We have a few things to look forward to: Spring is just around the corner (if you are in the Northern hemisphere) and more importantly there is light at the end of a long tunnel with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vaccination programs are underway and by the summer perhaps, just perhaps – things might be back to some semblance of normality!

In the meantime, we have a great line up of interesting and thought-provoking articles for your attention.

We kick off with my article asking the thorny question ‘Why don’t Freemasons read (more)?‘  – OK, it’s not just Masons who don’t read as much as they should/could but society in general.

Why aren’t we reading as much, and why are we shunning print?

Is it true that we don’t absorb information as well from digital information, and is the Internet making us stupid?

Find out more by reading this article…and prove me wrong!

We have some great features from our regular contributors: Kenneth Jack explores the ‘The Colour Purple‘ and its exotic significance to Freemasonry; Carlos Ortiz has given us another fascinating insight into our inner selves in ‘The Mason’s Consciousness of Time‘; Gerald Reilly transports us to Jerusalem in his new series ‘The Holy Land and the Sites – Part 1‘; and Stephen J. Goulding introduces us to the Junior Warden’s role in Part 4 of ‘Officers of the Lodge‘.

However, if you want to go deeper into a more mystical realm, check out Roberto M. Sanchez’s superb piece on ‘The Chamber of Reflection: A Revitalized and Misunderstood Masonic Practice‘.

It is extracted from his book entitled ‘The True Masonic Experience’.

There’s lots more to discover, take a look at the Contents page for a full overview.

Before I finish, I must mention the 9th International Conference of Freemasonry – Hidden Meanings: Esotericism and Masonic Connections.

The conference will be held by UCLA History Department on April 10th, 2021.

A number of distinguished researchers – and familiar names for many of us – will be speakers and/or panel members at the event including: Dr Ric Berman, Susan Mitchell Sommers, Jan Snoek, Henrik Bogdan, John Cooper, Nancy Ross, William D. Moore, Shawn Eyer, and Adam Kendall.

For more information and registration visit  EVENT.ON24  

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and as always, if you have any comments, news, or ideas for an article, contact me – editor@thesquaremagazine.com

Until next time, stay well –

Philippa Lee

EDITOR

editor@thesquaremagazine.com

Books by Philippa