The Masonic Society

The Following is an unpaid announcement from the Masonic Society.

"The ultimate success of Masonry depends on the intelligence of her disciples." - Albert Mackey

A significant group of passionate Masons are coming together to create what aims to be nothing less than the premiere North American research society in Freemasonry. Called simply The Masonic Society, we are gathering together brothers who have a deep and abiding desire to seek knowledge, explore history, discover symbolism, debate philosophies, and in short, who will be at the forefront of charting a path for the future of Freemasonry.

Students of Freemasonry are invited to join in the formation of this new and exciting organization.

The name, The Masonic Society, intentionally alludes to the Royal Society, the innovative organization of visionary men who were at the forefront of the Age of Enlightenment, many of whom were present at the formation of what became modern Freemasonry. Likewise, the new Society will be at the forefront of a new age of Freemasonry, and intends to be a vibrant, active community within the fraternity.

The goal of The Masonic Society is not just to look backward at the history of Freemasonry, but to foster the intellectual, spiritual and social growth of the modern Masonic fraternity.

To that end, The Masonic Society extends the hand of assistance and cooperation to individual Masonic research lodges in North America. It is the desire of The Masonic Society to be a partner with these lodges, to give their members the regular opportunity to publish their papers for an international audience, and to publicize their activities.

The Masonic Society is also forging a special relationship with those bodies that meet annually during Masonic Week, as well as the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. While not designed as a York Rite-specific research group, The Masonic Society encourages examination of this branch of Freemasonry.

Membership in The Masonic Society is $39 per year ($49 outside of the U.S. & Canada). Benefits will include:

• Commemorative pin, patent of membership, and dues card.

• The quarterly Journal of The Masonic Society will present articles that enlighten our past, and explore solutions to the challenges facing Freemasonry today and tomorrow. The Journal will feature articles by the best-known authors in Freemasonry, as well as the brethren from the lodges in your neighborhood. There will also be articles from the non-Masonic academic world that is looking with greater interest than ever at our fraternity and its place in society. We'll bring you timely Masonic news, photos and commentary from around the globe, in full color. The Journal will also feature advertising from a select group of publishers, regalia manufacturers, and fraternal supply companies which specialize in products specific to Freemasons – the only magazine of its kind to do so in America and Canada.

• Members-only access to the Masonic Society online Internet forum.

• Annual First Circle gatherings – Each year, The Masonic Society will be an active participant in the Allied Masonic Degrees "Masonic Week," held in February in Alexandria, Virginia. This will include the annual First Circle gathering. An additional symposium will be held elsewhere in the US or Canada once a year. These events will be educational, informative, but most of all, fun and memorable to attend.

Fellows of the Masonic Society will be named each year, in recognition of their contribution to the body of knowledge of the fraternity, through their writing, their Internet presence, their service to the Society, or their labors for Freemasonry.

Membership in the Society is open to regular Master Masons in good standing of regular, recognized grand lodges in good standing with the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America (CGMMNA), or a grand lodge in amity with a member grand lodge of CGMMNA. Non-Masons, libraries, lodges, and members of other obediences may also subscribe to the Journal at the $39 annual rate.

Founding Fellows:

John Belton; Yasha Beresiner; Paul M. Bessel; Timothy D. Bonney; Clayton J. Borne, III; Nathan C. Brindle; Justin Budreau; Allan L. Casalou; Marc Conrad; John L. Cooper, III; Robert L. D. Cooper; Robert G. Davis; Stephen Dafoe; Eric Diamond; R. Steven Doan; Shawn Eyer; Bruno Gazzo; Edward Halpaus; John R. Heisner; Kent Henderson; Jay Hochberg; Christopher L. Hodapp; Thomas W. Jackson; Adam G. Kendall; Edward L. King; Fred Kleyn; William H. Koon, II; Robert Lomas; Ronald D. Martin; S. Brent Morris; Jeffrey Naylor; Charles Munro; Pete Normand; Richard Num; Michael R. Poll; W. Bruce Pruitt; David L. Revels; Alton Roundtree; Eric Schmitz; Michael L. Sellick; George D. Seghers; Aaron M. Shoemaker; Cory Sigler; Mark Stavish; Mark Tabbert; Roger S. Van Gorden; Duane Vaught; William Wine; Leon Zeldis;