Dan Brown To Speak In Hartford, CT

Dan Brown, who thrilled readers worldwide with "The Da Vinci Code" and whose latest novel, "Inferno," was Amazon.com's No. 1 seller for 2013, will appear at the The Bushnell in Hartford in conversation with WNPR radio personality John Dankosky on June 7, presented by The Mark Twain House & Museum.

Tickets are $25 to $75 and will go on sale Friday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. for the general public and on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. for Twain House & Museum members. VIP tickets are $250 and include a pre-event reception with Brown, premium seating and a pre-signed copy of "Inferno." Brown's novels, which explore symbolism and conflicts between science and religion, have 200 million copies in print, in 52 languages.

St. Louis Feast of St. John Friday December 27th

I will be in St. Louis tomorrow for the Tuscan Lodge #360/Crestwood-Anchor Lodge # 443 Feast of St. John Festive Board at 6PM at the Missouri Athletic Club Friday evening. Cost is $65. For more information, see the Eventbrite page here. Looking forward to being there!

First Black Master in Kentucky

From the Messenger Inquirer in Kentucky, Searcy voted first black Masonic master in Kentucky:

A local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of Kentucky, known as Freemasons, will welcome a new leader.

Rick Searcy will become the first black master of a Freemason lodge in Kentucky and, possibly, in the Southeast, he said. He will be installed Saturday at Ensor Lodge No. 729. Seating will begin at 1 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. The lodge, with 140 registered members, is at Kentucky 142 and Kentucky 144. The ceremony and dinner are free and open to the public.

Indiana Library & Museum

I had the honor of being elected as Associate Director of the Grand Lodge of Indiana Masonic Library and Museum today. Many thanks to the Board. I'm looking forward to greater involvement in the Library & Museum this year, and we have great plans in store. First on the agenda is to purchase $1000 worth of books to help get caught up in modernizing the Library. New exhibits are coming, and new video projects are on the agenda, as well. Many thanks to Mike Brumback, our Director, and our IUPUI intern Kelby Dolan, for their hard work over the past year.

Martha's Heart Pin from GL of Maryland

Safely tucked away in the Grand Lodge of Maryland’s museum is a true treasure—a special pin that Martha Washington gave to her husband as a token of her affection. The family tradition is that George wore this pin on the inside of his jacket for nearly 30 years while serving his beloved country.

Gifted to the museum in 1897 by a direct descendant of Martha Washington, it is there displayed as a striking memorial to Brother Washington.

 Now YOU can own a unique piece of history! For the first time ever, the museum has issued an official reproduction—the “Martha’s Heart” pin. Crafted in the United States by master goldsmiths, and hand-enameled, these pins faithfully duplicate the priceless original. Offered in solid 14 karat gold or in sterling silver layered in 14 karat gold, the pin would become a valuable addition to your patriotic collection or as a meaningful symbol of your love and devotion. Approved by the curators of Mount Vernon for sale in their gift shop, the pin is being offered directly to Freemasons and their families at a substantial savings from the regular retail price.

 Martha’s Heart Pin in sterling silver layered with 14k gold with hand enameling $98.50 + shipping & handling.

To order, CLICK HERE.

Wednesday at Illinois' Aurora Commandery

I'll be speaking tomorrow night at Aurora Commandery of Knights Templar in Aurora, Illinois, at Jerusalem Temple, 710 N. Highland Avenue. Doors open at 7:00PM. Hope to see you there.

CBS Sunday Morning to air segment on Freemasonry

From my friend Piers Vaughan in New York:

CBS Sunday Morning to air segment on Freemasonry this Sunday (December .

CBS have just confirmed that, barring major breaking news, the story on Freemasonry by Mo Rocca will be aired this Sunday between 9:00-10:30am EST. This was put together a few months ago, and will feature members of the Grand Lodge of New York, the House of the Temple and other contributors. The intention was to present a fair and accurate view of Freemasonry, rather than the 'shock horror' interpretations aired in recent years.

Fingers crossed.

UPDATE: See the segment here.

Tuesday at Logan Lodge No. 575

I will be speaking Tuesday evening, December 3rd, at Logan Lodge No. 575 in downtown Indianapolis. They meet on the third floor in the beautiful Ionic Room of Freemasons Hall at 525 North Illinois Street. Lodge opens at 6:30PM. I will be speaking on the strange case of Egyptian influence on Freemasonry throughout our history. I'm looking forward to being there.