The 2012 Prestonian Lecture

Scouting & Freemasonry:
two parallel organisations?

The annual Prestonian Lecture is the only lecture held under the authority of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and is the oldest and most prestigious Masonic lectureship in the world.

I was privileged to be appointed as the 2012 Prestonian Lecturer with my lecture, “Scouting & Freemasonry: two parallel organisations?”

In my lecture I detail the numerous parallels between Scouting and Freemasonry, as well as three major differences.

Inevitably the issue arises whether the Founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, was a Freemason. In preparing this Prestonian Lecture I undertook new research using primary sources and brought up to date previous work on the subject. Therefore I believe I have the definitive answer to that question. I have also examined how Freemasonry may have influenced Scouting and the contributions of Masonic Scouters.

Moving on, I describe the role of the Kindred Lodges Association and the current and potential future relationships between Scouting and Freemasonry at national and local levels, and the benefits to be had by both organisations.

Finally I outline my personal vision of how Scouting and Freemasonry can be of help to each other as they both face challenges in our rapidly changing society.

However, my lecture is not just an historical analysis or simply a journey into nostalgia. Based on my continued active involvement with Scouting, I describe Scouting today and look to the future at the possible mutually beneficial relationship these two organisations can have at local and national levels.

The Lecture is complemented by a published book that covers the ground in considerably more detail.