THE HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF ANTIENT MASONRY
Representatives of The Order of Women Freemasons were recently invited to the Royal British Legion's summer drinks reception at Draper's Hall in London.
Freemasonry and the armed forces share several core values and organizational structures, leading to significant overlap in membership and historical connections. Both emphasize discipline, loyalty, service, and fraternity, with Freemasonry providing a sense of identity, structure, and team ethos similar to what military personnel experience.
An open day event was recently held at Hamilton Court, a purpose-built sheltered housing property in Essex run by The Masonic Housing Association. Residents are both Freemasons and non-Freemasons.
The Masonic Housing Association (MHA) was founded in 1975 and specialises in the provision of sheltered housing for older people. The Association has five purpose-built sheltered housing properties located in Buckinghamshire (Prebendal Close), Essex (Hamilton Court), Northamptonshire (Palmer Court), Staffordshire (Wilson Keys Court) and Warwickshire (Reading Court) which provide now and in the future living safe affordable fit for purpose accommodation. The Association is committed to providing affordable, quality sheltered housing to Freemasons, their family connections, and others in need that are over the age of 55 who are able to live independently.
MHA‘s voluntary Board of Management, mainly made up a Freemasons, maintains ultimate control and The Order of Women Freemasons is proud to have our Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Mabs Attwood, as a member of the Board of Management.
The Order of Women Freemasons (OWF), the largest Order of Freemasons in the UK, continues to work closely with United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) on promoting Freemasonry. We support all activities across the country including the University Scheme through Masonic Societies and Freshers Fairs.
In May 2026, the Grand Master of The Order of Women Freemasons, Most Worshipful Brother Jean Michele Knight, accompanied by Very Worshipful Brother Elaine Malone, paid an official visit to the Order’s Brethren in Malta.
During the visit, Most Worshipful Brother Knight met with the Grand Master of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta, as well as Right Worshipful Brother Richard Jump, Grand Inspector of Malta for the United Grand Lodge of England, who graciously conducted a guided tour of the Masonic Temple in Valletta. Discussions were also held regarding opportunities for closer cooperation between lodges of The Order of Women Freemasons and those operating under the United Grand Lodge of England in Malta.
The visit followed a significant milestone for women’s Freemasonry in Malta. In December 2025, a group of women travelled from Malta to the Order’s Grand Lodge at Notting Hill Gate, London, and returned home one week later as Freemasons, having been Initiated, Passed, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Lodge Voyagers No. 40. Lodge Voyagers, consecrated in the late 1950s, was established to facilitate the initiation of applicants from overseas. The candidates completed the three degrees within the course of a single week.
From March 1961, The Order of Women Freemasons maintained a lodge in Malta, Lodge St Michael and St George No. 132, meeting in Sliema. The Lodge enjoyed many successful years and attracted candidates from service families stationed on the island. However, the eventual withdrawal of the British Army from Malta led to the conclusion that the Lodge could no longer continue. Although plans remain under consideration, it is hoped that Lodge St Michael and St George No. 132 may be reopened in the future.
It is therefore especially encouraging that the Order now has members in Malta eager to revive the Lodge, while many other interested ladies await the opportunity to join the Order.
Reflecting upon her visit, Most Worshipful Brother Jean Michele Knight said:
“It was a pleasure to reconnect with our new Maltese brethren, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to us by the Grand Inspector of Malta of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Master of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta. Their generous welcome made us feel truly appreciated.”
During 2025 the Order of Women Freemasons donated £25,000 to the Royal British Legion and is delighted to have received a copy of a report (click on image below) highlighting the many ways Freemasons, both men and women, supported the Legion throughout the year including volunteering during the Poppy Appeal, participation in national remembrance activity and providing charitable funding to help ensure veterans and their families receive the support they need.
The report says of The Order of Women Freemasons: “We were especially pleased to include the generous £25,000 contribution made by the Order of Women Freemasons which helped ensure support could be delivered flexibly wherever need was greatest.”
More than 50 representatives from charities, community groups, businesses, civic organisations and youth initiatives gathered this morning at Saxon Hall in Southend for an inspiring networking event dedicated to enhancing wellbeing and expanding opportunities for young people across Essex. The event, hosted by Essex Freemasons at Saxon Hall, brought together organisations committed to supporting and empowering the county’s younger generation.
The Order of Women Freemasons was honoured and delighted to be part of such a worthy event.
Essex Freemasons Bring Community Organisations Together to Support Young People (taken from UGLE website)
Left to right: High Sheriff of Essex Julie Fosh DL, David Barton and Elaine Malone of the Order of Women Freemasons.
Lodge Voyagers No 40 recently welcomed eight candidates from Malta who had flown into London to join The Order of Women Freemasons. They were all Initiated, Passed and Raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason over 3 days and have returned home to Malta as Freemasons.
Lodge Voyagers was set up in the 1950s to help with the Order's expansion plan at the time with the specific task to initiate applicants from overseas. The first Worshipful Master of the lodge was Lucy Bertram O’Hea – most appropriately, as she had done so much to spread Freemasonry for Women within this country. The Lodge had over 300 Founders. Today it has over 900 members and, besides meeting for ceremonies, holds an annual meeting in December where members convene to listen to reports of the progress from the Order's overseas Lodges.
A very happy and festive meeting of Lodge Voyagers No. 40 recently took place at Grand Lodge, 27 Pembridge Gardens, London.
This Lodge meets once per year on the second Tuesday in December when reports are read from the Order's overseas lodges and interspersed with the singing of carols. The Order has lodges in Canada, South Africa, Australia and Spain.
Following the meeting the Brethren met up with friends old and new over a glass of wine and a mince pie or two. A perfect start to Christmas!
Published by United Grand Lodge of England on 17th December 2025
The United Grand Lodge of England (“UGLE”), also acting on behalf of The Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (all of which together represent Freemasonry in England, Wales, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) announces that it has sent a letter before claim in respect of judicial review proceedings against the Metropolitan Police (the “Met”) in response to the Met’s announcement on 11 December 2025 that it has added Freemasonry to its list of declarable associations.
The result of the Met’s new decision is that police officers and police staff who are, or have been, Freemasons will be compelled to inform the Met of their membership and that this will now be a mandatory declaration in its vetting procedures.
While acknowledging recent concerns over police vetting procedures, UGLE considers this decision to be unlawful, unfair and discriminatory against Freemasons, and considers the consultation process which has been followed by the Met to be wholly inadequate, prejudicial and unjust.
UGLE has made clear its concerns to the Met regarding any intended action to introduce a reporting requirement that has the potential to undermine public credibility of male and female Freemasons, or that could impact negatively on its members, or the contribution that they make to society. It believes that mandatory declaration breaches the fundamental rights of the organisations and their members and is also in breach of the Equality Act 2010 and UK GDPR.
Accordingly, UGLE has written to the Met setting out its intentions to seek a judicial review of the decision unless its implementation is suspended immediately.
Commenting on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, Adrian Marsh, Grand Secretary of UGLE, said:
“Freemasonry has the highest moral and ethical standards – standards that have been a cornerstone of its identity since the earliest days of organised Freemasonry over 300 years ago. Our members embody our core values of integrity, friendship, respect and service – and this can be seen across London, the rest of the country, through tireless work within our communities to help those in need. Within individual Lodges, we enjoy the timeless traditions that make our organisation unique around the globe.
The decision by the Metropolitan Police casts an aura of mistrust over the entire Freemason community. Given the obvious, detrimental impact on our members, United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons consider that we now have no choice but to take legal action to challenge this unlawful decision.
We do not take this decision lightly but feel that we are left with no other options, in order to defend the rights of those in our membership, both male and female, present and past, that serve the people of London loyally in any capacity under the banner of the Metropolitan Police.”
Openness of UGLE and Freemasonry
United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons are aware of misconceptions regarding Freemasonry stretching back over a number of decades. In response to this, over the last 30 years, UGLE has carried out significant work to address these misconceptions, bringing public perceptions up to date through increased openness and disclosure about its values and its work in society and for charity.
The success of this work has been borne out by its increased popularity in recent years, especially in attracting younger members, and the number of visitors we have each day to our building in Covent Garden.
The consultation process followed by the Met
Since the consultation was published on the Met website on 29 September 2025 under the title, “Consultation on Freemasonry becoming a declarable association”, UGLE has sought to communicate its position to the Met during two in-person meetings with Commander Simon Messinger and in correspondence with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley. UGLE considers the level of engagement from the Met and the limited justification it has put forward for the decision to be wholly inadequate.
UGLE has made it clear throughout that it has been willing to engage with the consultation, but it was never given the information to enable it to do so meaningfully and fairly.
UGLE is, therefore, extremely disappointed that the Met has reached this decision without a fair consultation process, or any direct engagement with it, or proper notice, on the reasons for this decision. The Met’s failure properly to consult and to publish this new requirement with immediate effect is particularly troubling in circumstances where the Met had agreed to consult fully prior to making any decision and when such a decision affects the regard in which Freemasons are held. It is likewise highly unusual that the Met would not consider any alternative solutions in the knowledge that expensive legal action must follow.
Public statements from the Met since 11 December 2025
In its statement released on 11 December 2025, the Met referred to the reporting requirement being introduced for “hierarchical organisations that require members to support and protect each other” and so being added to the Met’s declarable associations policy. In that statement, the Met also stated that it had discussed the change in policy with UGLE.
UGLE considers these statements to be misleading:
On the Met statement that Freemasons are, “required to support and protect each other” the Met has omitted the true nature of this obligation which is importantly qualified in Freemasonry, where it is primarily a moral one, and the level of support is expected to be within one's ability and without detriment to one's own family or one's duty to the law of the land. Without this explanation, the phrase used by the Met is misleading and capable of misinterpretation. Furthermore, it disregards similar commitments made in most religions, albeit without the same additional aspect of respecting the law of the land.
On the Met statement that “Senior officers have discussed the results of the staff consultation and our decision with the United Grand Lodge of England, which is the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales, as well as the Police Federation and other representative bodies”, the Met implies that effective consultation has taken place. This is not the case.
Regarding the stated evidence base for the decision:
The Met has provided inconsistent and insufficient data - the Met says a survey sent to all c.40.000 Metropolitan Police officers and staff, but completed by less than 5% of them, is enough to justify this move. Meanwhile, the Met subsequently claimed in a radio interview on LBC with Sir Mark Rowley that two-thirds of members supported the change. This statement was not included in the Met statement of 11 December 2025.
T
he Met says that internal intelligence has made this move necessary; however, this intelligence is not public and should be to enable proper public scrutiny.
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he Met says that female police officers and staff have welcomed this announcement - although there is no evidence to support this statement and no explanation being provided for the reasoning behind the decision to the thousands of female Freemasons across the country.
UGLE also believes that the use of the description, “hierarchical associations” by the Met is intended to imply a broad constituency of potentially declarable associations, while the real focus of the new policy is on Freemasons alone, and that the description used is, therefore, disingenuous.
Further, the Met states that it is addressing longstanding concerns over secrecy of any members’ organisation. However, Freemasonry is not a secret organisation, being similar to many organisations where membership is private and regulated under the GDPR legislation. Indeed, unlike most other private organizations, UGLE publishes a list of its c.4,000 most senior members, which is available for purchase from the Shop at Freemasons’ Hall, which is open to the general public daily.
Action to be taken by UGLE
In the light of the legal position, the failure of the Met consultation process, and in order to prevent damage to members, UGLE (also acting on behalf of The Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons) intends to seek a judicial review of the decision in the High Court and has sent a “letter before claim” to the Met outlining the action it intends to take.
Statement from the Metropolitan Police Federation.
UGLE notes the statement made by the Metropolitan Police Federation (“MPF”) on 11 December 2025 that, “forcing police officers to declare their membership in the Freemasons could violate their human rights and is an “unnecessary and wrong” policy. The MPF also questioned the timing and enforceability of the new policy, highlighting that the issue had been debated over decades.
UGLE also notes that the intention to introduce any reporting requirement in the past had always been ruled unlawful.