Write Begins at 80 – A life of storytelling
On his 80th birthday in May, W Bro Peter Locke also celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry. Over those years, Peter has been Master of three different Lodges, including the well-known Chelsea Lodge No 3098, where he is now Almoner, and his mother Lodge, Seven Stars Lodge No 5892, where he is currently Master for the […]
Chomping for Choppers
The newly-invested 2023 cohort of Metropolitan Grand Stewards has planned a series of events during their year in office through which they hope to raise £20,000 for this worthy cause. The first was “Chomping for Choppers”. W Bro Sami Steinbock MetGStwd explains: “Before we were invested, the Craft Metropolitan Stewards had a social to get […]
The Royal Arch Section
The Royal Arch Playlet “Revive and Thrive” By Stanley Haines PGSoj MEZ. As a former Metropolitan Grand Inspector, you never quite know what to expect next in Freemasonry, and it was at my final end-of-year review in January 2021 that I unknowingly talked myself into becoming a playwright. I had remarked that of the fifty […]
Metropolitan Grand Chapter Royal Arch Investiture and Annual Convocation 29th March 2023
As March began with the annual meeting of Metropolitan Grand Lodge, it closed with the annual Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Chapter. The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent, accompanied by the Principals and Officers of Metropolitan Grand Chapter, entered to acclamation and opened the Chapter. ME Comp Gareth Jones, Third Grand Principal, accompanied by several Provincial Grand Superintendents […]
The Kent Club for London Freemasons
An update from Bro Dave Cole, Club Communications Officer GREAT MEMBERS AND GREAT EVENTS, MAKE GREAT MEMORIES! We've had a great few months here at The Kent Club – with the New Year well and truly in the rear-view mirror, but before we look ahead to the summer, let's just look back over […]
The Latest from the Connaught Club
Bro. Michael Parsey, Club Secretary, gives an update on what's going on with young masons in London. Reflecting on the last seven months has been an enjoyable exercise, in part due to the tireless efforts of the committee orchestrating a plethora of successful events but also down to the glowing feedback received from the […]
Initiates’ Dinner (A Younger Mason Speaks)
By Bro Luke Carsson Being the son of a Freemason, and having always been curious about where my dad would go in his dark suit when growing up, I always felt it would be natural to join a Lodge when I came of age. Moving from Northern Ireland to London to study at UCL, […]
The Scrip Purse – A column from the Metropolitan Grand Almoner’s Team
W Bro Darrel Palmer PAGSwdB, SLGCR, Metropolitan Grand Almoner A very warm welcome from the Metropolitan Grand Almoner and his team to our regular feature on Arena. We are looking forward to providing information and interesting stories, this time with a focus on the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the Freemasons’ charity. The Masonic Support Team […]
Metropolitan Grand Lodge Officers
Metropolitan Grand Lodge Officers Met. Grand Master: Sir Michael J Snyder Dep. Met. Grand Master: Warren B Duke, Christopher M Hayward, Matthew D Hampson Asst. Met. Grand Master: Ian K Clark, Robert WR Grant, Jonathan J Hillman, Mark JP Horlock, Julian Robert Soper, Simon AC White Met. Grand Inspector: Keith H Alexander Met. […]
Inventing the Future Learning and Development and the 1723 Constitutions
2023 is a landmark year in English Freemasonry, being the 300th anniversary of the writing of the new Constitutions of the (then) Premier Grand Lodge, which had been founded a few years earlier. The Constitutions were novel in that they embraced Enlightenment principles (which could be characterised as promoting religious tolerance, meritocracy, civility, education and […]
The Creighton Centre
The Masonic Charity Foundation (MCF) has recently awarded a grant of £50,000 to The Creighton Centre to support its Project Homeline. The Creighton Centre (previously known as Bishop Creighton House) describes itself as "a small charity with a big impact" and was founded in 1908 through the foresight and determination of Louise Creighton, the widow […]
Freemasonry Support For Young People Buddy Project
W Bro John Little SLGR reports A donation of £10,000 from The London Freemasons’ Charity is being used to support 14-25 year olds with complex disabilities in London to build friendships for life. The Sense Buddy programme operates in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. It’s for young people who have combinations of physical disabilities, learning […]