Fraternal Exposition and Symposium

Mill Valley Masonic Lodge will host a one day Fraternal Exposition and Symposium on Fraternalism on September 13, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Fraternal Exposition will be held at the historically significant Mill Valley Masonic Center, 19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, CA.

Exposition exhibitors will be on hand to meet the public, present information about their respective fraternities, identify fraternal memorabilia, and answer questions including family history and/or genealogy as it relates to fraternities. They will also have on hand information about scholarships and other benefits offered by their fraternities to members and non-members.

A Symposium will be run in conjunction with the Exposition. Confirmed Symposium speakers include: Kirk MacNulty (author of The Way of the Craftsman: A Search for the Spirital Essence of Craft Freemasonry, and Freemasonry: A Journey through Ritual and Symbolism, who will discuss Freemasonry as a codification of the philosophical essence of the Rrenaissance and as an approach to "interior work"), Tony Fels (Assoc. Prof. of History, University of San Francisco, author of numerous articles and a soon to be published book about Freemasonry), Peter Sellars (Grand Lecturer of the Odd Fellows of California), and William Armstrong (National President of the Improved Order of Red Men).

Non-Masonic organizations that have been invited exhibit and/or present include: Marin Lodge No. 200, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; San Rafael Lodge No. 1108, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Novato Grove No. 113, United Ancient Order of Druids; Our Lady of Loretto Council No. 3950, Knights of Columbus; Sea Point Parlor No. 158, Native Sons of the Golden West; Miantonomah Tribe No. 9, Improved Order of Red Men; Berkeley Lodge No. 162, Knights of Pythias; Rising Star Lodge No. 537, Loyal Orange Institution of the U.S.; and Acacia Fraternity of U.C. Berkeley.

Masonic participants and invitees include: Host, Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, Free and Accepted Masons; Mill Valley Chapter No. 219, Order of Eastern Star; Firma Lodge No. 27, F & AM PHA; Unity Lodge No. 359, le droit Humane; Order of DeMolay; Bethel No. 246, International Order of Jobs Daughters; Knights of St. Andrews, San Francisco Bodies A.·.A.·.S.·.R.·.; Marin Shrine Club, Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Gen. Morrill W. Marston Chapter No. 413, National Sojourners/Heroes of 76 flag drill team, and representatives of Hero's of '76 Sequoia Camp No. 277.

Select "commercial" exhibitors with products of interest to fraternalists have also been invited and include: A retailer of formal wear; Dunhill pipes and lighters; vintage fountain pens; vintage pocket watches; fraternal estate jewelry.

This event will afford a rare opportunity for fraternalists of many different traditions to join hands in advancing fraternalism in the San Francisco Bay Area.