The document outlines the formation and governance of Metropolitan Grand Lodges in specified areas of England and Wales, under the authority of the Grand Master. It grants the Grand Master the power to establish, rearrange, or combine Metropolitan Areas, and to designate unattached Lodges within these jurisdictions. Provisions of the Book of Constitutions applicable to Provinces also apply to Metropolitan Areas, with specific exceptions noted in Rule (d). Metropolitan Grand Masters can appoint Deputy and Assistant Metropolitan Grand Masters and Metropolitan Grand Inspectors, provided appointees have previously served as Masters in a Lodge. Appointments must be communicated to all Lodges within the Metropolitan Area and registered with the Grand Secretary. Notably, certain rules from the Book of Constitutions (Rules 62, 66-72, and 129) do not apply to Metropolitan governance. This framework ensures structured leadership and operational consistency within Metropolitan Grand Lodges.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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(a) The Grand Master has power to form London or any other specified area in England and Wales into a Metropolitan Area, whereupon a Metropolitan Grand Lodge shall be formed and given jurisdiction within such area, the Metropolitan Grand Master acting therein by the authority vested in him under his Patent of Appointment from the Grand Master. The Grand Master has also power to rearrange boundaries of Metropolitan Areas, and to combine any Metropolitan Area with another Metropolitan Area or with one or more Provinces or sub- divide any Metropolitan Area as he may think fit. Unattached Lodges within a Metropolitan Area The Grand Master has also power to declare that any Lodge meeting within the area of a Metropolitan Grand Lodge’s jurisdiction shall nevertheless be an unattached Lodge subject to the direct jurisdiction of the Grand Master. (b) Save as expressly provided in paragraph (d) of this Rule or where a particular Rule makes express provision for Metropolitan Areas, the provisions of the Book of Constitutions, and of any rules made under the authority of any provision of the Book of Constitutions, relating to Provinces, Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges and their Officers shall apply equally, mutatis mutandis, to Metropolitan Areas, Metropolitan Grand Masters and Metropolitan Grand Lodges and their Officers. Appointment of Deputy and Assistant Metropolitan Grand Masters and Metropolitan Grand Inspectors (c) (i) A Metropolitan Grand Master by patent under his hand and seal or otherwise may appoint such number of Deputy Metropolitan Grand Masters, Assistant Metropolitan Grand Masters (to take rank immediately after the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Masters) and Metropolitan Grand Inspectors (to take rank immediately after the Assistant Metropolitan Grand Masters) as the Grand Master may from time to time authorise, to hold office during his pleasure and to execute forthwith all the powers and duties of such office in his name. Qualification for office (ii) No Brother may be so appointed unless he shall have previously served the office of Master in a Lodge under the Grand Lodge. (iii) The Metropolitan Grand Master within one month of the appointment must transmit, in writing, the name and address of his Deputy, of his Assistants and of any Metropolitan Grand Inspectors to all the Lodges of his Metropolitan Area, and also to the Grand Secretary for registration. (iv) A Deputy or Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master or a Metropolitan Grand Inspector may be invested either in the Metropolitan Grand Lodge or in a private Lodge within the Metropolitan Area. (d) Rules 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 129 of the Book of Constitutions shall not apply to Metropolitan Areas, Metropolitan Grand Masters and Metropolitan Grand Lodges and their Officers.