The Hedge Mason: The Archaeology of Gatherings: Call for Papers

Monday, April 29, 2013

The Archaeology of Gatherings: Call for Papers

The Archeology of Gatherings
Institute of Technology,
Sligo, Ireland
25th-27th October, 2013

A call for papers has been sent out for The Archaeology of Gatherings conference. This thematic international conference will bring together a range of speakers from different disciplines including both academics and professionals. The aim is to explore the material culture and psychology behind gatherings of people.

With 2013 being the year of 'The Gathering' this theme was chosen to examine why people over millennia have come together, often in large numbers, for religious assemblies, social interaction, to exchange commodities and ideas, along with other reasons such as farewells, wakes, political opposition, inaugurations etc.

Speakers are invited from a diverse range of backgrounds including archaeology, history, ethnography, sociology and event management. Both archaeological and modern case studies are invited. Papers will be 20 minutes in length, with time for questions. This important international conference will take place at the Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland from 25th to 27th October 2013, and will coincide with the SligoLive cultural festival. Abstracts of no more than 200 words should be emailed by 3rd May, 2013 to:

archaeologyofgatherings@yahoo.com

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Welcome to the Hedge Mason Blog, affiliated with the UMURM

A word or two by way of explanation may be

worth offering concerning the title of this blog.

Hedge Mason, like similar terms Hedge Master,

Hedge Lodge, and the more widely recognized

Hedge School, are terms from Hiberno-English.

The latter of these terms, as many Irish will know,

refers to illicit schools dedicated to the maintenance

of Irish culture and language, alongside the classics

of European Philosophy, including Greek and Latin studies.

These institutions were founded throughout rural Ireland during

the Penal era when Irish Gaelic culture was under attack

by the English occupier. During this time also, the term

Hedge was added to masonic terms to refer to any masonic

individual or institution not approved of by the

Anglophone world. These often were lodges and masons

working to advance the cause of Irish independence.

It seems a very appropriate term then, for me to use to

name this blog.

For quite a while I have observed various blogs and podcasts

relating to Freemasonry, finding both much worth emulating

and a few things worth avoiding among them. Fairly

quickly it became apparent to me that there was little

being published in North America (or elsewhere for that matter)

that dealt fairly and offering a positive perspective on Liberal

Freemasonry or the world beyond the confines of the

Preston-Webb Rites or the AASR Northern or Southern

Jurisdictions and especially with the Modern Rite with which

we are associated.. Such sites exist beyond the Anglophone

Internet, but The Hedge Mason will endeavor to bring some

of that information within the grasp of an English speaking

audience.

It seems to me that it is time for a change, and this blog

will hopefully serve as a small corrective step in that direction.

The goal of this blog will be to provide interesting topics

from time to time on subjects relating to Liberal Freemasonry

and on responsible alternatives to what is exemplified by the

mainstream Grand Lodge system in North America.

While this site will not avoid covering contemporary issues,

it will try to avoid heavy handed critiques of any system or

tradition within Freemasonry. It is my belief that there is no

such thing as clandestine or irregular freemasonry. Such

labels belittle the rich tapestry of our traditions both

contemporary and historical. Further, such attitudes

directly contradict the premise of brotherhood and fraternalism

which is the foundation of Freemasonry.

In short, this site is about education and expanding

the horizons of Freemasons of all stripes and those who

are just interested in the subject. It is not a place intended

for debate or dispute, although if it engenders some that might

be a good thing.

Just in case some object to certain posts being off topic,

please note the subtitle of this blog includes the phrase,

"and other stuff." That of course is because it's my blog and

occasionally I want to ramble.

We look forward to sharing with you!