Rising Star Lodge

On 26^th February, I attended my first meeting of the London Grand Rank Association (LGRA).  The LGRA is a social group for masons who have attained London Grand Rank or London Grand Chapter Rank.  It meets four times a year at Freemasons Hall for Masonic addresses, discussions and questions with lectures on a number of topics related to Freemasonry, from the history of our institutions to our relevance in the modern age.  

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.