Navy Lodge

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Dear Brethren,

Welcome to Arena, edition 60 – I hope it finds you thriving as the sun starts to make an appearance for another year.

It’s been a somewhat confrontational quarter for the Craft with many of the same old tropes we’ve faced for decades making an appearance. I’m not going to add to what has been printed in the press, but as a writer who uses words for a living, I think it is my duty to kick back on a particularly nefarious use of words.

The word that really gets me agitated is “nepotism”. Derived from the Latin, “nepos” (meaning “nephew”), it refers to the act of authority figures favouring relatives, friends, or associates for jobs or benefits, regardless of their qualifications.

And, of course, it’s a word that’s frequently levelled at us Freemasons.

It’s time to put that accusation to bed.

The key part of the definition here is “regardless of their qualifications”. Let me make clear: I have never in my Masonic career seen preferment given to someone without qualification for the task in hand. Not least because that’s a fast track to any job going wrong.

Now, what Masons absolutely do regularly do is: help each other by recommending one another for jobs or benefits, when they are amply qualified to do so. Because there’s no greater honour than to be able to recommend someone you trust and respect to another person you trust and respect, to help them get a job done or solve a problem. It’s something we do every day for our friends and colleagues.

That’s not nepotism. That’s goodwill. And what Masonry gives me – and every other member of the Craft – is a wider social and professional circle, all of whom share the same moral code as I do.

I’m enormously proud of what Masonry gives its members. Everyone should try to find their tribes, the people who will support them in life. Indeed, for some, Masonry is not the answer – but they will find the same support from the Round Table, the athletics club or just the pub. That’s fine – these are the ties that bind and we should be proud of them.

When press commentators confuse breadth of friendship with nepotism, they create resentment. Instead, I am delighted to be a part of just one of many groups that bring people together for the benefit of all.

Would you criticise the local book club in case someone attending it meets another member who turns out to be a great plumber, just when they happened to need to get their radiator fixed? Under the spotlight, the accusation is ludicrous.

It’s not nepotism. It’s connection. Friendship. And integrity. And we should be proud of it.

But back to Arena 60!

By way of housekeeping, let me remind you that Arena now also has an App for your smartphone which includes all the usual Arena articles, latest news stories as they happen, to keep you connected to all things Met and links to Masonic resources, all in one place.

Simply go to wherever you usually get your apps and search for “Arena Online”

For those without smartphones, everything we publish will always be available online at https://www.londonmasons.org.uk/arena.

Please do feel free to get in touch with me directly if you have any feedback on Arena or the App – I always welcome your comments.

And as ever, let me invite you to contribute. You can always contact me with news about your Lodge or Chapter at . aAnd I also regularly ask for comments and feedback on the London Masons Facebook group.

If you would like to write for Arena, we have a growing team, and you will be made very welcome – again please contact me at the email above.

Sincerely, fraternally, and always inquisitively,

Nick Saalfeld

Editor

ARENA ISSUE 60 CREDITS

Founding Editor: Bryan Green

Director of Communications: Omaid Hiwaizi

Editor: Nick Saalfeld

Assistant Editors: Simon Bennett

Proofreading and Masonic Form: Garry Bignell

Design: Omaid Hiwaizi

This Edition’s Contributors: John Bennett, Ian Burgess, Vinny Cochrane, Ian Delvalle, Warren Duke, Sanjiv Gohil, John Haddy, Tony Harvey, Paul Gardner, Paul Grier, Omaid Hiwaizi, Paul Johnson, Ketan Jashapara, John Ledgister, Justin Lee, Peter Locke, Richie Miller, John Parry, Jason Pearson, Eli Pressman, Adarsh Shah, Alex Shoolman, Tony Shepherd, Gideon Shulman, Bogdan Zaha,

Photography: Daren Lewis, Simon Greaves, Jack Boskett

To contact the Editor with features or letters for future editions, please email  

To learn more about Freemasonry, please visit www.londonmasons.org

Special thanks to the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

All Arena materials are © Metropolitan Grand Lodge / Metropolitan Grand Chapter. All rights reserved.

For editorial matters, please contact the Editor.

Comment and articles reflect the writers’ own personal views. The Metropolitan Grand Lodge and the Metropolitan Grand Chapter, as well as the United Grand Lodge of England may not subscribe to, or agree with, those views.

The publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to any unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 60 – Spring 2026.
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 60 here.

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