Unity and Progress Lodge

E Comp The Rev'd Timothy L’Estrange, PGSN writes

Across London, many lodges are seeing fresh interest from prospective members and new waves of Initiates. The number of Initiates is increasing; the volume of direct enquiries from unsponsored candidates has rocketed, the success of “Discover Freemasonry” events is manifest and the numbers of lodges working double or multiple initiations is also on the rise. Whatever may lie behind these welcome successes, it is especially pleasing to see the joy that they bring to the whole Craft.

The philosopher and religious historian Mircea Eliade wrote in his 1958 work ‘Rites & Symbols of Initiation’ that “in the modern Western world, significant initiation is practically non-existent”. He was making a historical point, but I think his sentiment was wrong. From the formal (such as a bar mitzvah or a baptism) to the informal traditions of sports clubs, colleges, and barracks, there is an appetite for drawing people into fellowship through shared experience. And Freemasonry excels at this.

The way we approach every ceremony, the care with which we prepare for it, the style with which we perform it, all really matters.

It matters because these rituals are at the heart of what we do. On our Masonic journey, we have four symbolic rites, and each of us journeys successively through them – Initiation, Passing, Raising, Exaltation. Each builds on what has gone before, for we promote a “progressive science”. And the whole series forms a journey of self-discovery; but one conducted in the constant company of friends, all on the same path.

It is often said that we must make our ceremonies the best they can possibly be “for the sake of the candidate”, and there is much truth in that. However, it is not just for the candidate. A well-performed ceremony, where each Brother has learned his part, is an inspiration to everyone who witnesses it; and builds up the confidence and the experience of each person who participates in it. The candidate benefits from a good ceremony, but so does everyone else in the room!

And when the candidate is enthused by his experience, that enthusiasm becomes contagious. Whether your own initiation was five years ago or fifty years ago, the experience of witnessing a new candidate passing through a beautifully executed ceremony will almost always renew your own sense of adventure in this common fraternal journey.

We are all mentors, and our mentoring begins by guiding the candidate through a meaningful ceremony. Recently I was reading a magazine – one with no Masonic connections at all – and found an article by Paul Hargreaves about recruitment and mentoring in the business world. He stated, “Whilst not all mentoring is from the older person to the younger, much of it is; and engaging with younger people is life-giving and energy-creating, and in my experience benefits the mentor as much as those being mentored”. I think this is very true, and we all gain life and energy by mentoring those who are following us on the path of Masonic progression, starting from the day of their initiation, and sharing with them in the thrill of a meaningful, moving, excellent ceremony.

A few years ago, I was present at an Exaltation in a London Royal Arch Chapter, at which the candidate was clearly moved by his ceremony; and at the moment when the blindfold was removed from his face, his mouth fell open, and he said out loud “Wow!”. Afterwards he tried to apologise for “spoiling the ceremony”! I assured him that he spoiled nothing – on the contrary, he had affirmed every Companion who had worked so hard to make his Exaltation meaningful and he had reminded each person present in that room of the true importance of what we do together in our ritual.

So, welcome to all the newly-initiated. May the wave of new candidates long continue. And I hope that as we all work together to bring the finest possible ceremonies to each person being Initiated, Passed, Raised, or Exalted, it will prove a blessing not only to those candidates, but to each and every one of us, as we gain fresh insights on this wonderful journey, and new energy to pursue it together.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine Issue 58 – Summer 2025 edition.
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 58 here.

Get Arena stories direct to your phone with the Arena App, available for Apple and Android smartphones here: