend November 1 2008

The Centre will host [...]]]> Now how about this…

Finally a workshop that crosses two of my principal interests, namely the works of Rudolf Steiner and Freemasonry, and such on the other side of the globe.

The University of Sheffield’s Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism is presenting the following:

Workshop on The Temple Legend November 1 2008

The Centre will host an academic workshop on the subject of The Temple Legend: Links between Freemasonry, Theosophy and Anthroposophy

10.30 am Registration and Refreshments

10.50 am Opening: Dr Andreas Önnerfors, Director of the CRFF

11.00 am Dr Isaac Lubelsky, Tel Aviv University, “Theosophy and Anthroposophy in 1913: Doctrinal Differences and Resemblance”

11.40 am Dr Andreas Önnerfors, University of Sheffield, “Steiner’s Temple Legend seen from the Background of Research into Freemasonry”

12.20 pm Lunch break – numerous local facilities available, please return promptly

13.30 pm Nick Thomas, Freelancer, “The position of Freemasonry in the Formation of Steiner’s Anthroposophical Ideas”

14.15 pm Dr Helmut Zander, Humboldt University Berlin, “Anthroposophical Transformation of Freemasonry”

For more information and to register, please contact the workshop organizer at: a.onnerfors [AT] sheffield.ac.uk or by telephoning 0114 222 9893. Please register your interest no later than October 24th

Now if only I was able to attend….

Of course, women have been in Freemasonry for quite some time, with the [...]]]> It’s about time. Actually, it’s really quite overdue: France’s oldest Grand Lodge, the Grand Orient de France, has so far not prevented its Lodges from initiating amongst its ranks women. Presumably such move will be explicitly supported at its next meeting in September.

Of course, women have been in Freemasonry for quite some time, with the most broadly spanned GL allowing both men and women being the over hundred-year-old International Order of Co-Freemasonry (Le Droit Humain or ‘LDH’).

It seems strange that it has taken so long for what should really be an obvious step for Freemasonry. After all, there are no legitimate Freemasonic reasons for excluding women from the ranks of so many Lodges, each either fearful of repercussions of loss of ‘amity’ relations with other GLs, or holding on to a view that regresses to pre-equitable days.

UGLE is now in a strange position: it had the opportunity of being a leader in taking this step. Now, whatever it decides, it will be seen as being mere follower: either following the steps of GOdF; or following the reticence from more bigotted views.