So 2025 draws towards its close. Probably like you, I have been looking back on the year that has gone and shaping my hopes for the future.
English Freemasonry continues to feel vibrant and optimistic. Leadership from the top is being matched by inspired appointments of new Provincial Grand Masters / Grand Superintendents. More and more Lodges are re-energising and adapting to create “great experiences of Freemasonry”, suited to twenty-first century lifestyles. Those that cannot find their way to do this are probably struggling. More of these will close – that is the nature of evolution. But I am sure we will be reporting net growth across an increasing number of Provinces in 2026.
In the English Constitution we have seen several changes in the rules and regulations around the relationship between the Craft and the Royal Arch, and in the membership journey from one to the other. Some have criticised these changes but for me they are entirely consistent with the 1813 Act of Union, which created an umbrella covering both the Craft and Royal Arch, “pure Antient Masonry.” So, to me the “One organisation, one journey” rhetoric is long overdue. I know the relationship is different in other constitutions!
UGLE has launched Building Together, the “harmonisation” of the Members’ Pathway and Archway. It makes great sense to integrate the materials to support the “one journey.” Back in 2017 Mike Baker and I suggested an enhancement called the Companions’ Pathway. I guess it was too soon back then, although I am sure Mike would be as pleased with Building Together as I am.
I have worked my way through the materials and congratulate those who have completed this work. The structure is better, more logical and intuitive. The content is faithful to the original material from the Members’ Pathway. I do have some constructive suggestions for the next update, and I have offered those to the right people. I am just grateful they are still listening to me!
The last few years have taught me that Lodges alone are unlikely to satisfy all that many new members want from Freemasonry. Light Blues Clubs and associations such as the Widows Sons play an essential part, complementing what Lodges provide. I feel privileged to be an honorary member of various Light Blues Clubs and Widows Sons Chapters and thank them for embracing the message of rejuvenation, modernisation and engagement that has been at the core of my work for some time. I shall continue to support them and promote their activities in my talks and other projects.
My 2025 has also included the usual mix of personal highs and lows.
Wherever I have gone, whether to deliver a talk or just visit, I have been universally welcomed and looked after and I have thoroughly enjoyed the company of brethren. It is quite amusing and a little flattering when someone tells me they recognise me but cannot remember where from. Then we both have some fun trying to figure it out.
It has been another busy year for delivering talks, with thirty across the UK, Jersey, Canada and the USA. I have also delivered online talks for Masonic bodies and groups in Pensylvania, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Israel and New Zealand.
The majority of those have been in connection with my book, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Lodges, and its theme of rejuvenation and modernisation of Lodge practices. I am already scheduled to deliver thirteen talks in 2026 and am dealing with several more enquiries. If you want me to deliver a talk to your Lodge or Chapter, in any part of the world and in any time zone, you only have to ask. If invited, I will come, in person if I can, online if I cannot.
The book itself features in the Lewis Masonic best seller list. I am now getting people ask me for more copies as they realise that Lodges need more than one if they are to plan and implement real change. It is not too late to order a signed copy for a Christmas present, which you can do here.
I am excited that the first follow-up to Seven Habits will be published in 2026. This will be a practical workbook, giving Lodges the tools to take stock and improve their management practices.
Talking of books, I am working on several projects at present. I am two thirds of the way through re-writing a Lewis classic, to update and modernise its contents. But I have put that to one side for now to concentrate on researching and writing the Tercentenary history of St Alban’s Lodge No. 29. This incredible Lodge was constituted in 1728 and is one of the nineteen “red apron Lodges” with the privilege each year of nominating a member to serve as a Grand Steward. Its history is fascinating, a real case study in evolution and change. As a result, it is a thriving Lodge and I am proud to be its most recent member. I hope to join the ladder to the chair next year. It feels like I am starting all over again, which I find refreshing and stimulating.
Most of my writing nowadays is meant for wide consumption and is intended to be easy to read or follow. Years ago, at the beginning of my career, I was a researcher and published a good number of academic papers. Publication of these require a different set of disciplines and follows in-depth scrutiny by academic peers. I decided to test my research into membership patterns in Freemasonry using this academic filter and am delighted that the Manchester Association of Masonic Research (MAMR) has published my paper, Towards a Thriving Organisation – What Does Our Membership Data Tell Us?, in its 2025 transactions. MAMR published John Belton’s own research into membership just over 20 years ago. Their support for my paper gives my work academic credibility and opens the door to further investigation by the research community.
I am also writing several new talks for Lodges and Chapters. One will cover new developments in the relationship between Scouting and Freemasonry, and the others are related to membership and Lodge development.
As for Scouting and Freemasonry, there are several exciting opportunities now developing. I am working closely with the President of the Board of General Purposes, Jon Whitaker, Scouting’s Chief Volunteer, Carl Hankinson, and the Chairman of the Kindred Lodges Association, Pat Farr. In September we launched Square & Compasses Support Team, a national Scout adult membership unit for Freemasons and their partners. This gives members full membership of The Scouts, enabling them to attend events and provide occasional or ad hoc service locally and for national or major events. My dream is to see teams of us providing a service for Scouting activities, wearing polo shirts and Scout scarves, promoting the message that Freemasons are supporting Scouting. You can join Square & Compasses by signing up at https://bit.ly/SquareAndCompasses.
One event Square & Compasses will no doubt support will be the World Scout Conference to be held in London in 2027. One and half thousand delegates from all the world’s Scout organisations will attend World Scouting’s three yearly policy making and planning event. It is an opportunity to bring together many Freemasons from around the world, and to showcase the relationship between the two organisations. We are already planning a Lodge meeting at Freemasons’ Hall, and I have requested an item on Freemasonry be placed on the conference agenda. You can find out more here.
Diane and I recently attended the opening of the Syd Kesseler Centre at Gilwell Park, the Scout Association’s national headquarters and flagship adventure centre. In recognition of the £44,700 raised so far for The Scouts through my books and talks, they named the meeting room in the centre “The Square & Compasses Meeting Room.” Among others, we met the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, who wanted to learn about the connection between Scouting and Freemasonry and the opportunities for collaboration. I just happened to have a signed copy of my book for him!
I cannot mention Scouting without referencing two awards I was privileged to receive during 2025. The first was the totally unexpected Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, presented to me by the Grand Master of Pennsylvania after I spoke at their annual congress in May. This award is one of Scouting America’s Community Organisation Awards and has never before been awarded to an English Scout or Freemason.
Just three months after that surprise, I had another. In August, I was deeply moved to hear I had been awarded UK Scouting’s highest award for good service, the Silver Wolf. I never expected to receive this but was so pleased to learn I was nominated locally and that the nomination referred to my work to promote the links between Scouting and Freemasonry.
My District lead Volunteer, Catherine Halls-Jukes, presented me with the award at Gilwell Park in September. This made it so special and memorable, with many Scouting friends present. They included my Cub Scout Leader and Scout Leader from my first Group, the 4th Erith, past and present members of the UK leadership team, family and personal friends, Lord Baden-Powell and other members of his family.
I then had a Masonic presentation organised by Walesby Forest Lodge in Nottinghamshire, where my dear friend and mentor Pat Farr made the presentation.
It has been another great year for raising money for charity, with £6,349.80 being received and a total of £6,400 going to two of my charities, the Masonic Charitable Foundation and The Scouts. I thank each and every person who has contributed to these donations and all the Lodges which have supported me.
On my personal Masonic journey, I completed my year as Master of Aetos Lodge No. 3702, the Derbyshire in London Lodge, and almost immediately was Installed as Master of The Mark Provincial Grand Secretaries Lodge No. 1641 and then as First Principal of St George’s Chapter No. 5. I consider holding these positions to be a great privilege as they are both significant in their own right, although for very different reasons.
I was also elected an Honorary member of two repurposed Lodges, Metropolitan Mentors Lodge No. 8055 (its purpose and location are in the title) and Llangattock with Howardian Lodge No. 2547 (the new Scout Lodge of South Wales). Both memberships came after I delivered talks in the Lodges concerned and I count it a great honour that the members wanted me to have a lasting connection with them.
Finally, two projects I am hugely proud of are Lifelites and the development of the Grand Master’s Keystone Fund (G.M.K.F.) Bursary Scheme. Lifelites provide assistive technology to enable children with life-limiting conditions to play, communicate and experience unforgettable moments of connection and joy. I am entering my final year as its Chair of Trustees and am delighted to work with a largely new board of talented and committed people. I hope my legacy will be a firm foundation for its future success.
The G.M.K.F. Bursary Scheme operates within the Mark Benevolent Fund and provide bursaries to enable members and their dependents to pursue their ambitions in education, vocational, sporting or performance studies. I was a member of the steering group which created the scheme and am Deputy Chair of the Awards Panel. The scheme opened for applications earlier this year and we are already supporting some amazing people to fulfil their ambitions and reach their potential.
On the downside, Long Covid / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has limited my ability to do all I would like to do. With this condition, and its complex mix of symptoms, I have good days and bad days. You won’t see me on bad days as they wipe me out. To minimise the bad and increase the good I have adjusted my priorities and reduced my commitments. I pace myself by resting before and after priority activities, like talks, to make sure I am fit and at my best for them. However, I have had to cancel some of the other things I planned to do, including some “non-speaking” visits to Lodges and Chapters. I am getting better at managing the condition but will be resigning from some roles and several memberships, so I can focus my time and energy on talks and my pet projects.
In October I reached “State Pension Age.” While I grateful to those who congratulated me on reaching retirement, they are premature. I have not retired! Although my fee earning activities have changed and reduced in recent years, I am still offering leadership coaching and consultancy to clients and will be writing more books. Most importantly, I am determined to continue making a meaningful contribution – especially to Scouting and Freemasonry – for many years to come.
My hopes for 2026? One has got to be peace on earth. It seems that despite the world espousing values of tolerance and compassion, the actions of many are increasingly divisive, intolerant, and hateful. The world has never needed Scouting and Freemasonry more than it does now.
My other hopes are for more widespread and public appreciation of community organisations and their volunteers; for Scouting and Freemasonry to attract more who could benefit from what they have to offer; for more Lodges to modernise their culture and practices; and for more brethren reading my books and more Lodges and Chapters inviting me to speak!
To close, thank you again for your support during 2025. Your friendship, encouragement, your invites to speak at or just visit your Lodges and Chapters, and your generous donations to my charity fund all mean a great deal to me. In fact, they sustain me.
I wish you and your loved ones all the very best for the festive season, and I wish you health, happiness and success for 2026.
Onwards and upwards!
Discover more from W Bro. Tony Harvey, PJGD
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