Central Virginia Masonic Con
Sat, Sep 27, 2025 8:30am - 4:00pm
Located at Historic Masons' Hall
1807 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23223, USA
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Join us for an event open to both Masons and those curious about Freemasonry. This will be a day full of masonic education on history, our civic connections, and esoteric aspects.
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Questions? Send email to David Allen and inquire.
Purchase your Ticket Now: $40 + PayPal Fee
Your ticket price includes breakfast and lunch, which will be provided.
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After purchasing a ticket through PayPal, you will be added to the list of ticketed attendees. All proceeds go to Richmond Randolph #19 and are intended to cover costs. In the event excess money is collected, it will be donated to Masons' Hall Historic Preservation efforts.
Event Speakers
Matt Parker
Founder of the North Carolina Masonic Research Society, Chair of the Grand Lodge Committee on Public Relations, member of the Grand Lodge Library Committee, 32° Scottish Right Mason, SJ, and member of the York Rite as well as other invitational bodies and esoteric orders.
Shaun Bradshaw
Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of North Carolina, 33°, KYGCH, OPC
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A “proud Masonic esotericist” because he believes in the transformational power of the Craft’s rituals. He understands the value of Freemasonry as both a fraternity and a Western Mystery Tradition. A passionate promoter of Masonic education in the areas of lodge leadership, administration, and Masonic philosophy.
Jon T. Ruark
Past Master of The Patriot Lodge No. 1957 in Fairfax, VA. His love of technology and gadgets led him to start The Masonic Roundtable as an online dialogue platform. He is an Engineer for the federal government by trade, with Masonic interests leaning toward the esoteric and philosophical aspects of the fraternity.
Akram R. Elias
Past Grand Master of Washington, D.C. (2008) and has 35 years of professional experience in the fields of Public Diplomacy and Cultural Intelligence. MW Elias is a global speaker on the subject of America: The Great Experiment.
Select
Conference
Sessions
Jon Ruark: Stoic Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty
This presentation explores the profound wisdom of Stoic philosophy and its relevance to fostering resilience in today's ever-changing world. As Masons committed to personal development and ethical living, we explore how Stoic principles can empower us to maintain tranquility and strength amidst life's uncertainties. By examining the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, we'll uncover practical strategies for managing stress, making wise decisions, and leading by example. This session aims to equip brethren with the tools to not only withstand adversity but to thrive in it, ensuring actionable pathways in our daily lives.
MW Shaun Bradshaw: The Hero's Journey
We examine the similarities between Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and Freemasonry’s three-degree system. This transformative presentation guides us through each stage of Campbell's monomyth, mapping it onto Masonic ritual and tracing how each degree mirrors the archetypal quest found in myths across different cultures.
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Journey from the initial call to adventure through threshold guardians, to the discovery of the boon, and finally, toward the ultimate destination of "Freedom to Live." This presentation demonstrates how Masonic ritual serves as a counterpart to ancient mythology, achieving the same waypoints: awakening wonder, providing cosmic understanding, establishing moral codes, and guiding personal growth and change.
More than perfunctory ceremony, Freemasonry is a lifelong journey that transforms members into heroes of their own epic stories.
Matt Parker: Subduing our Passions
The foundation of everything in Masonry is understanding and reconciling one’s own passions and ego. This most basic of concepts is the hardest to fully understand. We will discuss our innate passions in the context of Masonry and our journey through our internal work.
Akram R. Elias: Freemasonry as an Initiatic Society and The Great Experiment
The founders of the United States unleashed the greatest experiment in human governance the world has ever known. What is The Great Experiment? How can this experiment be sustained? What was Freemasonry's unique contribution to the experiment? And why on the eve of the Semiquincentennial of America, does the experiment urgently need Freemasonry to return to its core mission - an Initiatic Society that graduates free, enlightened and engaged citizens?
About the Event​
Freemasonry is a tradition that runs for hundreds of years, born in Enlightenment Era values. Masonic lodges exist in part to take good men and help them grow and become better. At this conference we'll cover a range of educational topics to be announced, providing a sampling of what Freemasonry has to offer and how it connects to modern man's experience in 2025.
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Freemasons from all recognized jurisdictions, prospects, and interested members of the general public are welcomed to participate.
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We are looking into organizing an evening festive board as well, if you would be interested in attending, please reach out and let us know.
About Masons' Hall​
With the cornerstone laid in 1785, Historic Masons' Hall is the oldest building in the United States erected for Masonic purposes and continuously used for that purpose. Masons’ Hall defines the Social, Cultural and Historical impact of Freemasonry on Richmond, our Commonwealth, and our Nation. It is a Virginia Historic Landmark and on the the National Register of Historic Places.