Call for papers
"Between Mysticism and Power Politics: Swedish Freemasonry on the Scene of European Enlightenment"
Freemasonry was established in Sweden in 1735, but grew considerably after 1753 when Carl Fredrik Scheffer was installed as the first Swedish Grand Master. In 1760 the Swedish Grand Lodge was officially founded, and the organisation of the Order was divided into three parts or branches by Scheffer’s successor, Carl Fredrik Eckleff: St. John’s, St. Andrew’s, and Chapter Degrees. Duke Carl, later King Carl XIII, further developed the moral philosophy of the Swedish Rite, and through two major ritual revisions in 1780 and 1800 he created a logical and consistent masonic system consisting of ten degrees, which in essence remains unchanged to this day. Until the year of 1800 no less than 4292 men had been received as Freemasons in lodges belonging to the Swedish Order. This group can be regarded as a part of and a reaction upon the culture of rational Enlightenment in Sweden.
The ambition of the conference is to bring scholars together that deal with topics of the relationship of Swedish Freemasonry with other masonic systems around Europe, primarily in the 18th Century. The focus is on the ideological, philosophical and religious aspects on the one hand, and on politics and network-building on the other hand. Besides these two focal points the ambition of the conference is to present studies on how Freemasonry, its organisation and ideology, understood as an aspect the European Enlightenment, was received and culturally performed in Sweden.
Sections & subjects
The conference is divided into three sections dealing with following subjects:
(1) Frameworks – People, Places and History
(2) Fundamentals – Ideas, Ideologies and Initiation
(3) Fraternities – Networks, Loyalties and Politics
These sections should reflect the papers delivered in a wide range of topics: from biographical and historical presentations to studies of masonic literature and rituals, to analyses of masonic Orders as networks between European elites.
To date, the following keynote speakers have agreed to take part in the conference:
Prof. Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire (Université de Nice), Prof. Andrew Prescott (Sheffield university) and Prof. Helmut Reinalter (Universität Innsbruck).
Length & language of presentations
The length of presentations is limited to 30 minutes. The conference language is English, Swedish contributions are welcome, followed with an English summary.
Deadline
Deadline for paper-proposals is August 16th 2004 by submitting a title and 15-20 lines of Abstract to the conference organisers:
- Dr. Andreas Önnerfors,
Lund University, Department of Cultural Studies,
Biskopsgatan 7, SE 223 62 LUND
andreas.onnerfors@kult.lu.se
- Dr. Henrik Bogdan,
Göteborg University, Department of Religious Studies,
Box 200, SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG
henrik.bogdan@religion.gu.se
Finances
Due to limited resources we will not be able to pay any kind of reimbursement (per-diem allowances etc), apart from travel costs and living. Those who due to academic positions or other kind of funding are able to pay for your own travels and other expenses are kindly requested to do so.
Location
The conference takes place at the Department of Cultural Studies Biskopsgatan 7, 223 62 LUND/Sweden.
Program
The final program of the conference will be announced one month ahead on the homepage of the Department www.kult.lu.se.
Publication
A post-conference publication is planned, most likely included in the series Ugglan – Lund Studies in the History of Sciences and Ideas.
Conference fee
The conference fee for visitors is 450 SEK (approx. 50 Euro).