James Daniel, an English Freemason, was the ANZMRC Touring Lecturer for 2007.

synopsis of presentations

ANZMRC published a book 'Masonic Networks & Connections', based on the lectures offered during the tour.

Education and Career

Jim Daniel was born in Cornwall in 1941 and educated at Truro School, then Brasenose College in Oxford where he read Modern Languages. He left university after four years. He was employed by the British Council for 25 years, serving in Spain, Germany, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Venezuala and finally as Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington DC. On retiring from the British Council, in 1989 he became Grand Secretary General to the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales (the 'Rose Croix'). In April 1998 he was appointed Deputy Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, and then served as Grand Secretary from June 1998 to February 2001 when, in his 60th year, he retired from full-time employment and returned to his native Cornwall.

Projects and Publications

In his retirement Jim Daniel is studying for a MPhil / PhD at the University of Sheffield, working with local charities and sailing his Cornish Crabber.

Activities in Freemasonry

Brother Daniel was initiated in Apollo University Lodge No. 357, Oxford, whilst an undergraduate at Brasenose College. He later joined the Royal Arch, Mark, Mariners, Knights Templar and Rose Croix at Oxford. In 1966 he joined Tregenna Lodge No. 1272 in Cornwall, returning to that Lodge whenever on leave from the British Council. While serving in Munich Bro. Daniel became Master of Friends in Council Lodge No. 1383 in London. During a posting to Sri Lanka in the early 1970's he became Master of St George Lodge No. 2170 EC and was promoted to Past District Grand Pursuivant before he left the island. During his time in Venezuala he was a Lodge secretary.

After returning to Britain he served as Master of Westminster and Keystone Lodge No.10 for its 275th anniversary. Jim Daniel was Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in 2004. He is a Past Master of Royal Somerset and Inverness Lodge No. 4. and has served as a Grand Steward, as well as Grand Secretary. He also holds Grand, District and Provincial rank in several orders beyond the Craft.

He is an honorary member of the North American Conference of Grand Secretaries, a Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, a Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise and a member of the Texas Lodge of Research.