Dear Brethren and non-masons,
QC Lodge No. 2076 - Thursday 15 Feb 2018 Symposium - “1717 and all that . . .” or 1721!!!
Quatuor Coronati (QC) Lodge No 2076, has arranged a Symposium to discuss the contrasting views of the foundation of the first Grand Lodge of London and Westminster and the nature of the evidence for and against the conventional date (1717) of its emergence.
A Head to Head Debate is planned and an open discussion entitled “1717 and all that . . .”
Recent research by Andrew Prescott and Susan Sommers challenges the long-accepted date of 24 June 1717 as marking the formal commencement of the Grand Lodge of Freemasonry, suggesting 24 June 1721 instead.
This Symposium is of considerable significance to Freemasonry as a whole. Recent documentary research* by respected professional historians has for the first-time revealed evidence that seriously challenges the long-held establishment view that organised Freemasonry for England commenced in 1717. This documentary evidence moves that date forward four years to 1721. Does this matter? Certainly, in the field of Masonic history it does and at last we can make sense of the various anomalies surrounding the traditionally supposed events. ( * First published in Reflections on 300 Years of Freemasonry (736 pages) which contains the papers delivered to the QC Tercentenary Conference on the History of Freemasonry held at Queens’ College, Cambridge in September 2016. It is a most interesting, informative and essential publication to add to your masonic library. If you do not already have a copy, details can be found at http://www.lewismasonic.co.uk/reflections-on-300-years-of-freemasonry.htm .)
Those taking part include Andrew Prescott, Susan Sommers, John Hamill and Ric Berman, see attached flier.
Floor attendees who intend to speak are invited to get in touch with the Chairman of the Symposium, Aubrey Newman, in advance. Please email new@le.ac.uk .
The symposium is open to all, masons and non-masons alike; it will start in the early afternoon on Thursday, 15 February 2018 at 2.00 pm at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London. The organisers of the event have decided that formally registering is unnecessary. Also, there will be no formal dining, it is the plan to go to a local eating pub after the event. I understand, any updated information about the symposium will be provided on the website in due course, see www.quatuorcoronati.com .
The Delivery Papers for the Symposium are available for review and download below:
1717 And All That – Prescott & Sommers
1717 and All That – Berman
If you plan to attend it would help the organisers make the necessary arrangements, if you please send your name, number of seats, constitution, lodge name & no. or 'none' to 1717@quatuorcoronati.com , asap.
For your information, I have retired as Assistant Secretary of QC Lodge and so far, no one else has been appointed to fill the post. Notwithstanding, I'm still very happy to be one of the points of contact for any QC and QCCC general queries.
I look forward to seeing you at the February meeting and continuing our email and other communications.
Finally, please feel free to circulate this email to anyone you might think may be interested.
If you do not wish to receive email notification of future QC meetings / events, please let the Lodge Secretary and myself know and your email address will be removed from Lodge distribution lists. Similarly, if you change your email address will you please let us know.
As we are in the very early stages of sending routine email information about QC Lodge activities and we have several, as yet, un-coordinated / un-reconciled distribution lists, some duplication is unfortunately inevitable, for which I apologise. If you notify me of any duplications, I will immediately correct our evolving distribution lists.
If you need more information, please see the website below or contact me.
Regard,
David J Peck - QC Lodge 2076 - 01844 292110 / 07860 727765 davepeck@bamr.co.uk www.quatuorcoronati.com Twitter @CoronatiQuatuor