Magic Circle
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- This article is about the magician's organisation. For the Wiccan symbol, see Magic circle (Wicca). For the term used to describe a group of law firms, see Magic Circle (law). For the album, see Magic Circle (album).
The Magic Circle is a British organisation dedicated to magic. Its headquarters is in London, and professional magicians who want to join need to first demonstrate their skills to existing members. There are presently approximately 1500 members in 41 countries.
The Magic Circle was founded in 1905, after a meeting of 23 amateur and professional magicians at London's Pinoli's Restaurant. The first official meeting was held at The Green Man public house in Soho, but meetings were later held in a room at St. George's Hall in Langham Place, where David Devant and Nevil Maskelyne were regularly seen. Devant became the first President of The Magic Circle, and in 1906, Maskelyne edited the first issue of The Magic Circular, a publication that has been a regular feature for Magic Circle members ever since.
The current president (2006) is Alan Shaxon.
The latin motto of the society is "Indocilis Privata Loqui" which means "not apt to disclose secrets." Anyone who explains how a trick is done is subject to immediate expulsion from the society.
The society also runs the Young Magicians Club, which is open to young magicians between the ages of 10 and 18, who cannot yet join the Magic Circle. The Young Magicians Club has its own magazine called Secrets, written by Mandy Davis.