There is always lots of news and I am not going to pretend to provide some kind of comprehensive Masonic or historical news service. On this page I shall report items that I consider important and therefore usually important to me - whether they are important to you is for you to decide.

The first International Conference on the History of Freemasonry (ICHF) was held in Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland in May 2007. This was an experiment in bringing together academics from all over the world who were studying some aspect of Freemasonry but just as importantly allowing Freemasons and members of the public to hear the most up todate research on a variety of subjects with a connection to Freemasonry. Papers on Freemasonry and Music (Mozart, for example, was a Freemason and his ‘Magic Flute’ allegedly can only be fully understood by Freemasons), Working Class Freemasonry, Religion and Freemasonry, Freemasonry in modern literature and many other such subjects.

The Conference was such a success that the organisors agreed that it should become a biennial event and Edinburgh (after some considerable discusssion) was accepted to host the second ICHF, not because the Scots want to keep it here forever, but simply because 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s National Bard - Robert Burns. The Scottish government has declared 2009 to be ‘Scottish Homecoming Year’ and anyone with Scottish roots or connections is invited to the multitude of events to be held throughout Scotland that year.

ICHF 2009 therefor has placed special emphasis on Burns and Freemasonry. The organisors hope that papers regarding Freemasonry and its impact on Robert Burns, his life and work, will be submitted. In that way Freemasonry will add to the celebration of this significant anniversary one of Scotland’s best loved sons.

For more information about the conference click here to go to the ICHF web site of any previous link.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland, the home of Scottish Freemasonry, also has material relating to Burns, the Conference and Freemasonry. To go there click here or on previous links.