Saturday 14th June 2025 marked a historic milestone for the future of Benefactum Lodge No 5231 and the London Visiting Team, securing the Lodge’s future and enhancing the already powerful and innovative London Visiting Group.
Consecrated in 1931, Benefactum Lodge was the brainchild of W Bro Reginald Cawdron PGStB.
Founded on five basic principles, the Lodge was established:
- To encourage the propagation of the tenets and principles of Freemasonry,
- To ensure progress through the Chair for younger members of the Craft,
- To remain small, the Lodge should not exceed fifty members,
- To become a Hall Stone Lodge, and
- To develop and practise the Benefactum Ritual.
Development of the Benefactum was Cawdron’s 20-year project. Its focus was to develop a ritual true to understanding, clear in meaning and free of known errors and ambiguities; attending to language and grammar to promote interpretation and delivery. Benefactum Ritual was formulated to ensure that, using the contents of the whole work, there should be no misunderstanding on the part of anyone involved, particularly the Candidate.
The London Visiting Team (LVT) founded by W Bros Guss Addow and Tony Registe, began as a WhatsApp community to empower Brethren of all ranks to visit and assist Lodges in need. Through ceremony participation, role rehearsal, and public speaking development, the initiative has fostered confidence, deepened Masonic knowledge, and created a network of engaged and enthusiastic Freemasons.
Over the past few years, W Bro Philip Price and others of Benefactum Lodge; alongside the LVT, have been exploring ideas as to how Benefactum’s declining membership could be assisted by the LVT by providing essential support for ceremonies.
At the same time, there was a realisation that Benefactum Lodge could assist LVT members who had a long wait to reach the chair (one of Cawdron’s basic principles), and to receive degrees in their own Lodges. Consequently, on 14th June 2025, nineteen members of the LVT attended Benefactum Lodge – with 14 registration forms for Joining Members. The Lodge conducted a double-passing of LVT members. The Deacons, both LVT Fellowcrafts were then raised at the next Benefactum meeting; and they will now submit their own registration forms.
This historic meeting has reignited the spirit of Benefactum Lodge. The Lodge’s partnership with LVT has ensured a joyful and sustainable future while extending the legacy of W Bro Cawdron and his meticulously constructed ritual. Through shared values and mutual support, Benefactum and the LVT stand poised to inspire generations to come.
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 59 – Christmas 2025.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 59 here.
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