FOREWORD: RW Bro Matt Hampson Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master
My last foreword to Arena was drafted shortly after I had been invested as one of the three Deputy Metropolitan Grand Masters supporting the Metropolitan Grand Master and London Freemasonry. Now, just over a year into the role, it is a pleasure to once again draft a foreword to Arena. I am certainly a […]
EDITORIAL: W Bro Nick Saalfeld, Editor
Brethren and friends, Welcome to Arena 52 – as your new editor, it is a privilege to be getting my feet under the desk. My first pleasure is to extend my thanks to my predecessor, Seb Giroux, who has steered Arena to represent London Freemasonry through the pandemic with such poise. Seb, we wish you […]
The London Freemasons’ Charity Match Funding Scheme: Doubling Lodge and Chapter donations to London charities
In 2022, the London Freemasons’ Charity (LFC) embarked on a unique match-funding initiative to support a wide breadth of charities across London, allowing Lodges and Chapters to work in partnership with the LFC to support charities close to their hearts. Under the scheme, each Lodge or Chapter can make one application (which can include a […]
When Absent Brethren need not be
If the isolation of lockdowns through the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we can still maintain contact with our members through technology. Most of us are now happily returning to our Lodges. However, there are still brethren that are unable to venture out to meetings, for example due to ongoing health issues or […]
Special Interest Lodge Gazette
VW Bro John Parry PGSwdB, MetGL Special Interest Lodge Inspector The Special Interest Lodges (SIL) initiative is evolving well. Initially it was about offering an option to ailing Lodges in order to rejuvenate them. Then it was about a fun second touchpoint for members, building membership with Joiners and expanding membership with Initiates. Now it […]
L&D: Engaging Freemasons, developing Lodges
The Metropolitan Grand Learning and Development Officer writes… By now you will be aware of the Members’ Pathway, which contains practical ideas drawn from the successes of Lodges over recent years in engaging members, ensuring meetings are well planned and enjoyed by all, stemming losses and growing memberships. It is the ideal catalyst to help […]
LONDON CRAFT DIGEST: Summer 2023
Here are just a few stories from London Freemasons and the London Lodges that have met over the last few months. GPKL Viking Charity Walk in aid of Medicinema On Saturday 1st July, five members of Grove Park Kent Lodge No 2824 along with four family members completed a 27 mile charity walk in aid […]
Royal Arch Awareness Evening
As part of its continuing commitment to extending knowledge of Royal Arch Masonry, Metropolitan Grand Chapter hosted a hugelysuccessfulAwareness Event at Freemasons’Hall on 5th April 2023. An introduction to the eveningwas given by Assistant Metropolitan Grand Superintendent E Comp. Simon White, who took the Craft Masons present throughtheir journey to date and described that […]
The Royal Arch Welcome Project
John Hervey Chapter No 1260 exalted its newest member, Comp Peter Hesketh during a very special Welcome Project meeting at MMHon 5th June 2023, attended by E Comp Simon White PGSwdB, Assistant Metropolitan Grand Superintendent. There was a largecontingent from the Welcome Project including 11 recently Exalted companions, Welcome Project (RA) Lead, E Comp John […]
Metropolitan Grand Lodge And Chapter Golf Society
Bro Morris Bentley reports A trio of summer competitions. Opening Ode Shield The Metropolitan Grand Lodge & Chapter Golf Society held its opening event of 2023 for the Opening Ode Shield on a chilly and overcast April day at Chipstead Golf Club, Coulsdon, Surrey, founded in1906. Playing off the yellow tees at 5,332 […]
The Blue Table – Attracting new members to Freemasonry
The last meeting of the Polytechnic Lodge No 2847 was another first in the history of our Lodge. Following on from the success of a White Table event held previously at the Old Charterhouse, the Lodge held its first Blue Table Festive Board immediately after its last regular meeting at Mark Masons’ Hall. Some ten […]
The Visitor – Arena’s resident non-resident – travelling London’s Lodges
Turns out there are Masonic Centres all over our great City and I’m visiting all of them: dedicated Masonic Centres, old public houses where our predecessors met and creaky places of yore with a bit of masonic history. I am Bro Edward Compton and I am ‘The Visitor’. Part travelogue, part Through the Keyhole – […]