Greetings Bro Jules.
PM x 5.. that sounds like an interesting story to share...
Hi Bloke
Here's a little of my history:
My mother Lodge is Southend-on-Sea, 6484 in Essex, UK. I was initiated in 1983 and installed as WM by my father in 1992.
I heard Lord Northampton, who was Asst GM at the time, talk about his view of the future of Freemasonry, and in particular London. It was inspiring and I decided to join a London Lodge. I joined The Adams Lodge, 3122 in 1996 and was WM in 1999 and 2011.
At that time initiates in London tended to be in their 50s or 60s and I thought about how Freemasonry might be made more attractive to younger people. A particular problem was Lodges that tyle at 4pm on weekdays. It's really difficult for younger people to get away from work to attend Lodge so early. I found a group of like-minded people who wanted a London Lodge that met on Saturday mornings. We found Meridian Lodge, 4106 which was just about to return its warrant due to declining membership numbers. A group of us joined in 2004 and re-shaped the Lodge, I was WM in 2006 and again in 2019. I should be installing my successor for the centenary year on Saturday, but due to the suspension that's not going to happen and it looks like I will serve another year.
Some Masonic friends in Essex thought that some of Meridian's ideas might work there and we petitioned for a warrant to create West Essex Meridian Lodge, 9821. I was founding Senior Warden in 2007 and WM in 2008.
A group of younger Freemasons were chatting on Facebook and decided they would like to be in a Lodge together. I offered to help and we all joined Tetragon Lodge, 6302 which became the 4th London Lodge in UGLE's Universities Scheme. I was secretary for a while, and when I handed over the pen I intended to sit on the back benches and take a rest. The SD emigrated and the WM asked if I would stand in as a temporary replacement. I happily did that, and at the end of the year I was asked to stay in the line. I was WM in 2015; I never thought that might happen.
That's some of my Craft history. I'm quite involved in other orders too, but that's another story.
S&F, Jules