Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): Vol. 18, no. 2, July-December 2026
Perhaps the shadows of summer invite us to pause and open a new issue of REHMLAC+, a space from which to engage with the latest research on the history of Freemasonry. This edition brings together established scholars and a new generation of researchers, who offer original contributions while continuing to refine the methodological tools that make it possible to situate the history of Freemasonry within an increasingly expansive understanding of global history.
The work of those who write history is grounded in a profound conviction: that critical knowledge of the past contributes to the construction of more self-aware and, therefore, more just societies. Reality, however, continues to remind us of the distance separating that horizon from our present. Even so, in times of uncertainty, knowledge and recognition continue to find ways forward. We therefore welcome the fact that, for the first time in history, a historian, Marc Bloch, has received the symbolic honor of entering the Panthéon in Paris. We do not overlook the political dimensions surrounding this gesture, yet they do not diminish the profound significance of publicly recognizing a profession devoted to researching, interpreting, and transmitting the past.
The journal continues to grow. This is demonstrated by the academic community that, since 2009, has made this project possible through its trust, generosity, and commitment. On this occasion, we wish to express our special gratitude to Ana Teresa Rodríguez, of the National University of La Pampa, for her many years of dedication and support as a member of the Scientific Committee, including during particularly difficult moments for her country. We likewise extend a warm welcome to Mariana Annecchini, from the same university, a scholar who coordinated the most recent Latin American congress in the field, held in 2024, and whose incorporation will further strengthen the editorial work of REHMLAC+.
This academic community, built in the digital sphere and sustained through continuous exchange among researchers from different continents, has never sought to replace personal encounters. On the contrary, it recognizes that face-to-face dialogue brings an irreplaceable intellectual and human dimension to the development of our field. In this spirit, from 23 to 26 September, Cagliari, Italy, will host the XVII International Symposium on the History of Spanish Freemasonry, organized by the Center for Historical Studies of Spanish Freemasonry (CEHME) under the direction of historian Emanuela Locci. Its program once again confirms the dynamism of a field that continues to renew itself through the incorporation of new perspectives, questions, and approaches. The dialogue between established scholars and new generations continues to enrich our understanding of one of the most complex and influential forms of association in modern and contemporary history: Freemasonry.
We hope that the pages that follow will not only contribute new knowledge, but also raise new questions, inspire future research, and strengthen the ties that sustain this international community of historians.
We wish you an enjoyable and rewarding reading.
