THE SPEAKERS
Bro. Chuck Dunning
From the Grand Lodge of Texas
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 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.
Bro. Bryan Simmons
From the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
Bryan Simmons, a U.S. Army Veteran, and native of Massachusetts was raised in November 2012 and is a Past Master of Ezekiel Bates Lodge in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Currently, the District Deputy Grand Master of the Massachusetts 19 East District.
Brother Simmons has held many pillar offices in several appendant bodies and has served on several committees for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Brother Simmons thrives in behind-the-scenes work his most notable accomplishment is the founding of Masonic Con in 2016 at Ezekiel Bates Lodge, which
has provided fraternalism and education to countless Brothers across the country.
Brother Simmons has co-hosted podcasts like Worthy and Well Qualified and Arts, Parts, and Points, An Exchange of Masonic Education and Ideas, and Being Human Kind.
Bro. Shawn Bradshaw
From the Grand Lodge of North Carolina
MW Shawn Bradhsaw is a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina (2020).
Shaun’s official Masonic journey began with his initiation into Stokesdale Lodge No. 428 where he was raised a Master Mason in 1997. He served as Master of the Lodge in 2003 and was later appointed DDGM of the 23rd Masonic District from 2005 to 2007. He was elected Grand Master for 2020 and led the jurisdiction through the trials of COVID19.
Bro. Shaun is also an active member of the Greensboro Valley of the Scottish Rite and Greensboro York Rite Bodies, having served in several leadership roles in both organizations. Shaun’s other Masonic affiliations include membership in NC Piedmont York Rite College No. 124, the Royal Order of Scotland, St. Patrick’s Council No. 1, Knight Masons, and Oasis Shrine Temple in Charlotte. Shaun is a member of the Wilkerson College faculty where he leads “The Master’s Toolbox” workshop.
Bro. Akram R. Elias
From the Grand Lodge of Washington DC
Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington DC.
Akram R. Elias’ Masonic journey began on June 18, 1996, when he was initiated into the Society of Freemasonry at Potomac Lodge No. 5, under the Grand Lodge, Free And Accepted Masons, of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC). He received all three degrees of Freemasonry in his Mother Lodge. Since those early days in his Masonic life, Brother Elias has been the Worshipful Master of several Lodges: La France Lodge No. 93 in 1999; Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 in 2001; Cincinnatus Lodge No. 76 in 2003; and Pythagoras Lodge of Research in 2004, all in Washington, DC. He is also a founding member of several Lodges under the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia.
Brother Elias’ involvement in the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia began in December 1999, when he was appointed Grand Marshal. In December of 2000, he was elected as Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge. After proceeding through the Grand Line, MWB Elias was installed as Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia on December 8, 2007 and ended his term in office on December 13, 2008.
Brother Elias is also active in the Appendant Bodies of Freemasonry. He is a member of the Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar, and is also a member of other York Rite bodies such as the College of Rites, the Royal Order of Scotland and the Red Cross of Constantine. He is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, specifically in Almas Temple Shrine of Washington D.C. He is also active in the Scottish Rite Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia, where he is a Past Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose-Croix. MWB Elias received the 33rd Degree, Sovereign Grand Inspector General (Honorary), on October 3rd, 2001.
With “Engage, Energize, Enlighten” as his theme, MWB Elias’ year in the Grand East was an exciting one for Freemasonry in the Nation’s Capital. Local and national government leaders and institutions were engaged, building valuable relationships for the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. With direct assistance to veterans and support for public education and young artists, Freemasonry’s worthy philanthropic and charitable pursuits were energized. Numerous officer workshops and Grand Lodge of Instruction sessions were designed to enlighten lodge leaderships. In May 2008, the Light of Universal Freemasonry shined on Washington, D.C. as Grand Master Elias and the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia hosted the largest gathering of Masonic leaders in history – 121 Grand Lodges – with the 9th World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges.
Bro. Angel Millar
From the Grand Lodge of New York
Angel Millar is the author of “The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality: Craftsman, Warrior, Magician,” which explores the three archetypes from their appearance in ancient, tribal society, through ancient Greek thought, Buddhism, Hinduism to the martial arts, Kundalini, Tantra, inner alchemy, and psychology.
Millar is also the author of several books on the history of Freemasonry and well-known lecturer on the subjects of self-mastery, spirituality, and esotericism. New Dawn magazine has described his work as “…of extraordinary importance in this time of cultural and even spiritual conflict.”
In his review of the book, Mitch Horowitz stated: “Angel Millar is among a golden handful of writers who authentically and practically bridge the gap between primeval wisdom and modern spirituality. Within the triad of ancient and mythical archetypes of the Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality, you will discover your true self. Angel’s book will make you stronger, sturdier, and more learned.”
Bro. Paul C. Smith
From the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire
R. W. Paul C. Smith is Clerk of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (having just completed a two year term as president of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries), an Eagle Scout, a Football Official, and dedicated Freemason. A Mason for more than 17 years, Paul has served as Master of two regular lodges, and two special lodges; served Grand Lodge in office five times; delivered presentations in several states and Canada; written for Living Stones Magazine, the Working Tools Magazine, Philalethes and AMD’s journal, Miscellanea. Paul is a Past Grand Presiding Officer in all three York Rite bodies, and currently serves as General Grand Marshal for the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International.
Bro. Malcolm Wooff
From the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire
RW Malcolm Wooff is currently serving as the Deputy Grand Education Officer of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and has served Grand Lodge in an educational capacity since 2011.
An Englishman by birth and New Englander by choice, he began his Masonic career in New Hampshire in 2008. He has served as Master of two lodges and is an esoteric-minded Brother concerned with the foundings of the Craft and its deeply spiritual nature.
RW Wooff brings a life background of being a punk rocker, a metallurgist, a small business owner, a day trader, and a chief financial officer of a multi-million dollar company. He translates all that experience into understanding his place in the world and why Masonry is so vital to the existence of man.
Bro. Michael Jarzabek
From the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
Raised in Connecticut, R.W. Michael Jarzabek is a member of several Massachusetts lodges. He is a Past Master of Brigham Lodge in Ludlow. He is also a member of Ezekiel Bates Lodge in Attleboro, The Meadows Lodge in East Longmeadow, and The Massachusetts Lodge of Research. He is a Past Junior Grand Warden of The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Lodges of Instruction for the same Grand Lodge. He is a Past Thrice Potent Master of Evening Star Lodge of Perfection in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In addition to the Scottish Rite he is a member of York Rite and the Shrine.
He has been published by several Masonic publications including; The Trowel, Living Stones Magazine, The Midnight Freemasons and the Trowel Magazine. He has spoke at many Lodges about a variety of topics the pinnacle of which was a panel with Robert Johnson and Greg Kaminsky at Masonic Con in 2018. In March 2019 he, Ryan Flynn, and Bryan Simmons started a podcast titled “Arts, Parts, and Points: An Exchange of Masonic Ideas”.
He lives with his lovely wife, Beth, and beautiful daughter, Amelia, in Ludlow, Massachusetts. He works as an electrician.
Bro. Piers Vaughan
From the Grand Lodge of New York
Piers A. Vaughan became a Mason in England in 1979 and has been very active in most Orders ever since, becoming Grand High Priest of New York State in 2014. For the past 25 years he has traveled extensively across the USA, Europe and Australia giving lectures on subjects ranging from history to symbolism and the esotericism of Masonry. An interest in 18th Century French Masonic Ritual led him to translate a number of important treatises and rituals into English. He is also very involved in a number of Orders outside of Freemasonry, predominantly those descended from European Esoteric groups, and is Patriarch of the Apostolic Church of the Golden; Rosy Cross (ACGRC), a church descended from the Pre-Nicene Church of Richard, Duc de Palatine.
In 2002, with a few other local Masons, he established the Rose Circle Foundation, which
ran annual day-long events focused on esoteric topics with a number of speakers from around the
US and Europe, and open to the general public. While this Foundation faded after a decade, the rise of Masonicons and Esotericons show that there is still a huge appetite for this kind of forum. He runs Rose Circle Publications, named in memory of the Foundation, and maintains a blog at rosecirclebooks.com. He is the author of several books focusing on Masonic education (including Renaissance Man & Mason Vols. 1 and 2, and the Capitular Development Course), as well as translating an increasing number of old French esoteric and Masonic texts. His books are available on amazon.com.
Bro. Karl Olson
From the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire
RW Bro. Olson was Raised in Horace Chase No. 72 in 1985. A lover of history and an avid researcher, RW Olson soon developed a reputation in NH which lead to his appointment as Grand Lodge Historian for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire which he served from 2010 to 2013 and was again installed in that position in 2017. He currently serves in that position and works closely with the William Pitt Tavern in Portsmouth, NH.
Bro. Chris Murphy
From the Grand Lodge of Vermont
Bro∴ Chris Murphy, FPS, serves the Grand Lodge of Vermont as the Grand Historian; he is also the current Worshipful Master of Adoniram Lodge №42, and a Past Master and Charter J∴W∴ of Fibonacci Lodge №112, Vermont’s first Traditional Observance Lodge. He is a frequent contributor to the Philalethes Journal, and is the Editor of 2017’s Exploring Early Grand Lodge Freemasonry. Bro∴ Murphy has made a particular study of the spirituality and religiosity of early Masonic culture, as evidenced through the surviving literature of the early Grand Lodge era. He has lectured at Lodges and Masonic events across the country, and is very pleased to have the opportunity to return to one of his favorite Grand Jurisdictions. He lives in southern Vermont, with his wife and two sons.
Bro. Oscar Alleyne
From the Grand Lodge of New York
Brother Oscar Alleyne is the Past Junior Grand Warden for the GL of NY for the term 2018-2021. He lectures internationally on historical, ritualistic, philosophical, leadership, and other topics of Masonic interest and is a member of several Masonic research and invitational bodies. He is a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 and is a Fellow and 3rd Vice President of the Philalethes Society and Fellow & the 1st VP of the Board of the Masonic Society. He is also a recipient of the AASR Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service for work on the Hauts Grades Academy educational program.
A nationally known Epidemiologist with a Doctorate from the New York Medical College, he serves as the Managing Director leading the Public Health Division for the Federally Funded Research and Development Center at MITRE. Previously he was the Chief Program Officer at the National Association of County and City Health Officials in Washington, DC providing executive leadership, innovation, and management of an extensive multimillion-dollar public health portfolio serving the 3000 local health departments across the country distinguished Service for work on the Hauts Grades Academy educational program.