Report by W Bro Paul King, Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward

At the Annual General Meeting of Metropolitan Grand Lodge on 1st March 2023, the Metropolitan Grand Master, RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder, announced the London Freemasons' 2023 Appeal.

Bros Terry Goldsmith, Ian Dibbens and Vinay Malhotra with their Proposers and the Worshipful Master and Officers of Imperial Cadet Lodge.

Just two days after the announcement by Sir Michael, The Imperial Cadet Lodge No 3824 met at Mark Masons' Hall. Consecrated in 1918, the Lodge owes its origins to W Bro Col Sir William Watts PDGSwdB. It was his idea that the large and ever-increasing numbers of cadet officers which existed at the time would form a splendid foundation for a Freemason's Lodge.

W Bro Colin Pearce, W Bro Tony Shields PJGD and Worshipful Master W Bro Paul Cooper presenting a cheque for £10,000 to W Bro Paul King SLGR MetGChStwd.

The Great War of 1914-1918 prevented his ideas from coming to fruition as soon as had been hoped, but they were eventually realized when a group of officers from London and Provincial Cadet Battalions, under the sponsorship of the Military Lodge No 2621 at their 85th regular meeting in October 1917, set things in motion.

The prime objective of this recent meeting of the Lodge was to welcome three new Brothers into the order and into the Imperial Cadet Lodge. Mr Vinay Malhotra is a graduate of Cambridge University and work colleague of W Bro Ian Sullivan LGR MetAGSuptWks. Mr Terry Goldsmith, who had attended the Discover Freemasonry event at Freemasons' Hall in 2022. As the longest-serving volunteer of London's Air Ambulance Charity, Terry was so inspired by the presentation given in the Grand Temple that he approached W Bros Ian Sullivan LGR MetAGSuptWks and Paul King SLGR MetGChStwd and asked how he could join the fraternity. Both Brothers were delighted to propose and second him. The third new Brother was Mr Ian Dibbens, a long-time friend of W Bro Andrew Taylor LGR.

All three gentlemen were initiated in fine style by the Worshipful Master, W Bro Paul Cooper, assisted by the officers of the Lodge, with W Bro Tony Shields PJGD presenting the charge after initiation in his inimitable style.

In keeping with the theme of the week, the brethren of Imperial Cadet Lodge voted to donate £10,000 to the Metropolitan Grand Master's appeal. The Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward, W Bro Paul King SLGR, a member of the Lodge, was present and was delighted to accept the cheque. He thanked the Brethren for their generosity and went on to say that this was the first major donation to the appeal announced earlier in the week and that he and his team of assistants would be pleased to attend any Lodge which wanted to donate to the London's Air Ambulance Appeal.

Lodges can contact W Bro Paul King using the "Ask the MetGChStwd" link on Rosetta or using his email address metgchstwd@outlook.com

RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder Metropolitan Grand Master with Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of London's Air Ambulance Charity with Dr John Kao and Dr Harriet Tucker.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 51 April 2023 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 51 here.