West London’s youth inspired to change direction through sport, singing and dance, with help from London Freemasons
W4 Youth provides somewhere safe to go and something good to do to young people in West London, aged between 11 and 19. Its members are from all social and ethnic backgrounds and it works to improve their health, well-being and social cohesion by engaging them in sports they love, cool and contemporary singing and […]
Children at risk of exclusion from Brent’s Kingsbury High School and Barnet’s Saracens High School receive mentorship, help and support through sport
Children at schools in Brent and Barnet who are at risk of exclusion from school have received help and support through a tried and tested system of mentoring and sport, thanks to a grant from London Freemasons to the Saracens Foundation charity. The £30,000 grant will support the Saracens Foundation’s Go Forward programme, which uses […]
LONDON ROYAL ARCH DIGEST Summer 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 […]
Coming to a temple near you? The slick, Savage side of the Royal Arch
If the Royal Arch’s standard ritual is a biblical blockbuster then the Savage Club version is for the Netflix generation. Photographs and interviews: W Bro Simon Greaves LGCR That was one view from among about 70 of those watching an exaltation ceremony demonstration of Savage ritual – slightly shorter, more streamlined and re-ordered […]
Special Interest Lodge & Chapter News
Every year in the Summer edition of Arena, we put together a current list of Special Interest Lodges and Chapters (SILCs). The SILCs initiative has gone from strength to strength in 2023/4. The last time we presented this list, there were only some 12-14 fully approved Special Interest Lodges; and Chapters were in their […]
RMBI – Kind, Supportive, Trusted Serving our fraternity since 1842
RMBI Care Co. (The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company), part of The Masonic Charitable Foundation, operates 17 Masonic homes throughout the UK for over 1,000 residents. W Bro Ketan Jashapara reports, Pictures by W Bro Daren Lewis In 2023, generous contributions from the community of Freemasons through direct donations, legacies and donations via […]
Installation of the Fourth Met Grand Master/Superintendent
The 13th May 2024 was a momentous day in the history of London Freemasonry, for it was the day of the Installation of the new Metropolitan Grand Master/Superintendent; only the fourth time this has happened since the formation of Metropolitan Grand Lodge/Chapter in 2003. W Bro Trevor Koschalka reports The scene was set for […]
EDITORIAL
Brethren and friends, I do hope you have enjoyed a restful and glorious Summer. W Bro Nick Saalfeld, Editor If you’re anything like me, you’ll be coming into Autumn slightly fatter – and I’m delighted to report that your Arena is slightly fatter too! It’s a mark of just how much is going on […]
From Kernow to Great Queen Street: Welcoming RW Bro Warren Duke as Metropolitan Grand Master
RW Bro Warren Duke’s path to the top of Freemasonry began in the West (Country). And while he might not have known how far he would travel, there was little doubt he would join the Craft. W Bro Nick Saalfeld reports Photographs by W Bro Daren Lewis “I grew up in Cornwall and came […]
Metropolitan Grand Chapter Annual Convocation Report
There was a chill in the air on a bright sunlit morning as Companions made their way to Freemasons’ Hall for the annual Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Chapter on 17th April, 2024. W Bro Trevor Koschalka reports As the Companions gathered in the beautiful surroundings of the Grand Temple there was much happiness evident […]
Shaving Chops for Choppers
Ahead of Metropolitan Grand Chapter AGM, several other Brethren also showed a new side to themselves – shaving off their beards for the Up Against Time appeal and raising over £15,000…. This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 55 Summer 2024 edition. Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons […]
FOREWORD
VW Bro. Julian R Soper, PGSwdB Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master As the most recently appointed DepMetGM, I wanted to use this foreword to Arena to say a few words about what Freemasonry means to me. The Craft has so many facets that it is difficult to summarise them, but I concentrate here on […]