Ionic Lodge

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Justin Lee, PJGD/AGSoj, Metropolitan Grand Inspector, writes:

Shortly after my investiture as a Metropolitan Grand Inspector in April 2025, I heard a rumour of some strange goings on at John Hervey Chapter No 1260. Apparently, the team there were pioneering a new Royal Arch Ritual which they had named Matrix. As an avid sci-fi fanatic, I felt an irresistible urge to go and see it. The opportunity of catching up with Neo, Morpheus and the rest of the team, and to make sure that the dastardly Agent Smith had not made a comeback was too good to resist. 

I contacted the C1260 Scribe E to let him know that I was coming over to visit in June 2025. I asked him a little about the ritual, and this was his reply: “Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” 

Buoyed by this intriguing reply, I headed over to Mark Masons’ Hall for my first exposure to the ceremony. Before entering the temple, the DC approached me and said: “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You cut the blue wire, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. Cut the red wire, you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

Being newly installed as Metropolitan Grand Inspector on the red side of “team purple”, I obviously opted to cut the red wire.  I can tell you that it was a wonderful choice!

We all know that the wonderful Royal Arch Order has a beautiful Exaltation ceremony at its core. Just as the modern view on the core principles of Freemasonry have moved to friendship, integrity, respect, and service, the Matrix Ritual is a modern take of that beautiful ceremony and is filled with energy, added theatre, drama, and meaning. 

Most importantly, it leads to a truly memorable first Royal Arch experience for candidates.  I was blown away once I knew what The Matrix was!

There are 50 Chapters within our Inspectorate, and I was keen for them all to have the opportunity to witness what I had just seen. That night in June 2025, at the Festive Board, I asked the John Hervey Chapter if they would agree to host the first Inspectorate Festival and reveal their good works to the world. They agreed, but a few steps had to be taken before it could be demonstrated outside of their own private meetings.

The sharing of any new ritual needs to be confirmed by the Committee of General Purposes (CGP) within Supreme Grand Chapter (SGC).  This was concluded following the September 2025 CGP meeting, at which the committee confirmed that they had no objection to the ritual being adopted by any Chapter that wished to do so.  I thought to myself: “Some people go their entire lives without hearing news that good…”

Fast forward six months, and the first Inspectorate Festival was held on 9^th February 2026. The Grand Temple at Mark Masons' Hall was filled with more than 80 attendees. We all witnessed a double Exaltation of the highest level. One particularly striking feature was that the two companions whom I saw Exalted at the June 2025 meeting took part in the ceremony by covering two answers in the mystical lecture. In Matrix ritual, the Mystical Lecture is delivered in a Q&A fashion, involving seven different companions.

The meeting hosted the Welcome Project and in addition to witnessing a fantastic ceremony, the new Exaltees listened to an explanation of the “Discovering the Vault Tracing Board” by the former Met G Insp E Comp Jeremy Beech.  The Exaltees went away with a personalised A4 version of the RA tracing board.

The Chapter had negotiated a special low-cost two course menu, which meant that nearly 80 companions experienced a lively and entertaining festive board at a price that didn’t break the bank.

Four further Metropolitan Chapters have adopted the Matrix Ritual. Two of those are within the Lee Inspectorate, St Michaels and Paddington Chapter, and two are outside, First Artificer and Anglo-Dutch Chapters.

The day after the festival meeting at Mark Masons' Hall, I headed across the river to my hometown of Penge; to the South East London Masonic Centre (SELMC) to attend the Centenary meeting of St Michaels Chapter No 211. The story of St Michaels Chapter is an inspiring one. 

During early 2024, St Michaels Chapter had an agenda item to hand in their charter. The Chapter also had the option not to do so, but rather to relocate the Chapter from Mark Masons' Hall to SELMC and to become the sole RA Chapter within the centre. The option to relocate was viewed as the best way forward in the best interests of the Chapter, and the decision was made to move there. The 7 members of the steering group which had been set up with the aim of returning the Royal Arch to the centre joined in September 2024. The first meeting was held under dispensation and conducted in February 2025. The centre saw the Royal Arch return with a vengeance as an excess of 60 companions witnessed a double Exaltation using added theatre.

Following the SGC CGP ruling, the Chapter adopted the Matrix ritual. The October 2025 meeting of C211 saw a Matrix installation ceremony conducted, which allowed 3 new Principals to be installed in 45 minutes, a double Exaltation, and 7 joining members to become part of the Chapter.

The Centenary meeting of C211 on 10^th February 2026 was held with 50 companions in attendance and not only celebrated the Chapter centenary but also witnessed another Matrix ritual double Exaltation and a further 3 joining members. The Chapter was delighted to have the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Superintendent as the Guest of Honour, E Comp Timothy L’Estrange. E Comp Timothy has played a pivotal role in reviewing the Matrix ritual in preparation for its SGC CGP confirmation.

St Michaels Chapter, which was on the verge of handing in their charter due to falling membership and low member turnout, now has a vibrant membership of 27, multiple Exaltees in the pipeline, and new strong links to the Craft Lodges who meet at the SELMC. The percentage attendance of members is amongst the highest within the Inspectorate.

On Wednesday 11^th February, the Matrix Ritual was out again in full force.  Paddington Chapter No 3267, one of the four founding Chapters of Matrix Ritual, had the pleasure of Exalting a Middlesex Mason into the Chapter. Paddington Chapter until recently had gone 9 years without an Exaltee. However, the post-pandemic adoption of (first) added theatre and (then) Matrix ritual, has seen 5 Exaltees join the Chapter and has led to a dramatic change of direction in its fortunes.

In conclusion, Matrix ritual provides the framework for an engaging, energetic, entertaining, fun and thought-provoking meeting. The involvement of so many companions in the ceremony is the embodiment of best Masonic practice.

I know what you’re thinking: “I suppose the most obvious question is, how can I trust you?”  My answer to you is: “Bingo. It is a pickle. No doubt about it. The bad news is there's no way for you to really know whether I'm here to help you or not, so it's really up to you. You just have to make up your mind to either accept what I'm going to tell you or reject it.”

So here are a few words from the recent Exaltees that might help convince you:

“My Exaltation into the Royal Arch was an incredible experience, I’m so looking forward to seeing it all again! I've very much enjoyed being a Freemason for over a decade, but joining the Chapter has now given me additional impetus. Maybe my most enjoyable Masonic experience thus far!” Comp Anton Inglis – St Michaels Chapter No 211.

"The Matrix Exaltation ritual was one of the best I have experienced so far in my Masonic career, so interactive and dynamic, it really left me buzzing at the end of the meeting. I couldn't speak more highly of it; it was so rich and profound. And since my Exaltation as the days have gone by, I really feel within me that I have discovered something that was lost." Comp Paul Skinner – St Michaels Chapter No 211.

The Matrix Ritual book is uniquely printed following the recommendations of the British Dyslexia Style Guide 2023. The ritual contains the absolute minimum of abbreviations in the text which makes the ritual learning process easier. There are several other innovations in the ritual namely, the work of the First Principal is split between all three Principals; there are new reading roles such as narrator and Proclaimer, the use of props, non-speaking roles such as illuminator and vault clearers.

I would like to thank the amazing E Comp Alan Taunton for his help in writing this article but also for being the driving force behind much of what has been achieved above. I would also like to thank Hollywood for making such an iconic film with so many iconic quotes that I have used in this article!

“I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.”

If you’d like to know more about the Matrix Ritual and how you can witness it for yourself, please  go to http://www.mrara.co.uk/.

This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 60 – Spring 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in Arena Issue 60 here.

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