It has been a while since I highlighted the excellent resource of Solomon in these pages; it remains a key offer of UGLE which supports Masons in understanding more about the Craft, and indeed Royal Arch, and how to get more out of it.
The Metropolitan Grand Learning and Development Officer writes…
A relatively recent update in Solomon is Solomon Live, a monthly webinar incorporating lively, engaging Freemasonry conversation covering all aspects of the Craft and Royal Arch. These webinars are then also made available as recordings for anyone who missed them as live events.
Recent webinars include:
• What makes New and Young Masons’ clubs special?
• Building Modern Freemasonry
• Communicating Freemasonry in the 21st Century
• Discover More in the Royal Arch
• Freemasons and Communities: How do we do Service?
The speakers are always invigorating; and either experts in the topic, very senior members of the UGLE, or both! At the time of writing, there are approximately 25 recordings of previous Solomon Live webinars available for you to peruse and enjoy at your leisure.
A popular addition to Solomon is Mentor’s Corner. This module was created especially for Mentors and Preceptors (a Preceptor is the person who leads a Lodge of Instruction) to help them set up and run online Masonic Gatherings. It includes a series of presentations and quizzes which can be downloaded or adapted, so that everyone can enjoy these events, including:
• Over a hundred nuggets and short papers
• A set of twenty-five papers and handouts to help whomsoever accompanies those of our members who must leave during a Passing, Raising, or Installation;
• Over 70 presentations, demonstrations, and quizzes.
The Solomon team are especially pleased with the recent addition of around 120 ‘Snippets’ to Mentor’s Corner. These are very short (around 3-5 minute) talks that any Mason could deliver; and because of their length are accessible and inclusive. Snippets are grouped into topics, including:
• The Ceremony
• The Ritual
• The Lodge Room
• The Tracing Board
• The Officers
• History
• Famous Masons
• Homilies
• The Royal Arch
In order to make Solomon more attractive, it now also offers ‘badges’ for completion of modules. These badges are based on the ‘Masonic Badge’.
Please remember, especially if you are a personal or Lodge Mentor, that even if you don’t personally find particular materials in Solomon interesting, others may; so please do signpost the valuable material in Solomon to those who could well benefit.
L&D quick links:
This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 55 Summer 2024 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in the Arena Issue 55 here.