Letters to the Editor


Dear Brother Editor, Having been initiated into a


London Lodge quite a few years ago, my Freemasonry has been largely experienced in either London or the Home Counties. I had no knowledge of any other working, but understood that there were so-called Masonic Lodges overseas which we were advised against visiting. Occasionally one might meet a Brother from say, Northumberland who would explain the particularities of Masonic workings in that Province or elsewhere in England. Needless to say one could generally identify with this. More recently I met an American who proclaimed that he was a Freemason. I identified myself as a Freemason also but was cautious not to venture too deeply into “comparing notes” in case he was not a member of an overseas Lodge which had the sanction of Grand Lodge. From a general conversation it appeared that we had a very different experience of masonry from each other in the sense of ritual and our discussions never ventured further than a more general consideration of the merits of Freemasonry as an ideal. It appears to me now that with the


“information technology super highway” we now have, that we are now able to research Freemasonry more than ever, at the simple click of a mouse. It is quite easy to watch on


YouTube, enactments of, for example, an American version of the Craft Third degree; completely different from anything that I, in my London Craft Lodge experience, have ever seen. For younger Masons who might care to do some research on these matters this might be a bewildering experience and begs the question of whether we might consider something in a subsequent edition of ARENA on the subject of the different rites. How we might be assured that we identify brethren from overseas lodges, particularly America, lest our secret arts and hidden mysteries become improperly known, if, they are not Masons as we might know them. Of course, I am aware of the multitude of differing rituals and that these differences do not mean that they are not truly Masons. Surely there must be a Brother within MetGL who has the requisite skill and knowledge to enlighten those of us for whom this is a suitable subject in the furtherance of our Masonic knowledge. Perhaps this might be enabled and added to the many other fine courses for London Masons? Yours sincerely and fraternally


W. Bro Stanley J Marut Canterbury Lodge 1635


Well Bro. Stan, I will happily publicise such a course if one is initiated, but I


can tell you that the MetGLandMetGC YouTube channel, launched in early May, is unlikely to feature filmed ritual displays! ☺


***


Dear Sir & Brother, I was delighted to see the letter


from Bro. Davis in the last issue of Arena, seeking support for a Lodge rescue drawing together Brethren interested in the sport of polo. This type of plan, I am sure, is the way forward for some failing Lodges. Assembling a rescue team for an


ordinary general-purpose Lodge with no very distinctive features is difficult. In fact, that's as it should be, because we can all see that there are too many lodges in London for the number of members available. Thus Brethren are liable to think "Why me? Why that Lodge? Why bother?" Instead, there needs to be a good reason before Brethren will be willing to come together and commit the time and effort to a rescue plan. A special interest or theme may be


a viable answer in many cases. If you're highly interested in a particular subject, such as a minority sport in Bro. Davis's case, then it's likely to be attractive to get together with others who share that enthusiasm. Even if it's not a very widespread interest, London masonry is large enough that there are probably some like-minded fellows out there, if only you can find them. If there's currently no Lodge which caters to that interest, then creating such a Lodge gives you the motivating factor for a rescue team, and also a focus for future recruitment to secure survival. The tougher part (and I speak from


experience) is then to find a failing Lodge which is willing to try such an experiment as a way to save its Warrant. Obviously it'll be only by


4 ISSUE 13


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