FEATURE ARTICLES

In honor of Women’s History Month, Laconneau presents a series of articles to empower women by learning about our own true history. Featured this month:

INEZ MILHOLLAND,
WARRIOR FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
(1886-1916)
The Herald Of A Great Movement

A room full of young, progressive, feminist women and not a single person recognized her name. Her “work” was embodying all that it meant to be a new woman, the core of which was suffrage. In 1916, Inez Milholland died for the cause, leaving behind the legacy of a warrior who gave herself completely to the most important battle: equality for women. Now, generations after her death, we, her American daughters, reap the benefits of her life and have no idea who sowed the field.
 
Inez’s parents, John and Jean placed great importance on social justice. “Because of her father’s interest in the underdog, our house was always full of leaders of unpopular causes”(3), Jean recalled. Jean required all her children to volunteer and help the needy through starting a branch of the International Sunshine Society (4). Jean also believed that suffrage was the most critical element of the “New Woman Movement”…
Click to Read the Full Article

IDA WELLS-BARNETT,
CRUSADER FOR JUSTICE  
(1862-1931)
Breaking Barriers: From Racial Equality to Women's Rights




Ida B. Wells was born a slave in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on July 16, 1862, six months before the Emancipation Proclamation freed all of the slaves in the Confederate states.  At sixteen, she was orphaned by an epidemic of yellow fever.  In order to prevent the separation of her family, she became a teacher to support her younger siblings.  Wells became a public figure in Memphis when in 1884 she led a campaign against segregation on the local railway. When she was twenty-two and a teacher in Tennessee, she was asked by the conductor to give up her seat to a white man.  Wells refused. She had purchased a first-class ticket and was determined not to move from her seat. The conductor and two other men literally dragged …  Click to Read the Full Article

ANN MARBURY HUTCHINSON,
AMERICA’S FIRST FEMINIST
(1591-1660)
Courageous Exponent Of Civil Liberty And Religious Toleration

Born in England, Anne Marbury witnessed the religious persecution of her father, a deacon, then rector, who was twice imprisoned because he spoke out against the incompetence and lack of training of the Church of England’s ministers. Anne was home schooled and became as learned in religion and theology as she was influenced by her father’s ideals and assertiveness (2).
 
In 1612, she married Will Hutchinson, bore him fifteen children, and became an expert in midwifery. She left for the colonies with her family in 1634 to seek a less oppressive religious environment and to follow her beloved minister John Cotton (3). Little did she realize that Massachusetts Bay Colony was authoritarian and theocratic; all the ministers were men, the Church controlled the political power (4) and women were judged to be inferior beings with inferior minds forbidden to think… Click to Read the Full Article

MARCH BOOK OF THE MONTH

Misquoting Jesus:
The Story Behind Who Changed The Bible And Why
by Bart D. Ehrman

From Library Journal: “An accomplished scholar of early Christianity, Ehrman (Religious Studies, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) ventures out of the ivory tower in this accessible lay introduction to New Testament textual criticism. He sketches the development of New Testament literature, the gradual accumulation of errors therein through the accidental or intentional revisions of copyists, and attempts (beginning with Erasmus in the 16th century) to reconstruct the original text. Ehrman convincingly argues that even some generally received passages are late additions, which is particularly interesting in the case of those verses with import for doctrinal issues such as women's ordination or the Atonement.”

Reading Room >

FRANCE PILGRIMAGE

The Magdalene: Mother of France
A Spring Pilgrimage to Southern France
March 28 - April 5, 2007

Please Note: At the time of this writing
there is only one space available for this trip.


This spring, Laconneau leads another pilgrimage to southern France to explore the history of the Tradition and its connections with the Cathars and the legend of Mary Magdalene. Throughout nine days of travel, intensive spiritual work and learning, women not only form a more solid foundation for their own spiritual growth, but they also begin to understand the background and solidity of the culture that forms the bedrock of our Tradition.

We welcome you to join us from March 27th to April 5th on a pilgrimage to France following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene.


For information including itinerary, visit: http://www.laconneau.org/trvel.html
To reserve your place, contact laconneau@laconneau.org

More Travel >

SPRING RETREAT

Laconneau Spring Retreat
April 22-April 26, 2007
Artemis House - Greenville, North Carolina

For the first time in North America Laconneau is hosting its traditional Spring Retreat in Greenville NC starting in the evening of Sunday April 22nd and ending on the evening of Thursday April 26th. This is a particularly auspicious time as it coincides with the inauguration in Greenville of the first Laconneau temple in North America. You are invited to join us as we celebrate this event with four days of meditation, reflection, teaching and ritual.

The retreat will lead us into the Spring Festival commencing on the evening of Friday the 27th of April at the same location. Due to accommodation and catering limitations the number of participants in the retreat must be limited to twelve women. You are required to have completed the level 1 class series to be eligible to attend.

Should you wish to join us, due to limited space we suggest that you contact Greenville@laconneau.org as soon as possible to reserve your place and arrange your accommodation. Retreat Fee: $665.00 (Includes lunch but not accommodation.)

Festival Info >

SPRING FESTIVAL

Laconneau Spring Festival
April 27 - April 29, 2007
Workshop, Festival & Women’s Council
Greenville, North Carolina

 
All across Celtic Europe, the season of Imbolc ended at the spring festival, marking the beginning of summer. As with the Fall Festival, this is a time between dark and light, night and day, winter and summer. The veil between worlds therefore is thin, allowing this world and Other World to intermingle.
 
This year, for the first time in North America, we are holding the Spring Festival in the old way, in full accord with the principals of our Tradition. Come join us at Artemis House in Greenville, North Carolina for this wonderful weekend of council discussion, workshops, feminine spirituality and festivities. Lend your voice to the power and love of other sisters such as yourself who feel a burning need to see change in this world.
 
To register, please contact Greenville@laconneau.org.

Spring Festival Information >

ATLANTA, GA:  March Events

Wednesday, February 28
Level I Introductory Course
6:30 p.m.
Decatur, GA
 
Thursday, March 1
Level I Introductory Course (cont.)
6:30 p.m.
Decatur, GA
 
Saturday, March 3
Women's Circle
8:00 p.m.
Roswell, GA
 
Saturday, March 3
Level II Intermediate Course
10 a.m.
Roswell, GA
 
Sunday, March 4
Level II Intermediate Course (cont.)
10 a.m.
Roswell, GA
 
Sunday, March 11
Meditation 3:30 p.m.
Film Screening 4:30 p.m.
Film: Secrets of the Dead: Amazon Warrior Women
Decatur, GA

Monday, March 19
Men’s and Women's Circle
9:30 p.m.
Gainesville, GA

Atlanta Region Coordinator: Atlanta@laconneau.org

GREENVILLE, NC:  March Events

Saturday, March 3  
Women's Circle
8:00 p.m.
Artemis House, Greenville
 
Sunday, March 11    
Meditation
12:00 p.m.
Artemis House, Greenville
 
Sunday, March 25    
Meditation 12:00 p.m.
Film Screening 2:00 p.m.
Artemis House, Greenville
Film: Iron Jawed Angels
                              
Saturday, March 31    
Women's Circle
8:00 p.m.
Artemis House, Greenville
                            
Greenville Region Coordinator: Greenville@laconneau.org

WASHINGTON, DC:  March Events

Saturday, March 3
Film Screening
3:00 p.m.
Film: The Road to Guantanamo
Falls Church, VA
 
Saturday, March 3
Women’s Circle
6:30p.m.
Falls Church, VA
For students who have completed Level I
 
Tuesday, March 13
Level III Advanced Course
6:30p.m.
Washington, DC
 
Wednesday, March 14
Level III Advanced Course
6:30p.m.
Washington, DC
 
Thursday, March 15
Level III Advanced Course
6:30p.m.
Washington, DC
 
Friday, March 16
The Magdalene Seminar
6:00p.m.
Washington National Cathedral

Saturday, March 17
The Magdalene Seminar (cont.)
10:00a.m.- 4:00p.m.
Washington National Cathedral
Washington, DC
 
Sunday, March 18
Level IV Advanced Training
10:00a.m.
Falls Church, VA
 
Sunday, March 18
Women’s Circle
6:30p.m.
Falls Church, VA
For students who have completed Level II and above

DC Regional Coordinator: dc@laconneau.org

PHILADELPHIA, PA: March Events

Tuesday, March 13
Discussion & Film Screening
6.30 p.m.
Film: Iron Jawed Angels

Tuesday, March 20
Women’s History Course
7:00 p.m.
Topic: Inez Milholland: The Herald of a Great Movement. The first in an ongoing series to empower women by remembering our true history.
2020 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Sunday, March 25
Women’s History
1:00 p.m.
Topic: The Women’s Suffrage Movement: From England to the United States
2020 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Philadelphia Region Coordinator: philadelphia@laconneau.org

REGIONAL NEWS

Washington, DC Regional News:
On March 16 and 17, in conjunction with the Cathedral College, Laconneau is proud to present The Magdalene Seminar at The Washington National Cathedral. Are you traveling to DC for The Magdalene Seminar? Please contact dc@laconneau.org for lodging information and availability.
More Information

Greenville Regional News:
The heating and air conditioning have been installed in the new temple! The drywall is scheduled to be installed beginning on March 5. Following completion of the electrical wiring, the final decisions about the flooring will be made and painting will begin. Elaine still needs volunteers to help paint, as well as financial donations to assist with the ongoing building costs. Elaine will announce workdays toward the end of March. Please lend your time and your hands to help this project become a reality. Contact Greenville@laconneau.org to volunteer.

Philadelphia Regional News:
This month, we begin a series of women’s history classes to build the Philadelphia circle and empower women. We will begin with the suffrage movement, learning about the women who were responsible for the passage of the nineteenth amendment that guaranteed women in the United States the right to vote. For more information about this series, please contact philadelphia@laconneau.org.

Website News:
Web Updates: If you have changes concerning your region's activities, please submit them to philadelphia@laconneau.org by the 15th of the month. Your changes will appear on the website by the 1st of the following month.

The Calendar is still undergoing reconstruction efforts. Please check the website in the coming weeks for the new format.

The Women's Affairs section of the website is filling out nicely with new articles by Anna, Lorely, and Alison. View those articles here:
http://www.laconneau.org/womensaffairsInez1.html

Share our laconneau.org web address with others! It’s a great way to network with women who are interested in Laconneau's activities or who want to keep up with our calendar.

CONTACT LACONNEAU

Please contact your region coordinator with questions or updated regional information.

In Atlanta, GA: Atlanta@laconneau.org

In Greenville, NC: Greenville@laconneau.org

In Washington, DC: dc@laconneau.org

In Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia@laconneau.org  

Please visit our website, www.laconneau.org, for the complete calendar, further articles, the book of the month, Laconneau’s history and further information.