232 delegates attend ICHF, listened to more than 60 scholarly papers and attended a number of social fuctions.

On the evening preceeding the conference the Grand Lodge of Scotland hosted the NYOS Staffa Award ceremony within Freemasons' Hall.

The NYOS Staffa Award is open to students from eight music Conservatoires in the UK. The principals of the Conservatoires nominate three students for audition in London before a select panel of musicians. Three candidates are choosen to attend a final Award performance.  A £3000 prize is awarded to the most outstanding student to assist in furthering their career in music performance with lesser amounts for the second and third place prizewinners. The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland (founded 1736) was delighted to sponser the 2007 awards.

It can, now, safely be said that the first ever International Conference on the History of Freemasonry was a great success. The conference was held over three days (25th - 27th May). The first conference of its kind attracted delegates from the five continents. The majority were non-Masons most of whom have been researching a variety of aspects relating to Freemasonry and who came together at this conference for the first time. The ICHF is therefore now considered to be an essential 'bridge' between the academic world and that of Freemasonry. Until ICHF Freemasonry (of all types and aspects) could be the subject of study within particular academic institutions but Freemasons, generally, have had no knowledge of the research or the product of that research. Academics from all over the world came to the ICHF and mixed with Freemasons (and many non-Masons) from all over the world and it is expected that the ICHF will henceforth be the international forum for academics to present their findings to an international audience.

The sessions were quite intense with three parallel being held - one in the morning and two each afternoon (not Sunday).

More to follow...