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W Bro John Woodhouse LGR, Charity Steward of The United Engineers Lodge No 3862 writes:

Coming up to my 50 years in Freemasonry, this was possibly my proudest moment in the Craft.

On 5th March 2025, I was summoned to attend the Metropolitan Grand Lodge at Freemasons Hall, on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting. The afternoon began with a procession into the Grand Temple, led by the Metropolitan Grand Sword Bearer, one of our members, W Bro Mike Bracken OBE, followed by the Metropolitan Grand Master, RW Bro Warren Duke and his Officers.

Shortly after the conclusion of general business, I had the pleasure to witness the investitures of Senior London Grand Rank on two further members of my Lodge, namely W Bro Rick Tully and W Bro Ian Dodd.

Then to complete the foursome, as Charity Steward of The United Engineers Lodge No 3862, I was escorted to the floor of the Grand Temple, in the presence of over 1,800 distinguished guests and high-ranking Officers, to be presented by the Metropolitan Grand Master with a splendid wooden box with our Lodge name and number carved on the lid. It contained three beautiful wooden mauls, in recognition of my Lodge’s effort in raising over £25,000 towards the London Air Ambulance Appeal, which, in total, has raised over £3m in 20 months. I have now requested, with the Master’s approval, that our Director of Ceremonies distributes these mauls to our Master and his wardens so that they can be put to good use for all further meetings.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine Issue 58 – Summer 2025 edition.
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 58 here.

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