Our Speakers include
Dr Ric Berman, Conference Chair
Ric Berman researches, writes and speaks on eighteenth and nineteenth-century English, Irish and American history, with an emphasis on freemasonry, the largest and most consequential society in Europe and America. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the author of numerous journal articles and ten books, and has delivered keynote lectures worldwide. Ric holds an MA and PhD from the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter, respectively, and undertook post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford’s Modern European History Research Centre. A freemason for more than forty years and twice Prestonian Lecturer, Ric is a Past Master of three English Lodges including Quatuor Coronati, and chairs QCCC. He is also an American freemason, a member and honorary member of lodges in seven states, a Blue Friar, and a Fellow of the Philalethes Society.
Professor Jan Snoek
Jan Snoek’s presentation provides an overview of the current state of academic research into the development of the Masonic degree system in the first half of the 18th century. It traces the development of ritual from a single degree in Scotland and and England, into two degrees in both Scotland and London, then three degrees in London; the subsequent appearance of the Scots Master’s degree in London and its spread to France and Germany; and finally, the development of a ‘Royal Arch’ degree in Paris and its expansion to England. Jan was awarded a PhD in Religious Studies from Leiden University, the Netherlands, in 1987 for a thesis on initiation rituals. From 2000 until his retirement, he worked as a ritual specialist at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he illustrated his publications on ritual theory with examples from Masonic rituals. He is the author of more than 100 publications on Masonic rituals, including “Le développement précoce du degré de Maître Écossais en Allemagne et dans les pays voisins” (“The early development of the degree of Scots Master in Germany and neighbouring countries”). He was initiated in 1971 and has been an active Freemason since.
Robert Cooper
Bob Cooper will examine and seek to shed light on the origins of third degree and will suggest that these lie in Scotland. Bob will also provide the context to this argument, including a brief history of Scotland at that time and its national network of lodges. Bob is the former Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, having served for some thirty years from 1994. He is the author of numerous books and articles on all aspects of freemasonry and has appeared in several television and radio programmes. He was initiated in The Lodge of Light, No.1656 and is a Founder Member and a Past Master of Lodge Edinburgh Castle, No.1764. He is also a Past Master of Sir Robert Moray, No.1641, the premier Scottish Lodge of Research, and of Quatuor Coronati, No.2076, (EC).
Leif Endre Grutle
Leif’s paper looks at the origins and development of the Swedish Rite, a unique set of rituals practiced across the Nordic countries. Leif was born in Bergen, Norway, and graduated from the Norwegian School of Theology in 1998 as Candidatus Theologiae, a degree ranking between Master and PhD in Theology. He took holy orders in 2001 and worked as provost in the Church of Norway. Leif was initiated in 2004 into the Norwegian Order of Freemasons and is Knight & Commander with the Red Cross, the XI and last degree of the Swedish Rite. He joined Niels Treschow Lodge, the Research Lodge of the Order, in 2012 and served as Master from 2017-23. He is co-editor of Acta Masonica Scandinavica, the annual transactions of Scandinavian Masonic research and his research has been published in both this and other publications, including AQC and Heredom.
Lucio Artini
Lucio’s research focuses on the relationship between freemsonry, politics and the Catholic Church, and his presentation (with Martino Cartella), will explore this theme. Lucio was born in Arezzo, Italy in 1960, and holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Florence. He has written articles for L’Uomo and Officinae and in 2014 published ‘Beato Gregorio X il Papa Crociato: il Papa templare?’. He has spoken at conferences globally, including those organized by Quatuor Coronati and ICOM, and is a member of the Loggia Lorenzo il Magnifico No.52, Florence, and Mount Sinai Lodge, No.8993, London. The paper will be delivered by co-author, Martino Cartella.
Jay Hochberg
Jay’s paper examines the links between Thomas Reid, William Preston and the (American) Fellow Craft Degree. Jay is a freemason under the Grand Lodge of New York and celebrates his thirtieth anniversary in the fraternity in 2027. A Past Master of two research lodges, in New York and New Jersey, he has written about freemasonry for both Masonic and the general media, and has spoken before Masonic and general audiences for twenty-five years. Outside the fraternity, he is an editorial professional, having regressed from award-winning journalism to political press secretary to his current grind as a freelance copywriter/editor, where he somehow rationalizes it is a legitimate use of his BA in Journalism from New York University.
Erich Huhn
Erich’s paper aims to bring a new understanding to the way freemasonry developed in the United States, not out of whole cloth but through the ritualistic innovations of appendant/concordant bodies and Grand Lodge committees. Erich is a PhD Candidate in History & Culture at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His research focuses on the way freemasonry and fraternal organizations helped reinforce middle-class values and are used as tools of social “placing” throughout the long nineteenth century. Erich has written New Jersey’s Masonic Lodges (Arcadia Publishing, 2019); he is Secretary of the New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research & Education, Senior Deacon at the American Lodge of Research, and Local Secretary to New Jersey for QCCC.
Jan Paulus
Jan examines the role of Irish Freemasonry during the period of political upheaval that accompanied the outbreak of the Irish Civil War and the early years of the Irish Free State. Jan is studying for a PhD in History at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. He holds an MPhil in Internatonal History (Trinity College, Dublin), and a BEd in History and English (Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz).
Dr Victor Serafimov
Victor’s paper considers how different ritual traditions have been transmitted, adapted and sometimes combined across Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is one example, where the Schröder/AFAM tradition is predominant alongside Emulation and Scottish-derived workings; he also looks at comparisons in Turkey, Hungary and other European jurisdictions. Victor is the 2026 winner of the Norman B. Spencer prize. He is a member and Orator of Lodge Vitosha No.121, and a member of Lodge Quatuor Coronati No.40, both under the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, and the Local Secretary for QCCC. Victor holds a Doctorate in International Public Law (Southwest University); a Masters in Law (Sofia University); a Diploma in English and European Law (University of Cambridge); and an MBA (American University in Bulgaria). He runs a Strategic Advisory Consultancy and is an Adjunct Law Professor at the American University in Bulgaria and a former board member of Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio.
Daniel Stanford
Daniel’s paper offers both commentary on the Irish Royal Arch Degree, a history of its evolution, and explains the ceremony’s use of the restoration of Solomon’s Temple under Josiah as its narrative device. Daniel joined Freemasonry over twenty years ago and is a Past Master of Dublin’s Corinthian Commercial Lodge No.245. He is currently a Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Metropolitan Area, an elected member of Ireland’s Grand Lodge of Instruction, and leads Dublin’s Craft Ritual Class. Daniel served as Grand Scribe of the Grand Council of Knight Masons from 2012-17 and is active in Mark, Royal Arch Masonry and other orders in Ireland. Outside of Masonry, Daniel works in governance for a large not-for-profit organisation; he is a licensed lay minister and has a strong interest in heraldry and symbolism.
Dr Mike Kearsley
Mike takes a personal look at the Royal Arch and how it is often misunderstood, where it is understood at all. Mike was born in Lancashire and lived in New Zealand for many years before returning to the UK. He returned to NZ once again in 2020. Mike was initiated into freemasonry in Hawera Lodge, Taranaki NZ, and passed and raised in Mairehau Lodge, Christchurch, NZ. In the UK, he joined David Bonner Lodge, the Musicians Lodge of the Province of Middlesex, becoming Master in 2010 and thereafter Secretary. He is also a member of Temple of Athene Research Lodge (Master, 2013) and Quatuor Coronati. Mike is a prolific researcher and author, a past Provincial Grand Orator for Middlesex, and in 2011 was awarded the Norman B. Spencer prize. He was appointed Prestonian lecturer in 2014 and ANZMRC’s Kellerman lecturer in 2019. He is also a former editor of The Square.
Ben Williams
Ben’s paper will examine the evolution and purpose of the York and Scottish Rites, and their impact in America. Born in England but living and working in the US, Ben is a Past Master of Norwood Lodge No.111 and Telluride Lodge No.56 and currently serves as Secretary for the Research Lodge of Colorado. He is very active in both the York and Scottish Rites, as well as numerous appendant bodies and orders. A Past Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Colorado, he has also served as the Chair of the Grand Lodge Education Committee for six years. Ben is an Intellectual Property and Patent Attorney based in Denver & Los Angeles. He is the founder of Williams Intellectual Property, Inc., a firm he established in Denver in 2012, and expanded to Los Angeles in 2022, when he became a registered patent attorney admitted to the California Bar. In 2026, he joined Fabian VanCott (est.1874) as intellectual property counsel.
Dr Paul Kenny
Paul’s paper discusses the role of the Grand Lodge of Instruction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland as a distinctive and constitutional authority of ritual governance charged with the promotion, protection and preservation of Craft ritual throughout the Irish Constitution. He traces its origins in the early 19th century to its constitution in 1876 and to its present mandate, its membership mechanics, and its support of Irish Freemasons across the world. Paul has been a Freemason for more than 27 years. He is a Past Master of Lodge 500, a Founder and Past Master of Oracle Lodge 1003, Past Assistant Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Instruction, and presently Chairs of the Grand Lodge of Ireland Education and Mentoring Committee. As a Freemason, he is an active researcher and author with a particular interest in all things ritual, symbolic and philosophical. Professionally, Paul is Head of Architecture at University College Dublin and Co-director of the UCD PRISM Centre for Neurodiversity Research and Inclusion.
Please note that Speakers and Papers may be subject to change
