Registration Information

Our next symposium will occur on Saturday, March 18, 2023. This Symposium will be held at the Masonic Temple, in Philadelphia, at 1 North Broad St.

This event is open to Freemasons (including Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts), their significant others, and their guests.

Please recognize that a cost is incurred to the program for your registration. If you pre-register and subsequently determine that you will be unable to attend, please have the Masonic courtesy to cancel your reservation by the same method and providing the same information.

Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Lunch ($25) will be served at noon and the program will be completed by 3:00 p.m. All Masons are welcome to attend. Dress is coat and tie.

Parking will be at the Convention Center Parking, located at 1324 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA: http://www.conventioncenterparking.com/directions.html

Registration opens at 8:30 AM. The program will begin at 9:30 AM.

All fees are non refundable if you do not attend the event.

Click the Eventbrite button to register:

Speaker Information

Due to an unforeseen situation we will have to reschedule Brother Bizzack to a later time.  We are happy to announce that our replacement speaker is now W.B. Ben Wallace of North Carolina.  His topic will be “The Nature of Initiation.”  W.B. Wallace is the author of A Path to Providence: The Creation of the Middle Chamber Program.

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W. Bro. C.R. “Chuck” Dunning
Topic:  Compassion & Gratitude in Masonry, Psychology, and Contemplative Practice

Chuck Dunning is an advocate, facilitator, trainer, and consultant in contemplative practice, with more than 30 years in the professional fields of higher education and mental health, as well as in Masonry, Rosicrucianism, and other currents in the Western esoteric traditions. Chuck’s consistent commitment is to the actual practice of contemplative disciplines to facilitate and enhance experiences of personal growth, social wellbeing, and spiritual initiation and transformation.

With that aim, as a Mason he has authored The Contemplative Lodge: A Manual for Masons Doing Inner Work Together (2021), and Contemplative Masonry: Basic Applications of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Imagery for the Craft (2016). Chuck was also a contributing author in The Art and Science of Initiation (2019). He is the founding Superintendent of the Academy of Reflection, which is a chartered organization for Scottish Rite Masons wanting to integrate contemplative practice with their Masonic experience. Chuck is also a co-founder, trainer, and facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society, which freely introduces the inner work of Masonry through online documents and facilitated activities and training.

In 2021, Contemplative Masonry was recognized as third in the Top 10 Masonic Books of the New
Millennium (so far) by the readers of Fraternal Review magazine. In 2019, the College of Freemasonry in Rochester, New York presented Chuck with the Thomas W. Jackson Masonic Education Award for fraternal leadership in Masonic research and esoteric study. In 2018, the Southern California Research Lodge recognized him as being among the Top Ten Esoteric Masonic Authors. Chuck’s Masonic Craft Lodge memberships include Haltom City-Riverside #1331 (Texas), and Albert Pike #162 (Oklahoma). He is also an honorary member of Sophia #767 (North Carolina) and Ancient York #89 (New Hampshire). Chuck’s Scottish Rite memberships are in the Valleys of Fort Worth, Texas and Guthrie, Oklahoma, and his York Rite memberships are in Texas Chapter #362 and Texas Council #321, both in Fort Worth. He is also a Full Member of the Texas Lodge of Research, a member of the Philalethes Society, the Masonic Society, and the Scottish Rite Research Society.

As a professional, Chuck retired in 2018 from serving as a student affairs administrator and adjunct
faculty member at Texas Christian University (TCU). His student affairs work at TCU focused on student development in leadership, mentoring, and holistic wellbeing. As an adjunct faculty member, he taught and supervised in the master’s program in counselor education. In 2017, Chuck’s work in dialogue training at TCU was honored with the prestigious Michael R. Ferrari Award for Distinguished University Service and Leadership. He currently works part-time as a counselor and psychotherapist in private practice. Chuck also still serves on the steering committee for CALM (TCU Contemplative Studies), and is a member of the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education. He holds a master’s degree in counseling and a bachelor’s in psychology, both from the University of North Texas.

Upcoming Academy Dates

Saturday, March 18, 2023
Saturday, October 28, 2023