LONDON CRAFT DIGEST Spring 2024
75 years for a rejuvenated Old Chigwellian Lodge By W Bro Nick Garnish PSGD, Metropolitan Grand Inspector On November 16th 2023, an old school Lodge that had once found itself in risk of closure instead celebrated its 75th anniversary. At the meeting at Mark Masons’ Hall, the Lodge welcomed their Metropolitan Grand Inspector, W Bro […]
Flt Lt Ret’d Colin Bell DFC AE FRICS: Still dauntless and breaking records at 102
In 1981 a diligent and professional Chartered Surveyor who had risen to the giddy heights of District Valuer reached the age of sixty and took retirement from the Civil Service… W Bro Nick Saalfeld But look forward from that calm and measured career and you’ll find an adventurous record-breaker. Look back and […]
LONDON ROYAL ARCH DIGEST Spring 2024
London’s Royal Arch Chapters and Companions continue to revel in each other’s company with installations, inductions, proclamations, 50-year certificates, Centenaries and a flurry of exaltations taking place. Following wonderful convocations full of fervency and zeal, London’s Royal Arch Masons continue to relax and socialise together, raising their glasses and breaking bread, fully embracing the true […]
When MAGI stars align
Metropolitan Assistant Grand Inspectors (MAGI) and their Metropolitan Rulers gathered at London’s Freemasons’ Hall to hear details about the workings of the latest appointments system that replaces the Visiting Officer (VO) hierarchy. Photographs and interviews: W Bro Simon Greaves LGCR Who: I’m John Parry, Director of Metropolitan Events, the Discover Freemasonry initiative and […]
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT: Practical Approaches to Enjoying Masonry
As you will know from previous Arenas, the Members’ Pathway contains examples of good practice that will assist lodges to thrive, including how they might better engage their Members. The Metropolitan Grand Learning and Development Officer writes… One of the threads of the Members’ Pathway in this area is ‘fun and enjoyment’ and […]
A visit to the Carpathians, Military Lodge-style!
As so often in Masonry, it starts with a visit. Two Romanian Masons, Bro Felix Matei and Bro Dragos Calinescu from Heliopolis Lodge No 266, were curious about UK Masonry and attended a meeting in Military Lodge No 2621 three years ago. By David Merrigan They liked what they saw. Covid delayed Meetings, […]
The Visitor attends Poulters Lodge at Wax Chandlers’ Hall
Think everything happens at Freemasons’ Hall? Well, think again. There are Masonic Centres all over our great city and I’m visiting them all: Masonic Centres, the old public houses where our predecessors met and places with a bit of Masonic history. I am Bro Edward Compton and I am ‘The Visitor’. By Bro Edward […]
Young Masons race to save lives for “Up Against Time”
When the Metropolitan Grand Master, RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder, announced the “Up Against Time” appeal at the 2023 Metropolitan Grand Lodge Annual Meeting, the recently invested Metropolitan Grand Stewards decided that they wanted to go over and above in doing their part to meet the goal of raising £3m by October 2024. By […]
We asked you… The Visitor’s Response
One of the benefits of Freemasonry is that it teaches those of us who have never had to stand up in front of other people to speak in public. Thousands of men, previously petrified of being the centre of attention have learned a valuable life skill, and sometimes even to love it. Most Lodges […]
Beyond the Square: W Bro Richard Spooner on “exercising that virtue…”
This back page has often focused on Brethren outside of their Lodges – back in Arena 52, for example, we met W Bro Peter Locke, now a successful writer of children’s books outside of his Masonry. If you’d like to feature in what is now formally called “Beyond the Square”, or know someone we should […]
FOREWORD RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder Metropolitan Grand Master and Metropolitan Grand Superintendent
RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder Metropolitan Grand Master and Metropolitan Grand Superintendent It is a very real pleasure to write the Foreword for Arena, a top quality magazine that really does inform members of what is going on in London and which communicates the key messages that the Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Grand […]
Caring for people with dementia in Greenwich will get a little easier thanks to London Freemasons
More than 300 carers who provide support to a loved one living with dementia in the London borough of Greenwich will get specialist support and advice, thanks to a grant from London Freemasons to the Greenwich Carers charity. The £50,000 grant will fund a dedicated post that operates from Greenwich Carers Centre to provide […]