Post by taylorsman on Mar 9, 2005 5:45:57 GMT
This question will tend to apply to those Brethren who live in or near enough to London or who work there and are in London Lodges and/ or Royal Arch Chapters, and asks whch of these do you prefer, if you have a preference and wish to say so and why. If you only wish to vote then fair enough.
In my own case as far as Craft and Royal Arch are concerned I prefer London Masonry although I am a member of two Lodges in the Provinces and one such Chapter. We have the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, ( on which the jury is still out as to its being a benefit or not to Freemasonry in the Capital), but it has not as yet impinged too deeply on the greater autonomy enjoyed by London Craft Lodges and Chapters compared to their Provincial Counterparts. We are left to get on with it as far as Ritual and the running of the Lodge or Chapter is concerned and the VGO will only intervene if he has to or he is asked. Otherwise it's "Carry on Lads" . I find some Provincial Executives Micro-manage their Lodges too much and not a Meeting goes by but there is some lengthy missive from the Prov Grand Secretary "Correcting" them on some point or other which would be better left to the Individual Lodge, its Committee and Master. In London we are left in peace and are only likely to get a visit from one of the Metropolitan Chain Gang , (unless it is a big anniversary for the Lodge or there is a problem), once in a blue moon. Even the VGO doesn't always manage to attend Installations but these still proceed and are enjoyable with or without. I also prefer the simpler and fairer London Honours System, LR, LGR, SLGR to the convoluted Provincial "Past Provincial Senior Grand Whatsoever" which engenders rivalry and even to an extent, sycophancy, favouritism, etc.
As you will know from another Forum I would consolidate the existing Provinces into fewer and larger Regional Groups with more of a purely Administrative role, with Individual Lodges given a lot more autonomy and left to make their own decisions regarding Ritual, (as long as the Landmarks etc were observed), which Charities to contribute to, were to meet, etc . As this would not mean a proliferation of "Chains" they would be too busy to get involved in the minutae of whether a Lodge "Calls Off" or not after the Inner Workings or when two Ceremonies are being worked at one Meeting. As long as these matters were being done correctly that would be up to that Lodge itself.
Well that's my feelings, as far as Craft and RA are concerned I am emphatically in the London camp. Now what say you?
In my own case as far as Craft and Royal Arch are concerned I prefer London Masonry although I am a member of two Lodges in the Provinces and one such Chapter. We have the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, ( on which the jury is still out as to its being a benefit or not to Freemasonry in the Capital), but it has not as yet impinged too deeply on the greater autonomy enjoyed by London Craft Lodges and Chapters compared to their Provincial Counterparts. We are left to get on with it as far as Ritual and the running of the Lodge or Chapter is concerned and the VGO will only intervene if he has to or he is asked. Otherwise it's "Carry on Lads" . I find some Provincial Executives Micro-manage their Lodges too much and not a Meeting goes by but there is some lengthy missive from the Prov Grand Secretary "Correcting" them on some point or other which would be better left to the Individual Lodge, its Committee and Master. In London we are left in peace and are only likely to get a visit from one of the Metropolitan Chain Gang , (unless it is a big anniversary for the Lodge or there is a problem), once in a blue moon. Even the VGO doesn't always manage to attend Installations but these still proceed and are enjoyable with or without. I also prefer the simpler and fairer London Honours System, LR, LGR, SLGR to the convoluted Provincial "Past Provincial Senior Grand Whatsoever" which engenders rivalry and even to an extent, sycophancy, favouritism, etc.
As you will know from another Forum I would consolidate the existing Provinces into fewer and larger Regional Groups with more of a purely Administrative role, with Individual Lodges given a lot more autonomy and left to make their own decisions regarding Ritual, (as long as the Landmarks etc were observed), which Charities to contribute to, were to meet, etc . As this would not mean a proliferation of "Chains" they would be too busy to get involved in the minutae of whether a Lodge "Calls Off" or not after the Inner Workings or when two Ceremonies are being worked at one Meeting. As long as these matters were being done correctly that would be up to that Lodge itself.
Well that's my feelings, as far as Craft and RA are concerned I am emphatically in the London camp. Now what say you?