MCF Sponsored Student
W Bro Adrian Fox catches up with our MCF sponsored research student, Samuel Bryce-Smith. I’m around halfway through my 3-year PhD studentship at University College London (UCL) – which has been funded by the London Freemasons’ Charity. Prior to my PhD, I did an integrated Master’s degree in Biochemistry at the University of Sheffield, graduating […]
Epworth Lodge shine their lights on the Pathway to success
To all external appearances, Epworth Lodge No 3789 could be regarded as just another ordinary London unit facing the same challenges and asking the same questions as many others regarding its future, retaining members and acquiring new ones. Whilst the pandemic has challenged Lodges to consider how they engage with their members outside the regular […]
Arena 46 Print Edition
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Saving a historical Lodge The Shanghai Tuscan Lodge No 1027
Arena investigates The last thing a brother wants is to see his Lodge surrender its warrant and shut down. Yet even a successful and historical Lodge can find itself on a path leading to its disappearance. The Shanghai Tuscan Lodge No 1027 was one such declining unit. Founded in the 19th Century, it survived two […]
Solomon Live and Beyond Part 2
Launched on Tuesday, 6th April, Solomon Live began with a live interview with the Grand Secretary and CEO of the United Grand Lodge of England, VW Bro Dr David Staples on ‘What is Freemasonry?’ Viewed by members around the world from Chennai, India to Nairobi, Kenya and London, it was presented by W Bro Brody […]
FOREWORD RW Bro Warren Duke PJGW, GStwd, Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master
Shortly after the Grand Master suspended Masonic activity on March 17th 2020, I noticed a tweet posted by a Brother that said simply, ‘Now that Masonry has been closed, there has never been a more important time to be a Mason’. I reflected on this for some time. He was right, we must not only […]
Editorial Bro Seb Giroux
Dear Arena Readers, Over a year ago, in an unprecedented move, we had to leave our aprons and gloves behind and store them away for a while. Today, some hope is restored as Masonic activities are resuming. And yet, however tempting it may feel to only look forward to better days, we should not forget […]
In Memoriam RW Bro Lord Millett Past Metropolitan Grand Master 1932 to 2021
Peter Julian Millett was born in June 1932. In 1954, he received his Master of Arts in Classics and Law from Trinity Hall at Cambridge. He was then called to the bar at Middle Temple, London, and served as a flying officer in the Royal Air Force between 1955 and 1957. From 1958 he started […]
The Connaught Club All the latest news
Bro Jack Thornborough, the Chairman of the Connaught Club, updates what’s going on with the young masons in London. As you can imagine, taking over as Chairman during the midst of a global pandemic was slightly challenging to say the least. However, at long last and after a painful separation from the club, we are […]
Man at the Top W Bro Paul Brown PJGD (PGStB) Metropolitan Grand Inspector (Craft)
W Bro Simon Bennett LGR interviews W Bro Paul Brown is a Londoner, born in Coulsdon, South London and was brought up in Purley, an area in the Borough of Croydon. Well-travelled blood flows in his veins as his father was born and raised in Hong Kong, his Grandparents having emigrated to Hong Kong in […]
Four steps forward towards the new normal Annual Metropolitan Meetings
After a delay from the original date, the annual meetings of Metropolitan Grand Lodge, Metropolitan Grand Chapter and the London Freemasons’ Charity went ahead later in the year, with a determination to do what was possible and do it well, while keeping within the Covid-19 regulations in place at that time. This meant that there […]
Portico Lodge travels virtually from Kinshasa to London during lockdown
W Bro Bruce Boxall-Hunt reports During the lockdown, many Lodges turned to technology to help the brethren stay in touch. Portico Lodge No 7950 was no different, and its members used Zoom to contact one another. The Secretary, W Bro Bruce Boxall-Hunt, ran Zoom meetings to keep in contact with all its members. They started […]