The Rubicon Masonic Society
THE RUBICON MASONIC SOCIETY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND
14th Annual Festive Board & Conference

The Value of Open Debate
in Freemasonry

Festive Board - Friday, August 14th.  Conference - Saturday, August 15, 2026
Spindletop Hall · Lexington, Kentucky
Reserve Your Seat

Eligibility: The Festive Board and Conference are open to Masons of all degrees. Attendance is limited to members in good standing of jurisdictions formally recognized by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.

The Invitation

The Rubicon Masonic Society, together with Lexington Lodge No. 1, the William O. Ware Lodge of Research, and our co-sponsors, cordially invites you to the 14th Annual Festive Board and Conference at historic Spindletop Hall in Lexington, Kentucky.

Join us for a weekend of good food, excellent fellowship, and the gentlemanly debate of questions vital to the future of the Craft.

Friday

The Festive Board

Reception · 6:00 p.m.
Call to Tables · 7:00 p.m.
Dinner, Toasts & Keynote · 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Attire · Tuxedo or Dark Coat & Tie
Open to Masons of All Degrees
$100 per seat
Saturday

The Conference

Welcome & Introductions · 8:30 a.m.
Debate No. 1 · 9:00 a.m.
Debate No. 2 · 2:00 p.m.
Adjourn · 5:00 p.m.
Attire · Suit & Tie
Open to Masons of All Degrees
$100 per seat
Friday, August 14 · Spindletop Hall

The Festive Board

An evening of candlelight and good company — seven traditional toasts, song throughout, and a keynote address — the convivial heart of the weekend.

Brian T. Evans Jr.
Keynote Speaker

W.B. Brian T. Evans, Jr.

Past Master of Lexington Lodge No. 1, 2020 & 2021; Chairman of the Rubicon Masonic Society; and Fellow of The William O. Ware Lodge of Research. Much of W. Brother Evans' Masonic career has been spent in the digital production, preservation, and facilitation of important Masonic topics and presentations from speakers and guests from all over the globe. He is the Executive Producer and Director of the award-winning documentary, "The Masonic Table."

John W. Bizzack
Master of Ceremonies

W.B. John W. Bizzack

Past Master of Lexington Lodge No. 1 and William O. Ware Lodge of Research. Founding member (and current Vice-Chairman) of The Rubicon Masonic Society. He is the author of numerous books on Freemasonry, including the highly acclaimed, Island Freemasonry. He has served the Grand Lodge of Kentucky on the Committee on Masonic Education. A member of the Society of Blue Friars, he is a Director of the Masonic Restoration Foundation and 2nd Vice-President of The Philalethes Society.

Order of the Evening
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Reception
7:00 p.m.Call to Tables & Introductions
7:15 p.m.Dinner Served
ThroughoutThe Seven Traditional Toasts & Songs
Keynote“Providing a Template for Civil Society — Conducting Debate Within a Masonic Lodge.”
To CloseChain of Union & Closing Charge
Attire · Tuxedo or Dark Coat & Tie  ·  Open to Masons of All Degrees  ·  $100 per seat
Saturday's Formal Debates

The Conference

I
Debate No. 1
Saturday, August 15 · 9:00 a.m.

Resolved, that the practice of holding One-Day Classes — in which men are initiated as Entered Apprentices, passed to Fellow Crafts, and raised as Master Masons in a single day — is beneficial to the Masonic Fraternity and should be utilized when it is expedient to do so.

Affirmative Team
Jeremiah Beaver
Jeremiah Beaver
Broad Ripple Lodge No. 643 · Indianapolis, IN
Tracy Burdette
Tracy Burdette
Lexington Lodge No. 1 · Lexington, KY
Negative Team
JC
John D. Cissell
Buechel Lodge No. 896 · Louisville, KY
Darrin V. Gulla
Darrin V. Gulla
Lexington Lodge No. 1 · Lexington, KY
II
Debate No. 2
Saturday, August 15 · 2:00 p.m.

Resolved, that membership in the several appendant bodies of Freemasonry is beneficial to the individual Freemason, and such appendant body membership should be encouraged among the members of the Craft.

Affirmative Team
Chad Lacek
Chad Lacek
Illumination Lodge No. 5 · Chicago, IL
Tim Bramble
Tim Bramble
Lexington Lodge No. 1 · Lexington, KY
Negative Team
Donald Carducci
Donald Carducci
Victory Through Harmony Lodge No. 94 · Montreal, QC
Alan Martin
Alan Martin
Lexington Lodge No. 1 · Lexington, KY
Hotel & Travel

Accommodations

Lexington Downtown Hilton

A block of rooms is reserved at a special rate under The Rubicon Masonic Society Event. Book before July 16 to secure the room-block rate.

Phone · 1-859-231-9000
Toll-free · 1-877-539-1648
Reserve a Room

Airports Serving Lexington

LEX Blue Grass Airport, Lexington 6 miles
CVG Cincinnati / N. Kentucky Int’l 80 miles
SDF Louisville Muhammad Ali Int’l 77 miles
Shuttle Service Hilton ⇄ Spindletop Hall

A motor-coach runs between the Lexington Downtown Hilton and Spindletop Hall on both days. Please be in the hotel lobby by the gather time — the bus departs promptly.

Friday · Festive Board
TO SPINDLETOPLobby by 5:15 p.m. · bus departs 5:30 p.m.
ReturnDeparts the Hall at approx. 10:00 p.m.
Saturday · Conference
TO SPINDLETOPLobby by 7:45 a.m. · bus departs 8:00 a.m.
ReturnDeparts the Hall at approx. 5:30 p.m.
Reserve Your Place

Registration

Option I

Festive Board & Conference

The complete weekend — Friday evening and all of Saturday.

$175
Register
Option II

Festive Board Only

Friday evening reception, dinner, toasts & keynote.

$100
Register
Option III

Conference Only

Saturday welcome, debates & full program.

$100
Register

Eligibility: The Festive Board and Conference are open to Masons of all degrees. Attendance is limited to members in good standing of jurisdictions formally recognized by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.

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