Third International Conference: May 29 - June 1, 2008
The beautiful historical city of Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for the Third International Conference of the Association for the Study of Esotericism. The College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785. It is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of South Carolina and the thirteenth oldest institution in the United States. In 1836 the College became the nation’s first municipal college. The campus is located in historic downtown Charleston, only a brief walk from the visitor’s center and the waterfront. The city of Charleston has many museums, art galleries, theatres, restaurants, and special performative events. The conference dates coincide with the Spoleto Festival which runs from May 23, 2008 to June 8, 2008. Spoleto is a major national performing arts festival.
The city of Charleston also has a distinguished esoteric history, particularly in relationship to Freemasonry. Solomon’s Lodge #1, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized October 29, 1736 at Shepheard’s Tavern on the corner of Broad and Church streets, which is one of the oldest taverns in the United States. Within the old walls of Charleston, in a section in which the French Huguenots once lived, was Simmons’ Alley, later renamed Lodge Alley, in reference to the Masonic lodge first established there in 1773. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, Ancient York Masons was established in 1787. The Scottish Rite Masons founded the first Supreme Council in Charleston in 1801. There is a Masonic walking tour, which begins in Lodge Alley. For additional enjoyment, there is also a nighttime Ghost Walk.
The ASE Conference will be held in the newly constructed Beatty Center on the College of Charleston campus. To learn more about the campus, visit the College website. The theme of the conference is “Esotericism, Religion, and Nature.” The program will consist of paper presentations on the conference theme, plus a variety of additional topics such as magic, alchemy, astrology, esotericism and mysticism, spiritualism, occultism, hermetic thought, contemporary esoteric movements and teachers, and Asian influences on Western traditions. Dr. Barbara Newman (Northwestern University) and Dr. Wouter Hanegraaff (University of Amsterdam) are the invited keynote speakers. During the conference, the Cathedral Girls’ Chorus will perform Llibre Vermell de Montserrat (1399) on Friday afternoon, followed by a banquet Friday evening. On Saturday Dr. Guy Beck (Tulane University) will perform sacred music and chants of India.
The ASE is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
