The Rosslyn Hoax?

January 11th, 2009


 

We have just received confirmation that the long awaited book: ‘The Rosslyn Hoax?‘ is scheduled to be published later this year. The announcement was made at the London Book Fair on 7th March 2006.

Here’s the blurb:

The Rosslyn Hoax? – would you like to know the truth about Rosslyn Chapel? Since the publication of the novel “The Da Vinci Code” huge numbers of non-Masons have been asking questions and putting forward theories about Freemasonry – especially Freemasonry in Scotland, and its alleged connection with the Knights Templar, the St. Clair family and Rosslyn Chapel. This book is a product of the research undertaken to answer those thousands of questions. The results will surprise a lot of people.

Here are some of the things the author asks:

 

  • Have the public been the victims of a massive hoax?Are the Freemasons themselves the victims of an enormous conspiracy?
  • Has the meaning of the Kirkwall Scroll been hijacked for a particular purpose?
  • Is it true that Rosslyn Chapel has been physically changed to make it appear Masonic?
  • Who benefits, and why, from trying to cover it all up?

Robert L. D. Cooper is the Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library (Edinburgh) and is custodian of the oldest and most precious Masonic documents anywhere in the world. He is in the most privileged position to know ‘from the inside’ the truth about all the various theories regarding Rosslyn Chapel, Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and the St. Clair family. For the first time a Scottish Freemason, one pre-eminent in the field, speaks out. At last Scottish Freemasons themselves are being asked about Freemasonry, Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar etc. and this book will provide many of the answers readers of, for example, ‘The Da Vinci Code‘ etc. have been seeking.

To be published by Lewis Masonic (?December 2006?)
Hardback (230mm x 150mm) Approximately 300 pages. Illustrated
ISBN: 0853 182558
£19.99 per copy

Once more details become available they will be posted here – so keep visiting!

International Conference on the History of Freemasonry

January 11th, 2009

 

ICHF Logo

It has recently been announced that an International Academic Conference is to be held in 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland. One of the organisers is Robert L. D. Cooper, Curator, of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library explained: ‘Freemasonry, especially Scottish Freemasonry, has attracted a lot of interest over the last few years and it was thought that the time was right to put the academic study of Freemasonry on an international footing.’ The range of subjects relating to Freemasonry is huge.’ He said: ‘I have no doubt that this International Conference will attract scholars from all over the world. In fact several of the most pre-eminent historians in the field have already committed their support.’

What subjects will be covered we asked? Cooper said: ‘There will be no restriction on the subject matter of papers presented at the conference as long as they are relevant to Freemasonry. The papers must be scholarly, that is, meet rigorous academic standards. I, along with many others, will be very interested to see what papers will be submitted by popular writers on subjects such as Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar, the Priory de Sion, the St. Clair (Sinclair) family, hereditary Grand Masters etc. all of which are claimed to have some connection with Freemasonry.’

How will papers for presentation at the conference be selected we asked? ‘A good question’ said Cooper. ‘To maintain the highest standards, all papers will be selected by ‘blind peer review.’ What does that mean we, the Rosslyn Templars, asked? ‘Oh, yes, my apologies. In the academic world the process is this: if you have an idea for a paper you need to write about 300 words outlining the content of the paper. It must then be e-mailed to: ICHFpapers@glasconf.demon.co.uk – snail mail proposals can be accepted but need to be sent to the conference organiser – address below. The proposal, minus all material which might identify the author is removed, in order to make it anonymous. The anonymous proposal is then submitted to an academic committee which is made up of the most pre-eminent historians in the field’. The conference organiser, NorthernNetWorking  has no connection with the Academic Committee other than acting a ‘Post Box’ for proposals for papers.  Well, okay, we ask what do they do? Cooper explained: ‘at the closing date all the proposals for papers are considered and graded. Those which meet the appropriate standards are then short listed. All those submitting papers which are accepted or rejected will be notified accordingly.’ So what happens to the short listed proposals? Cooper explained: ‘There are only so many ‘slots’ available at the conference but we hope that all papers of an acceptable standard will be presented.’ There is some doubt in your voice on that we said, would you care to expand further? ‘Eh, yes, why not. If there are too many acceptable papers then the Academic Committee will have to judge which are to be presented and which are not.’

The conference will be held over three days (25 – 27 May 2007) and proposals for papers to be presented at the conference are now invited.

The conference now has its own dedicated web site at www.ichfonline.org

 

 

Genealogical Enquiries

January 11th, 2009

We do receive enquiries from people trying to track down details of the Masonic career their forebears. Unfortunately, the Rosslyn Templars are not in a position to find such information. However, you can contact the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Please note that they can only search the records for Scottish Freemasons. We shall endeavour to find similar e-mail contacts for the Grand Lodge of England and Ireland.

 

 

ANZMRC Tour – 2005

January 11th, 2009

Brother Robert Cooper, Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library, has now returned from his three month, round the world, Masonic lecture tour and we hope to interview him regarding his experiences in the next few weeks.

In the interim you might like to know that he has created a web site dedicated to the tour (‘it will save me sending photographs all over the world’ (sounds like a Scot to me! – Ed.) The web site can be accessed at: www.anzmrctour.org Please note that it is still under construction.

ANZMRC

January 11th, 2009

ANZMRC

Every two years the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council (ANMRC) invite a Masonic scholar to give a series of lectures to Research Lodges and other Masonic bodies in the southern hemisphere. The ‘touring lecturer’ for 2005 is Robert Cooper, the Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library in Edinburgh.

Robert Cooper

Robert Cooper

A book of the lectures delivered by Brother Robert Cooper will be on sale at the various lecture venues but we are informed that there will be very few, if any, available in this part of the world.

We hope to provide full details of Brother Cooper’s itinerary here once all the details are available. Meantime, there is a considerable amount of material about the origin, purpose and vision of the ANZMRC on their web site. 

Once we have Brother Cooper’s itinerary we also hope to post an interview with him, time permitting, on this site.