London Grand Rank Explained

Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters No 9057 were given a very informative talk about the history of London Grand Rank and it’s part in the history of London Freemasonry at their Warrington meeting from Michael Munro Senior London Grand Rank, London Grand Chapter Rank.
  Michael received a warm welcome from Mark Derbyshire WM, Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters. The meeting attracted around 50 brethren including Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd and  other distinguished Grand Officers, lodge members and visitors.
  Michael has put a great deal of time and effort into his passion for Masonic research over the years, he is a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge and the Irish Lodge of Research Correspondence Circles, he has also contributed articles to Ars Quatuor Coronatorum and is a founder member of the Internet Lodge No 9659.
 “As you are aware” Michael said starting his talk, “the organisation of Freemasonry in London differs to that in the Provinces, it is only natural we each have a pride of our own system”. Michael continued his talk by saying that although the first recorded lodge meeting was in Warrington, Lancashire on 16 October 1646 there is no evidence that this lodge had anything in common with the four London lodges that formed the first Grand Lodge on 24 June 1717. As the growth of Freemasonry spread over the country many more lodges took out warrants under the new Grand Lodge and as a necessity for the regulation of Freemasonry outside London, Masonic Provinces were formed. The first Provincial Grand Master was appointed for Cheshire in 1725 and by 1775 25 Provinces had been established, meanwhile London remained under the control of the Grand Master.
  London Freemasonry has evolved over the years with many changes to its structure and organisation. Some of the more notable changes have been the creation of London Rank in 1907 with the first appointments in 1908. London Rank was altered to London Grand Rank in 1939 to match the distinction of Provincial Grand Rank.
  It was forty years later before the next change took place when in March 1979, when it was deemed appropriate that holders of London Grand Rank who had exercised further distinguished service to Freemasonry in London would be eligible for promotion to a new rank of Senior London Grand Rank. The next change was to re-introduce the term London Rank in June 1998, to be conferred on Master Masons of London lodges who had rendered long and meritorious service to the Craft.
  Therefor London Honours System is based on a points system for merit not seniority and is a reward for services to both Freemasonry and the community. It is viewed in London as preferable to the Provincial system as there are only two ranks, LGR and SLGR. There are, however, still some underlying issues and concerns which need to be addressed.
  Michael continued his talk by detailing many more interesting aspects of London Grand Rank, in conclusion he said, “We are now into our eighth year of Metropolitan Grand Lodge and have already implemented changes in structure demanded of our new status and while there is still some on-going development and refinement to the structure and management I can hardly state we have a better system than the Provinces, but I hope my talk has shown you how and why we have developed a different system for London Freemasonry to that of the Provinces, based, of course, on the best qualities instituted by the Provincial Grand Lodges that precede us”. 
  In thanking Michael for his most interesting talk Mark said, “We are all delighted to have had the London Grand Rank explained in such detail, it was quite an education”. There followed a hearty round of applause from all the Brethren.