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Guest Lectures King James Lectures We are continuing our programme of lectures by speakers of distinction. The 2008 programme, which will be known as the King James Lectures, will be part of the Middle Temple’s own share of joint celebrations commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Royal Charter of 1608. By means of this Charter, King James VI and I granted the land and buildings in the Temple to the Middle Temple and to the Inner Temple on two principal conditions. These were, first, that the land etc should be used “for the accommodation and education of those studying and following the profession of the law, abiding in the same Inns for all time to come”, and secondly, that the two Inns must “well and sufficiently maintain and keep up the aforesaid Church, the chancel and the belfry of the same for ever for the celebration of Divine Service. . .” In designing the series of lectures known as the King James Lectures, the Middle Temple has sought to relate to the modern day some of the achievements and aspirations of King James VI and I. For example, the King James Bible was one of the most lasting consequences of his reign, and, although it was not competed until 1611, it is appropriate to commemorate that great project, in which the King played a significant part. Hence the second lecture, to be delivered by Professor Alister McGrath of Oxford University, the author of one of the two leading contemporary works on the King James Bible. Similarly, King James was known for his policy of acting as a peacemaker, directly or indirectly, in domestic and in international affairs alike, and in the political as well as in the religious world. Hence the first of the four lectures, to be delivered by Daniel Bethlehem QC, the recently appointed Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and himself a Middle Templar. Thirdly, as King James had been King of Scots, for some 16 years (1587- 1603), before he inherited the Throne of England as well, the latter part of his reign (until 1625) started the period of over a century which was known as the Union of the Crowns. The Countries were not, however, united until 1707, and even today the legal systems of the two jurisdictions of England and Wales and of Scotland are still in many ways distinct. In the third lecture, one of the United Kingdom Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, who has previously been Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and then Lord President of the Court of Session, will touch on this general territory in a lecture intriguingly entitled “The Best of Any Law in the World'-was King James right?". We look forward to what Lord Hope has to say about this topic under that mysterious title. Lastly, Lord Currie will devote the final lecture in the series to the fascinating modern day topic of “Regulation and the Media”. He is well placed to do so from his vantage point as the Chairman of Ofcom (the Office of Communications), and the lecture may well start with some insight into how the topic was handled in the time of King James, when it was perhaps just as important a topic as it is now, and if anything even more important for the Monarch personally. The lecture series is as follows: Monday, 25 February 2008 Monday, 7 April 2008 * Monday, 20 October 2008 Monday, 3 November 2008 Arrangements Following the established pattern, each lecture will be followed by questions or open discussion and a reception with wine and light food. The Lectures will • be held in Middle Temple Hall, starting at 6.15 pm prompt. Price: Students and 1st six pupils (any Inn) £9.25 each, all others £18.50 each Tickets should be booked through the Treasury Office, although it may be possible to buy a ticket at the door, subject to availability. |