The Gallery Lodge

RW Bro Christopher Hayward, PJGW writes…

As I reflect on London Freemasonry in this Foreword for Arena, having just been re-appointed as your Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master for my fifth and final year, I am reminded of the resilience of Freemasonry, not just in London but across the world.

This is my 44^th year of membership of our Craft and during that time I have witnessed many progressive changes which make us as relevant to society today as we have ever been.

When I first joined in 1981, we really were a ‘secret society’ and I almost trembled every time I met a Grand Officer!

Today, we are much more open and transparent; and even more engaged with and dedicated to our communities than we have ever been. The digital revolution and the internet have transformed our communications, but thankfully we still remain true to our tenets of ‘Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth’ – as relevant today as they have ever been.

In London, I have witnessed our emergence from the Covid pandemic and seen a greater influx of younger members – the future of our Craft – than ever before.

Our leadership, too, has changed with the smooth transition as Metropolitan Grand Master from Sir Michael Snyder to Warren Duke taking us into yet another new generation of stewardship.

As I said at our recent AGM and SLGR Investiture, we London Freemasons are indeed so lucky to have Warren now at the helm. His quiet, dignified, clear and decisive leadership is already charting a clear way forward for us in Metropolitan.

Under our New Metropolitan Grand Master, we are being rightly challenged to return to an era of growth in London and we must all rise to that challenge set by RW Bro Warren to make this opportunity to grow a reality.

As the seasons change, so must we London Freemasons change to find new and innovative ways to recruit more new Members into our wonderful Fraternity.

Freemasonry changed my life for the better and gave me so many new friends who, as my fellow Brethren, have enriched my life and continue to do so.

I hope too that London Freemasonry brings you that joy of ‘service above self’ and that together we can continue to take our Craft to new heights in the ensuing years.

I hope that you enjoy this, yet another action-packed edition of Arena.

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.