International Conference on the History of Freemasonry

International Conference on the History of Freemasonry (ICHF)
in Edinburgh at Freemasons' Hall
25 - 27 of May 2007

The Regional Centre for Francmasonic Studies Paris - Bucharest, was invited at the International Conference on the History of Freemasonry, in Edinburgh, and was represented by its President, Mister Viorel Danacu, accompanied by Mister Daniel Roman and Mister Orbescu Ioan, they participated at debates about actual masonic themes, very important debates with planetary level.

Local Organising Committee

• Mr Robert Cooper, Curator, Grand Lodge of Scotland
• Mr James Daniel, Centre for Research into Freemasonry, University of Sheffield
• Professor Andrew Prescott, Centre for Research into Freemasonry, University of Sheffield

Academic Committee

• Professor James Smith Allen, Southern Illinois University
• Professor José Ferrer Benimeli, Centro de Estudios Históricos de la Masonería Espan'ola, Universidad de Zaragoza
• Professor Robert Beachy, Goucher College
• Professor Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis
• Dr Henrik Bogdan, Gothenburg University
• Professor Jean-Pierre Brach, École pratique des hautes études, Sorbonne, Paris
• Professor Roger Burt, University of Exeter
• Professor Peter Clark, Renvall Institute, University of Helsinki
• Professor Mary Ann Clawson, Wesleyan University
• Mr John L Cooper III, Grand Lodge of California
• Mr André Combes, Institut d'études et de recherches maçonniques, Paris
• Professor Emeritus James Stevens Curl
• Professor Antoine Faivre, École pratique des hautes études, Sorbonne, Paris
• Robert Gilbert, Institute of English Studies, University of London
• Mr John Hamill, United Grand Lodge of England
• Professor Wouter Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam
• Professor Margaret Jacob, University of California at Los Angeles
• Ms Andrea Kroon, OVN: Foundation for the Advancement of Academic Research into the History of Freemasonry in the Netherlands
• Mr Pierre Mollier, Grand Orient de France
• Dr Brent Morris, Scottish Rite Research Society
• Professor Aubrey Newman, University of Leicester
• Professor Pierre Noël, Ars Macionica lodge, Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium
• Dr Andreas Önnerfors, Lund University
• Dr Charles Porset, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris IV, Sorbonne
• Professor Cecile Revauger, Centre interdisciplinaire bordelais d'étude des lumic(res, Université de Bordeaux III
• Professor Paul Rich, University of the Americas-Puebla
• Dr Marie Mulvey Roberts, University of the West of England
• Professor A.W.F.M. van de Sande, University of Leiden
• Dr Eric Saunier, Université du Havre
• Professor Jan Snoek, University of Heidelberg
• Professor Emeritus David Stevenson, University of St Andrews
• Mr Trevor Stewart, Quatuor Coronati Lodge
• Mr Mark Tabbert, George Washington Masonic National Memorial
• Dr Jeffrey Tyssens, Vrije Universiteit Brussel/ Universiteit Gent

Together with members of the local organizing committee, ex officio.
Conference promoted by Supersonic Events Ltd.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE

The creation of a standing International Conference on the History of Freemasonry (ICHF) is a landmark in the development of the study of Freemasonry as a field of academic research. In 1969 the distinguished Oxford historian the late John M. Roberts lamented the fact that Freemasonry had been neglected by academic researchers in Britain and implied that as a consequence the subject had been left to the mercies of antiquarians and the lunatic fringe. In recent years this situation has changed somewhat with valuable and important work being conducted and published. However, until now there has been no truly international academic forum for those involved in the study of the numerous facets of Freemasonry. This is what ICHF seeks to provide. Held biennially, the ICHF will enable scholars to present their work on an international stage. Moreover, and almost as importantly, those interested in, but perhaps not researching, the subject will be able to hear first hand the latest work on Freemasonry from all parts of the world.

The significance of the conference is attested to by the fact that in its first year it has attracted some of the most internationally renowned historians in the field. Plenary speakers at the conference will be Professor Margaret Jacob of the University of California at Los Angeles, Professor David Stevenson of St Andrews University, Professor James Steven Curl, Professor Jan Snoek of Heidelberg University and Professor Jose Ferrer Benimeli of Centro de Estudios Históricos de la Masonería Espan'ola, Universidad de Zaragoza. There will be over seventy papers presented in nearly thirty parallel sessions. The conference has also attracted the extremely valuable support of several academic institutions, including:

• Centre for Research into Freemasonry, University of Sheffield
• Centre interdisciplinaire bordelaise d'étude des lumic(res, Université de Bordeaux III
• Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris IV, Sorbonne
• Interdisciplinary Research Group Freemasonry, Free University of Brussels