Hornsey Lodge

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On Wednesday 5 November 2025, the Grand Temple was close to bursting at the seams as London came together for the annual London Grand Rank and London Rank Investiture. This year marked the second outing of the new format, and its success was unmistakable: an afternoon session, formally “called off”, allowed hundreds of friends and family to attend and witness their favourite Masons being invested. The galleries of the Grand Temple were filled to the rafters with proud guests – a joyous, supportive atmosphere that has quickly become a defining hallmark of the revised structure.

A remarkable 1,577 tickets were issued for the meeting, with more than 100 on the waiting list and a further 20 VIP guests in attendance. In all, 305 brethren received preferment; 8 to London Rank (7 present) and 297 to London Grand Rank, with 247 of those attending in person. The celebrations continued long after the closing gavel, with 750 tickets issued for the post-meeting drinks reception, where families, friends and supporters joined the investees to share in their achievement.

Against this vibrant backdrop of recognition, community and renewed commitment, the Metropolitan Grand Master, RW Bro Warren Duke, addressed the packed Grand Temple, a speech that we are pleased to reproduce here in full.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, Brethren and Companions,

“Good afternoon.

“I hope you have enjoyed this annual investiture meeting and I am delighted to have been able to invest so many of you with London Grand Rank and London Rank. I have already extended a welcome to our honoured guests earlier this afternoon, particularly our guests who are not Freemasons, and I gladly do so again. I look forward to chatting with you over drinks later.

“The primary reason which brings us all here today is to acknowledge the effort of our investees for their continued commitment to Freemasonry here in London. We are rightly proud of the contribution that you have made to your Lodges and further afield, by supporting Metropolitan Grand Lodge and the wider community in which we live. 

“What you have all contributed to date is so important, but I ask you now to reflect on the future.  I expect recipients of Metropolitan rank to serve as leaders in their Lodges and to do so with humility, as well as supporting each member from the oldest to the newest Initiate. 

“We must all take responsibility to ensure all members are enjoying their Masonry. This is not solely the job of the Membership Officer and Mentor. I look to you for leadership.

“This is all intrinsically linked with our Membership Challenge and I am delighted to report that Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter should both grow by the end of 2025. While the numbers will be small, all being well, we will achieve this unprecedented increase in membership.

“As my team will tell you, I am extremely superstitious, so I make such predictions reluctantly; and while I touch the wood of the Grand Temple pedestal just in case I jinx the outcome!

“If we achieve this growth, it will be due to a colossal team effort from us all over many years.

“Achieving such milestones quickly puts enormous emphasis on 2026.

2025 cannot be a blip, a one off. We must make this a fork in the road and the start of a new trend. We must continue on this path without sacrificing the quality of our membership. Over a year ago, I led with the vision of “It is time to grow”. In 2026, “touch wood” we will progress to “Sustaining Growth”.

“One way is to engage with our Discover Freemasonry events.  We had a wonderful time at our last two Saturday sessions in October; with over 250 men and women attending.  There was a real buzz as non-Masons began to discover who we are, what we stand for and why we enjoy our hobby, with over two thirds submitting applications to join.  It is also a great way to introduce Freemasonry to your friends in a way which will inspire them to join your Lodge.  I look to all those honoured today to engage with initiatives such as these and to support them in whatever ways you can to build your Lodges for the future. 

“This is an appropriate time to thank, not only all those who lead Met and wear the chains, but also those who volunteer within those many groups of Masons who develop what we do: to the teams of almoners, charity stewards, mentors and membership officers, as well as the Discover Freemasonry team, communications team, stewards, exhibitions team and so many more. We have approaching 1,000 volunteers, giving countless hours supporting our members. I hugely appreciate all you do.

“As you know, it is key that we all engage fully to move Freemasonry forward, and UGLE has this year launched the first version of the new membership app, Portal.  I look to any of you who have not yet signed up to do so at the helpdesk in the vestibules as you leave the Grand Temple today. Portal is a key part of our future, so please engage with it now if you have not yet done so.

“Freemasonry, as we know, is based on four strong foundations: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service. As part of Service, Charity is a key element. 

“It was just over a year ago when the two London Air Ambulance state-of-the-art helicopters flew for the first time, with both HRH the Prince of Wales and David Beckham in attendance.  I was privileged to meet some of the crew two weeks ago at the Royal London Helipad. The Metropolitan Grand Secretary and I had the breath-taking experience of flying with them back to RAF Northolt at the end of a very long operational shift for the team.  We conducted a series of interviews, finding out how our £3 million has made a difference to this vital emergency service. Those interviews were filmed and will be included in my Christmas Newsletter to you all in December. 

“But for now, here is a short film which the LAA have sent us on the first anniversary to say ‘thank you’.

[At this point, Bro Duke paused for a video message from the LAA helicopter team, which was warmly received by the assembled throng of Brethren and their families.]

Bro Duke continued, “I think we can all be very proud of the part that we have all played in supporting the LAA.

“With over 27,000 members it is not my practice to single out any one Brother in my addresses but today is an exception.

“I firstly want to recognise someone who is an example to us all as a man and as a Mason.  Bro Colin Bell, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and personally recognised by HM The King in the New Year’s Honours List, is here today. 

“Colin is 104 and, I understand, the nation’s last living Mosquito Pilot from the Second World War.  He is a member of the Royal Airforce Lodge and was initiated 21 years ago.

“In 2023, aged 102, Colin wanted to raise money for three charities close to his heart, including London’s Air Ambulance.  So he became the oldest man ever to abseil, from the LAA helipad of the Royal London Hospital. When told it was 17 floors, Colin reportedly said that falling 2 floors would kill him, so another 15 made no difference! This is typical of the man. 

“On 8^th May this year, Colin led Met’s celebration of 80 years since VE Day in 1945, and raised the commemorative flag from the flagpole on the roof of this building. On this occasion he took the elevator down! I was delighted to be able to surprise and honour him on your behalf with a field promotion to London Rank. His friends say that those initials LR describe him fully: Loveable Rogue.  We are honoured that Colin is here today and I invite him to stand now to receive our applause.

The applause Bro Colin received was understandably rapturous. Colin is also interviewed here in a previous edition of Arena.

Bro Duke then turned to more sobering issues: “Secondly, I am sure that everyone here this afternoon will have heard of the horrific multiple stabbing incident which occurred on an LNER train in Cambridgeshire. A member of staff on the train who intervened to try and stop the attacks is in a critical condition. Another hero of this awful incident is the train driver, our own W Bro Andrew Johnson. 

“Andrew, who has been a Freemason for 25 years, is very heavily involved in all that Met does as a Visiting Officer in the Craft, a Metropolitan Assistant Grand Inspector in the Royal Arch, and one of our Grand Stewards Coordinators.  Andrew is also a former Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy who saw active service in the Iraq War and, above all, is a very popular London Freemason.

“Despite being in the most stressful high-pressure situation, Andrew worked calmly with LNER, diverted the train, and got it to Huntingdon Station in minutes, enabling the emergency services to be there when the train arrived, to provide care for the injured and for the Police to immediately apprehend the alleged attacker. 

“When it was critical, Andrew kept his cool and ensured that he did the very best for everyone on that train.  Many reports and quotes in the media suggest that he saved lives.

“On your behalf, I wish to thank him for all that he did that evening. 

“He will hate me saying it, but he is a true hero and we are all so very proud of him.

“Let me now close by thanking the Metropolitan Grand Secretary and the Metropolitan Grand Director of Ceremonies and their respective teams and of course our men in red, the members of MetGStwds Lodge.  Events such as this don’t just happen and a great deal of effort is required to make it appear so effortless.

“Once again, I extend my sincere thanks to you all for joining us today and supporting those who have been honoured; it is hugely appreciated.  I look forward to meeting a large number of you at the drinks reception directly after the end of this meeting.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, Brethren and Companions: thank you.

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With a sold-out 750 attending the drinks reception afterwards to seal an exceptional and celebratory day, Bro Duke was indeed able to spend valuable time with many Brethren receiving honours and their families.

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This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 59 – Christmas 2025.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in Arena Issue 59 here.

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