Just like a Lodge meeting, the LGRA meets in one of the Temples at Freemasons Hall and has a similar structure to proceedings, with the ‘President’ of the Association occupying the Master’s Chair and presiding over a short agenda, and a Secretary updating the group on Association matters.  Regalia is not worn, and formal attire is not necessary, but members are requested to wear the Association Tie.  Similar to alms, there is even a collection for the guest lecturer’s chosen charity.

The meeting itself is very relaxed, with good humour.  On this particular occasion, we enjoyed an excellent presentation by W Bro Tony Harvey PJGD, who spoke of the subject of the historical and constitutional relationship between the Craft, the Royal Arch and Mark Masonry.  Tony is a researcher, writer and speaker who has been a Freemason for over thirty years.  He is a Grand Officer in the Craft, Royal Arch, Mark and two other Orders within English Freemasonry.  In 2012, he held the United Grand Lodge of England’s prestigious Prestonian Lectureship with his lecture, ‘Scouting and Freemasonry, two parallel organisations?’  Tony also conceived, and was the main author of, United Grand Lodge of England’s Members’ Pathway which, in June 2019, the then Pro Grand Master described as a 'game changer'. 

Tony explained that prior to the Act of Union of 1813, the original Grand Lodges viewed the Craft and Royal Arch in different ways. The necessary compromise in the Act of Union changed this. 

The reference to the Royal Arch being the completion of the Third Degree was a late 19th century invention, – the Act of Union just said that the Royal Arch was included in 'pure Antient Masonry'.  Today the Royal Arch is seen as the completion of the journey begun with Initiation.

The Mark was more closely related to older operative practices. It was omitted from the Act of Union. However, many Craft Lodges continued to work the Mark degrees until a separate Grand Lodge was formed to govern them. In other jurisdictions, the Mark is a pre-requisite for the Royal Arch.

Despite differences in governance, the Craft, Mark and the Royal Arch together form one system, with many links and references to each other.  Tony concluded that only an understanding of the whole system helps our interpretation of each component.  It was fascinating to hear how these three components of Freemasonry were historically connected and, in particular, the Mark’s seemingly forgotten connection to the Craft and Royal Arch.

The group warmly applauded Tony’s excellent presentation, who then kindly took a number of questions from the audience.  At the end of the meeting, a collection was taken to support two charities close to Tony’s heart: the Scout Association Heritage Fund and the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The Association meets on the last Wednesday in the months of February, May, August and November.  The next meeting of the LGRA is on 28^th May, on the subject of the 'RMBI Care Co. – Care services, advice and support for older people'.  If you have London Grand Rank and you would like to attend or find out more about the LGRA, then please contact their Secretary at or pick up a copy of the LGRA Bulletin from the bar at Freemasons Hall. 

Attendance at the May meeting will be open to all Masons and anyone else with an interest in the work of the RMBI.  There is no charge for attendance at the meetings.

If you would like to become a member of the Association, life Membership is just £75.  For those not holding London ranks, Associate Membership is open for a fee of £70.  It’s an excellent way to meet and socialise with other Brethren at the meeting (or in the bar), make new friends and also find out a bit more about Freemasonry: our history and our future development; the organisations and charities we support; and our service to society. 

Previous lectures have included talks on the 'London Air Ambulance', 'Lifelites', 'The Victoria Cross', 'My Year In Tights' [as a Sheriff of the City of London],  'The Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons’ Charity' and the Prestonian Lecture for  2024 – 'The Second Grand Lodge: The Grand Lodge of Ireland, the London Irish and Antient Freemasonry'.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

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Tell us more about this fantastic charity and how you got involved.

MCA Trust was founded in memory of Michael Charles Adams MBE, or "Micky" as he was known to his friends. Micky was passionate about sport and devoted much of his life to helping children and young people reach their full potential. He worked tirelessly to raise money for good causes, particularly in the East London communities where he grew up. Following his death in 2010, we set up MCA Trust to continue his great work.

Our charity is dedicated to supporting children and teenagers undergoing treatment for cancer, and their families, within Essex and East London. A childhood cancer diagnosis is devastating — not just for the child but for parents, siblings, and the wider family. It turns life upside down in an instant. Our role is to step in and help relieve some of the emotional, physical and financial burdens that come with this journey, whether that’s through special experiences, practical support, or easing the transition back to education after treatment.

The Trust provides several programmes to support children and teenagers undergoing treatment, as well as their families. What support do you offer?

Treatment is challenging for the whole family, so we organise well-deserved trips, events and days out, giving children and their families a break and an opportunity to create positive memories together. This could be a trip to a theme park, tickets to see a favourite team play football, or even a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday.

We also provide funding for medical and comfort equipment, helping to improve the treatment experience for children while they are in hospital. In the past we have provided oncology suite refurbishment in Hospitals to help make the experience a little more comfortable for both the child and the parents who stay on-site.  We have also supplied several 'Rockin R Gaming' consoles which are loaded with 32 games. These are used on the oncology suites to help with distraction and help children to be more comfortable during their treatment regime. 

Our Learning at Home Education initiative offers fully funded, one-to-one tuition for children who are unable to attend school due to their treatment. This helps ease the transition back into education when they’re ready.

Of course, fundraising is also a major part of the Trust's role, and you seem to have no shortage of different events to raise funds…

Yes, fundraising is the lifeblood of the MCA Trust, and we’re lucky to have a fantastic community of supporters who help us continue our work. We are proud that 97p from every £1 raised directly benefits those in need. Our annual gala dinners are a highlight of the year, bringing together donors, supporters, and special guests for an evening of entertainment, auctions, and fundraising.

Prem Picks is our football knockout competition. Competitors nominate a team to win a match in football’s Premier League; and if successful, move to the next round. The last person standing wins half the revenue, with the other half being retained by the Charity. It’s a fun and interactive way to get involved, and to date has raised over £30,000.

The festive season can be particularly difficult for families affected by childhood cancer, so we host special Christmas events to bring a little magic to the children we support.

The Trust has also just established The MCA Trust Sports Club in partnership with Everyone Active to help children recovering from cancer treatment to engage in sports activities. Why is this so important to children recovering from cancer?

Sport has always been at the heart of MCA Trust, and we know first-hand how powerful it can be — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. After months or even years of treatment, many children struggle with confidence, isolation, and the physical impact of illness. Getting active again can be a big part of their recovery, helping to rebuild strength, improve mental wellbeing, and restore a sense of normality. Through our partnership with Everyone Active, we’re making sure that children recovering from cancer, along with their families, have access to sports activities in a safe and supportive environment. Whether it's swimming, football, or simply playing together as a family, these sessions provide a vital space for children to have fun, regain their independence, and feel like kids again.

The work the charity undertakes is truly inspirational. Tell us more about the ways people can support the MCA Trust.

The MCA Trust is run solely by volunteers and driven by donations, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships. There are many ways to support us, and every contribution makes a difference, so we are always delighted to hear from people who want to get involved. People can make a one-off or regular donation or leave a legacy donation in their will.

They can also join us at one of our fun and memorable fundraising events. We’re always looking for passionate individuals to help with events, fundraising, and spreading the word about MCA Trust; and businesses can support us through sponsorship, fundraising initiatives, or workplace giving programs, too. We also run a charity lottery, where supporters can enter to win cash prizes while helping us raise funds for our programs.

At the MCA Trust, we fundamentally believe that a child who has recovered from cancer should not have the rest of their life blighted by the experience, and we’ll keep doing all we can to make a meaningful difference to these incredible children and their families.

To find out more and get in touch, visit our website at mcatrust.org.uk.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

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And honours up for grabs:

If you wish to join the only Golf Society in the Metropolitan Province, no matter what your handicap, then please email us at

The website is https://londonmasonicgolf.org.uk/

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

The post Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Chapter Golf Society Update appeared first on Coopers’ Old Boys’ Lodge.

“Amongst the values of Freemasonry are Integrity, Kindness and Fairness. Caring

We are taught very early on in our Masonic careers that benevolence and charity are key cornerstones of Masonry. The London Lodge No 108 is testament to that fact: a Lodge whose members embrace and demonstrate, through their actions, such values and commitment to charitable causes and delivery.

Whilst in 2024 the Lodge successfully achieved its Platinum Award objective by donating £10,000 to the wider Air Ambulance Appeal, its members strived to plan and engage in broader charitable initiatives and good causes.

In the 2022/23 Lodge year, then Master W Bro Richard Spooner, had opted to support Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)[NS1] , which provides critical support and research

into muscular degenerative disorders. Through a combination of fundraising activities, including a fantastic sum of £5,500 raised at the Master’s Ladies Festival, the chosen

charity were most appreciative of this much-needed support.

In the 2023/24 Lodge year, then Master W Bro David Nicholls designated Market Field Farm as his charity of choice. This wonderful charity undertakes to provide employment

and training opportunities for young people with disabilities or disadvantage, paving the way to a productive and fulfilling life less reliant on expensive care and benefits. By combining Alms donations to his Masters List and supported by a delightful Ladies Festival, the Master raised more than £4,000 in that year.

In the 2024/25 Lodge year, the current Master, W Bro Paul Chatfield has chosen Power2Inspire as his designated charity. This charity was founded by a remarkable man, John Willis, who having been born without fully formed arms and legs, sadly suffered much discrimination and exclusion in sports as a child. Determined to overcome such prejudices, John embarked on an inspiring mission to ensure inclusion for young people, irrespective of any disability, physical or otherwise, in the participatory joy and wellbeing of sport.

John now tours schools nationally promoting participation in sport for all, whilst also

taking an active part himself. Despite his disability, John set his own example of canoeing 108 miles along the Thames, inspiring him to pioneer the ‘108 Challenge’ – a

fun initiative of setting a challenge involving 108 of… anything, whether that be running every day for 108 metres or simply catching a ball 108 times without dropping it. Participation, inclusion and fun are the key motives.

By pure serendipity, the “108 Challenge” matched the number of the London Lodge, inspiring the Lodge’s Master to create a novel fund-raising mission involving volunteer members of the Lodge. He hatched a plan to walk 108 km over a weekend along London’s Thames Path, wearing charity branded clothing to raise awareness

and displaying a JustGiving donation link.

Two groups were formed, one walking from the Thames Barrier to Hampton Court and the other joining them at Hampton Court from the other direction starting at Marlow – covering a combined distance of 108 km.

Collectively, whilst walking and networking, the two groups raised almost £7,000 – a truly remarkable achievement highlighting the moral values of Masonic giving and kindness at heart from the public. At the end of the walk, W Bro Paul commented:

“Mission accomplished! It was fantastic to bring together so many Freemasons, all in the name of charity. I am thrilled with the amount we have been able to raise so far. I have known John and Power2Inspire for a long time and the work they do in ensuring sport is accessible for all is outstanding. I am proud that these funds raised will make a real difference. Thanks to everyone who donated – it was tough, but so worth it!”

With the 108 Charity Walk successfully concluded, the Master held a Ladies Festival in February 2025 with the continuing objective of further supporting his chosen charity.

Held in the glorious setting of Leas Cliff, Folkstone overlooking the sea, the sell-out event proved a resounding success with a packed itinerary combining Masonic Festival

tradition with fun-packed fund-raising initiatives which generated a further £8,000 towards the Master’s chosen charity.

Combined, the 2024/25 funds raised by London Lodge No 108 for the Master’s charity have amounted to an outstanding £15,133, leading the Charity’s founder,

John Willis, to comment: “It was a real pleasure and a huge privilege to take part in the Lodge’s Ladies Night, and to see the excellent organisation exquisitely manage the jam-packed dinner programme. We were absolutely thrilled with the fantastic outcome of the raffle and auction”.

By combining the amounts raised for the chosen charities, spearheaded by the individual Masters, together with the £10,000 donation towards the Air Ambulance Appeal, in the last three years London Lodge No 108 has contributed in excess of £34,600 to benevolent and community good causes, helping to fully embrace the virtues of Freemasonry.

London Lodge No 108 Charity Steward, W Bro Richard Spooner comments: “I believe it very true to say that London Lodge No 108 has shown that with effort and charitable imagination, large amounts can be raised in the cause of charity by an individual Lodge”

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Two Brethren of Sanitarian Lodge No 3458, W Bro Ken Gamble LGR and W Bro Brian Topliffe SLGR, are very much involved in their local community in the Abbey Wood area of London. They have just presented a £500 cheque to the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice as part of the Sanitarian Lodge’s fundraising and charity contributions for W Bro Ken's Master's list. 

The longtime friends and fellow Brethren of the Sanitarian Lodge took time out to present the cheque on behalf of the Lodge to the staff of the Hospice.

The Greenwich & Bexley Hospice is an important part of the local community whose mission statement is 'to provide everyone in our wonderfully diverse community to be able to approach death in the way that suits their values, beliefs, and lifestyle'. 

In addition, W Bro Brian has been involved with the Hospice on a voluntary basis since 2017, aiding in their estates department dealing with all things maintenance.

Many thanks to both them and the Brethren of Sanitarian Lodge.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

The post Sanitarian Lodge supports The Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice appeared first on Coopers’ Old Boys’ Lodge.

Due to its proximity to Burns Night, the January meeting of the London Scottish Rifles Lodge No 2310 traditionally incorporates a Burns Night supper into the Festive Board. This year, however, it was held with a significant difference as the Meeting had also been adopted by the Welcome Project and promoted to other Lodges through the REACH network, unique to the Keith Alexander Inspectorate.

Thus, on Tuesday 22^nd January 2025 at 4pm, the Worshipful Master, W Bro Mike McLaren, welcomed 34 visitors and 28 Lodge members into the Grand Temple at Mark Masons Hall to receive Keith Alexander PSGD, Metropolitan Grand Inspector, on the occasion of his official visit.

Thanks to the promotion of the meeting, no less than nine Entered Apprentices and two recently passed Fellow Craft were present to witness the Initiation of Bro Charlie Mitchell-Lyth, a Palace Attendant at the Royal Household and also an instructor to the Scots Guards (formerly London Scottish) cadets.

The ceremony was conducted to a very high standard by the Worshipful Master and his officers, including a faultless explanation of the First Degree Working Tools by Bro Jamie Spencer, an Entered Apprentice and grandson of the Lodge Membership Officer.  Following the National Anthem, the meeting retired to enjoy the Burns-style Festive Board.

For many of the visitors, this was the first time they had witnessed a Burns Supper. The haggis was piped in by the Lodge Piper, Bro Brent Johnston and addressed by W Bro Gary Anderson SLGR. Following a fine meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, strip steak and vegetables and cheese and biscuits, those present were treated to piping by the Lodge Piper accompanied by former Lodge Pipers, W Bro Gary Anderson and W Bro Mike Shanahan; the latter an inpatient of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea and resplendent in his scarlets. The Immortal Memory to Rabbie Burns was given by W Bro Alex McBride LGR.

Following the traditional toasts, the Lodge Secretary, W Bro Steve Lovelock SLGR, gave the toast to the visitors. In his address he stated that there were no less than 34 visitors representing 29 Lodges, ranging in antiquity from Royal Naval Lodge No 59 to Downton Lodge No 9064. Nine Grand Officers and every Masonic Rank below were in attendance – a truly great representation of Freemasons from across the spectrum. W Bro Charles Brookes PAGSwdB of Royal Naval Lodge No 59 gave the response on behalf of the visitors.

Then followed the Toast to the London Scottish Regiment, followed by a lusty rendition of the Regimental Song 'The Hodden Grey'. The evening ended with the ‘Evening Hymn’, perhaps better known as Auld Lang Syne. All agreed the evening had been most enjoyable and hugely successful in its aim of attracting so many new members to witness the ceremony of Initiation.

The London Scottish Rifles Lodge was consecrated on 2^nd May 1889; formed by and for members of the London Scottish Regiment. Whilst remaining true to its Regimental background, it has been an open Lodge since the 1970s. Members of the Lodge served in the Boer War and both World Wars, with 15 making the supreme sacrifice. Most recently, members of the Lodge have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a member of the Circuit of Service Lodges.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

The post London Scottish Rifles Celebrate Burns Night in Style appeared first on Coopers’ Old Boys’ Lodge.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

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It was looking like ceasing to be a viable Lodge: then something remarkable happened. First a trickle of applications arrived, both joining Members and Initiates, then a consistent flow of Intiates – and numbers began to revive,

Joining members have come from as far afield as Grimsby and Lincoln. Soon, membership passed pre-Covid levels and this brought its own problems – as the Lodge needed multiple ceremonies in order to Initiate, Pass and Raise the Brethren.

This culminated in January’s meeting, in which no less than four Brethren were raised – a ceremony not seen in the Lodge’s history and which called on the Ritual team from Grand Lodge to assist in its delivery.

The meeting on 26th March will celebrate not only another two initiates and one joining Member. Furthermore, W Bro Jeffrey Cooper LGR PPJGD will be accorded much credit for 50 Years in Freemasonry; and the Lodge itself will be celebrating 80 Years of Holy-Well.

The Lodge has 2 Lewis Brethren: W Bro Stephen Sheldon LGR with his son Bro Benjamin Sheldon (as well as other family members) and W Bro David Bason PJGD with his son Bro Justin Bason.

We hope our Lodge continues to grow as the happy and vibrant Lodge it is today; and prospers for another 80 years.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

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On 14^th January 2025, Kindred Arts Lodge No 5784 truly had their hands full with a triple Passing and double Initiation! 

The three Entered Apprentices being passed were Bros. Anthony Shaw, Simon Wagman and Anton Rogalskiy; the two new Brethren Initiated are James Craig and Raphael Luzon.

Bro. Raphael is wheelchair-bound, which made the ceremony especially interesting for the Brethren accompanying him around the Lodge. The ceremony was adapted slightly and, as the junior candidate, he was wheeled rather than perambulated by the Senior Deacon, Bro Alex Shoolman. He was presented to the Wardens in front of their pedestals. It all worked out very effectively and lost none of the drama and theatre of the Initiation Ceremony.   

Bro Raphael was a non-sponsored candidate, referred to the Lodge by the Metropolitan Allocation Team, with whom we worked closely.  We are very grateful to the team at Great Queen Street for the allocation of a suitable Lodge room and for providing easy access to the building.     

The meeting was attended by 21 members and 13 guests, including two who contacted us having seen our summons on the London Freemasons Facebook page.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

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W Bro Fabio Venzi, Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy, was the honoured guest of Bee Hive Lodge on 25^th January at Freemasons Hall. He was accompanied by a delegation from the RGLI.

The Lodge was also delighted by the attendance of the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master, VW Bro Julian Soper, DepMetGM, PGSwdB.

Bee Hive Lodge, which features many Masons from Italy, received a fascinating presentation on ‘the Symbolism of the Bee Hive in Freemasonry and the Christian Tradition’, set in the context of European philosophy’s views on the social virtues and cultural benefits of honey and the hive in society from the ancient Greeks to date.

As Bro Fabio stated “The hive represents the virtues of hard work and perseverance, reminding us to be fully committed to all areas throughout life, just as the bees who work diligently for the benefit of their community as a whole”.  The lecture concluded to the acclamation of the many members and visitors present, after which it was the subject of much discussion at the Festive Board.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 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 57 here.

The post Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy visits Bee Hive Lodge No 2809 appeared first on Coopers’ Old Boys’ Lodge.