World Conference on Fraternalism, Social Capital, and Civil Society (WCF)
World Conference on Fraternalism, Social Capital, and Civil Society
Sponsors of the World Conferences: The American Public University System, The American Military University, The American Public University, Phi Sigma Omega International, Westphalia Press, Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie (Paris), University of Houston
Past events:
WCF 2019:
1000 Degrees: Constructing Fraternal Rites
June 13 - 15, 2019
The Bibliothèque Nationale - Paris, France
Next events:
WCF 2022:
Are the Ancient Landmarks Ancient?
June 9 - 11, 2022
Museum of the Grand Orient - Paris, France
In the wake of the challenges posed by the current pandemic, PSO conferences will be virtual for the time being, and will be hybrid when that becomes possible, which should enable wider participation than before as that will mean including both live and virtual presentations. Early registration will help us handle the logistics and keep you informed. The PSO conferences will be held and are in cooperation with American Public University System.
The World Conference on Fraternalism, Social Capital, and Civil Society, explores how associationalism and volunteerism have shaped democracy, politics, and history. The conferences are held alternatively in Paris (2019, 2021) in odd numbered years and in Washington in even numbered years (2018, 2020). The Paris conferences are held at the French national library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Washington conferences at the historic Quaker Meetinghouse. We are glad to offer complimentary registration thanks to sponsors, but we do need presenters and attendees to sign up so we can provide adequate catering and seating.
Papers are both published in the Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society journal, and in books by Westphalia Press, such as Getting the Third Degree: Fraternalism, Freemasonry and History. Simultaneous translation is offered at the French conference. Both Paris and Washington are preceded by workshops to which scholars are invited to consider original materials and problems in fraternal research.
Subjects have included labor and agricultural movements like the Knights of Labor and National Grange, Freemasonry, Eastern Star and Amaranth, Rotary, college and honor sororities and fraternities, religious groups like the Knights of Columbia, societies that expanded into insurance programs like the Woodsmen of the World, other aspects of freemasonry, clubs, lodges, labor unions, the place of ritual, ceremony and secrecy, and the implications for gender, race, religion, and political legitimacy. Equally welcome are considerations of how volunteerism in these movements contributes to democracy and political life. The conferences gain from having a variety of subjects discussed. The committee are also open to presentations of art, dance, folk music and others if related.
PSO encourages 365 day conferences, those that interact and network between actual meetings and where early postings of drafts encourage ongoing discussion. We try hard to provide continuity so those who attend can mark their calendars with confidence. Our conferences, like our journals, are central to our role in dissemination and conversation. The conference is free for both presenters and attendees, but registration is requested to plan for catering, headsets, and other conference needs. For information and registration please contact PSO Executive Director, Daniel Gutierrez, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The conference has a general interest in fraternalism and is not confined to Freemasonry, nor is it under the auspices of any lodge. Rather, it is supported by the National Library of France, the Policy Studies Organization, and the American Public University.
PSO encourages 365 day conferences, those that interact and network between actual meetings and where early postings of drafts encourage ongoing discussion. We try hard to provide continuity so those who attend can mark their calendars with confidence. Our conferences, like our journals, are central to our role in dissemination and conversation. The conference is free for both presenters and attendees, but registration is requested to plan for catering, headsets, and other conference needs. For information and registration please contact PSO Executive Director, Daniel Gutierrez, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The conference has a general interest in fraternalism and is not confined to Freemasonry, nor is it under the auspices of any lodge. Rather, it is supported by the National Library of France, the Policy Studies Organization, and the American Public University.
The logo for the WCF series will approporiately be the Masonic Symbol of Point in a Circle, represented here in the painting, The Patron Saints and the Point Within the Circle, by Roy Mandell and Margaret Schmidt (Oil on canvas, 2014. Commissioned by John Mercer Lodge in Omaha Nebraska, Master of the lodge at the time: Brother David Long)
A French blog, which conveniently translates on site into English if desired, offers an immense amount about both European and world Freemasonry, of interest to anyone following the activities of the international conferences: https://www.hiram.be/ The blog is both daily and weekly and can be received by simply signing on the subscription form.
International Commission for Fraternalism Studies: Guillermo De Los Reyes (Conference Chair- University of Houston), Paul Rich (George Mason University), Daniel Guiterrez-Sandoval (Policy Studies Organization), Pierre Mollier (Editor, Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society), Alain Bauer (National Conservatory for Arts and Crafts), Brent Morris (Scottish Rite Supreme Council), Yasha Beresiner (InterCol London), Guillermo Izabal (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP).
Conference Chairs:
Paul J. Rich, President of the Policy Studies Organization, Westphalia Press
Pierre Mollier, Editor-in-Chief of the Ritual, Secrecy & Civil Society journal
Guillermo de los Reyes, University of Houston
Past events:
May 18, 2018
The historic Quaker Meetinghouse, Washington DC
May 26 - 27, 2017
The Bibliothèque Nationale - Paris, France
May 27 - 30, 2015
The Bibliothèque Nationale - Paris, France
Videos: Grand Auditorium, Petit Auditorium
Sponsors for the World Conferences on Fraternalism, Social Capital, and Civil Society
