Talks and lectures

Visiting Masonic lecturers

We maintain an extensive list of speakers & demonstration teams that are available to visit craft lodges and chapters in the Masonic Provinces of East & West Kent as well as to other Masonic Orders in Kent.

We are happy to keep this list up to date as, in keeping with our principles, the speakers are happy to give their time and knowledge for your benefit and pleasure and thereby adding to the enjoyment and understanding of Freemasonry.

Click here to download the latest list of lecturers and demonstration teams (PDF)

The Cornwallis lecture

The prestigious annual Cornwallis Lecture is organised under the auspices of the Kent Masonic Museum & Library Trust to promote Masonic thought, discussion, and understanding.

The inaugural lecture, “Freemasonry Universal”, was written and delivered by the late The Right Honourable The Lord Cornwallis in September 2002. It was delivered at the Winter Gardens, Margate, and was attended by approximately 600 Freemasons and their ladies.

Each year a number of applicants, working under a strict set of rules regarding content, submit a lecture for selection. The final choice from all the applications is made each year alternately by the Provincial Grand Masters of East Kent and West Kent. Once the lecture is chosen, only six official presentations of it take place during that year, and a calendar and list of venues is published by the Trust.

Applications are invited for the next two years

Because the award is made alternately to East Kent and West Kent lecturers, we are inviting applications for the next two years:-

• From West Kent for the year 2025~2026:  apply by 31 January 2025
• From East Kent for the year 2026~2027:   apply by 31 January 2026

Freemasons who would like an opportunity to join the august band of Brothers who have been selected as Cornwallis Lecturers, can download here:-

Cornwallis Lecture – RULES (PDF)

Cornwallis Lecture – APPLICATION FORM for the 2025 Award (PDF) – Applications from West Kent only.

Cornwallis Lecture – APPLICATION FORM for the 2026 Award (PDF) – Applications from East Kent only.

You will need to download this form to your pc to complete it.   The form may then be filled in digitally within Acrobat Reader, saved again to the pc, and then emailed – together with both your Lecture, your Masonic CV and any other attachments – to both the email addresses given on the application form.  Note: these email addresses vary between the East/West Kent years.

Guidance Notes for Lodges and Chapters (PDF) wishing to Host a Cornwallis Lecture presentation

Click here for a list of previous lecture titles (PDF). Full transcripts of all previous Cornwallis Lectures are available to view in our Library and subject to availability can be purchased.

Lodges and Chapters in the Provinces of East and West Kent can also apply via the Trust’s Secretary to be considered as a venue for one of the six exclusive presentations of the Cornwallis Lecture.