The Visitor: The Visitor attends The Earl of Mornington Chapter
My name is Edward Compton and I like to visit Lodges. In fact, I visit a lot of Lodges. Think everything happens at Freemasons’ Hall? Well, think again. By Bro Edward Compton Turns out there are Masonic Centres all over the place across our great City, and I’m visiting all of them: Masonic Centres, […]
Beyond the Square: artist Bro Aaron Goshine
In this edition of Arena, we caught up Bro Aaron Goshine of Highgate Lodge No 1366. Bro Aaron is a talented artist who creates fascinating pieces of Masonic art, which he auctions for charity. Born in Jamaica, Aaron had a passion for art from an early age. “As long as I can remember, I […]
Arena 54 Print Edition
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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 […]