By Bro Dave Cole, Club Communications Officer
Here at The Kent Club for London Freemasons, we like to give the best experiences to our growing membership, currently standing at a healthy 394. This quarter we have had the pleasure of doing this again.
Following from the well-earned Christmas and New Year break, we were lucky to have been invited to Taurus Lodge No 3981, founded in 1919, which is the private Lodge of the Worshipful Company of Butchers. We were privileged to see the passing of a brother followed by a Burns Night festive board enriched with music by a Scottish piper. This was presented by their twinned Lodge, St John Kilwinning Kilmarnock No 22. Naturally, members and guests continued the festivities afterwards, purely to allow the sumptuous feast to go down with the help of a dram or two! One of our members who attended, Bro Daniel Opila of the Lodge of Reunion and Fellowship No 5625, had this to say:
‘I would warmly recommend all brethren to contact The Kent Club and take the opportunity to visit other Lodges and also to take advantage of meeting Brethren in a more casual way through activities based not only in London but also outside its walls. Such events create great memories and, what is most important, new brotherly friendships which expand our own experience and daily advancement.’
Our thanks to Bro Daniel for your much-appreciated feedback and, of course, to our hosts for a fantastic evening!
In February, our Events Officer, Bro Daoud Himmo, hosted several club members and their partners at the Winemakers Club in Farringdon Street, London. They enjoyed several selected wines in a private tasting. It was a great success, with feedback such as this from Bro Paul Palmer of Antioch Lodge No 3271: ‘I attended with my wife and found the night very enjoyable. Personally, I find that these events address two important parts of Freemasonry: allowing my wife to feel more of a part of the masonic family and meeting Freemasons outside of my own Lodge and Chapter. I love the fact you can meet a mason for the first time, sit down and have a great chat straight away.’ Thank you, Paul - and we absolutely agree with you!
In March, we had a fascinating Zoom session with W Bro Russell Sollof PSGD MetGInsp, who was interviewed by club member W Bro Paul Braham of Rising Star Lodge No 6153. We learnt more about Bro Russell’s background - from playing in a band and growing several successful businesses through to his current masonic role. We also picked up a few tips on how to plan and balance masonic commitments and professional life whilst keeping plenty of time for daily advancement.
Also in March, VW Bro Paul Engeham PGSwdB talked about his role as Grand Chancellor for UGLE. The Grand Chancellor is UGLE’s Foreign Secretary, and Bro Paul told us how being responsible for implementing UGLE’s external relations policies is no easy task. Representing the world’s oldest Grand Lodge can mean taking on the role of the guardian of regularity, especially when dealing with over 200 Grand Lodges worldwide.
Looking ahead, we will have our annual Kent Club BBQ and Picnic; always a popular event for our members and their partners. We will also visit the King’s College School Lodge No 4257 for their Centenary meeting in June, attend the Lord Mayor’s Show and hold another wine and cheese tasting evening. Details of all these events are our website.
Joining the Kent Club for London Freemasons is very easy for the paltry sum of only £10 per year! If this looks like something for you and you like the idea of meeting interesting people, attending unique and specialist events, as well as broadening your masonic horizons, then go to http://londonfreemasons.club/ and sign up! The more, the merrier, and remember our motto ‘Great members and great events make great memories!’
This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 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 48 here.