Special Interest Chapter News The Vikings are coming!
On 24th February 2024, a Viking raiding party arrived in London, not as in times gone by as invaders, but as Companions of the Royal Arch, answering the Summons of the East & West Chapter (E&W) No 5410. The Chapter installed its Principals for the ensuring year and welcomed their Metropolitan Grand Inspector, John […]
“Because that man was me!”
W Bro Mark Smith PSGD is Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Essex and a member of Maguncor Lodge, 3806 in London. He told a very moving and insightful story at the Metropolitan Grand Lodge AGM on 6th March 2024. Here’s what he said: “There was a doctor from the First World War. He […]
Celebrating 20 Years of Metropolitan Grand Lodge
W Bro Daniel Graham On the evening of February 13th 2024, the Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a splendid black-tie banquet. Hosted at the prestigious Guildhall in the City of London, the event was meticulously organised by the Metropolitan Events Team, with the invaluable support of 30 […]
Plenty of Support for Ceremonies with Multiple Candidates
As the Metropolitan Grand Master states in his Foreword to this issue of Arena, we see ceremonies with multiple candidates – where the candidates proceed through the ceremony together – as a key initiative going forward. VW Bro. Julian R Soper PGSwdB, AMetGM They allow a Lodge to admit more candidates and progress […]
LONDON ROYAL ARCH DIGEST Winter 2023
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 […]
Knocking on the door of Freemasonry
Photographs and interviews: W Bro Simon Greaves Meet seven fresh faces who attended a Discover Freemasonry evening at Freemasons’ Hall At Arena, we think it’s important that we keep the torch alight by being relevant to younger, newer candidates. When hundreds of potential Freemasons visited our London headquarters to find out more about […]
Generation Z discovers Masonry
By Omaid Hiwaizi PAGDC, MetGCO “If you want to share a community and make a difference, then come along:” Four Young Freemasons tell us what Freemasonry is to them. Freemasonry has long been an institution steeped in tradition, with a rich history that stretches back centuries. But in recent years, our ancient fraternity […]
The Met Mess Dinner: And a guest even more cautious than us…
By W Bro Daniel Graham The iconic BBC TV show “Top Gear” has cemented its place in popular culture over the years, captivating audiences with its exhilarating car tests and enigmatic racing driver, the Stig. The question “Who is the Stig?” once dominated the list of the UK’s most Googled searches, turning the […]
Arena 53 Print Edition
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Metropolitan Grand Lodge London Grand Rank Investiture
W Bro Trevor Koschalka reports Photographs by W Bro Sam Bassan 2023’s London Grand Rank Investiture took place on 1st November. The beautiful GrandTemple contrasted starkly with the wet and windy autumnal day that the Brethren andtheir families and friends had experienced on their way to Freemasons’Hall. After a briefing from the Metropolitan […]
LONDON CRAFT DIGEST Winter 2023
London Rugby Lodge raises over £20,000 in one night In April 2022, 15 Brethren had joined the struggling St Mark’s Lodge No 857, with the intention of transforming it into a rugby Lodge forLondon. Just 17 months later, with a change of name approved by Grand Lodge, Saturday 2nd September 2023 saw London RugbyLodge […]
Special Interest Lodge News: Dogs and Dinner: the elegance of the Connaught Lodge
Some riddles with which to open. Why might the Connaught Lodge No 3270 have a claim to the title of the oldest Special Interest Lodge? And why does the Royal Kennel Club – arbiter of all things canine in the UK, including the legendary Crufts – have a Masonic Lodge? Well, inevitably many of the […]