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The Brethren of Lodge Light in Arabia No. 3870, would like to extend a warm fraternal welcome to all visitors to this site. We hope you will find this site interesting and informative, whether you are looking to become a Joining Member, or whether you are interested in becoming a Freemason.

Lodge Light in Arabia was formed in 1919 and has had a long line of Masters. I sincerely hope that this succession will follow on for many years to come.

Freemasonry is fun. The Grand Design of being happy and communicating happiness affects and benefits us all and is there to be enjoyed

Yours sincerely & fraternally
Worshipful Master
Lodge Light in Arabia No. 3870

Lodge Light in Arabia was consecrated in Aden (now a Governorate of Yemen) at Sheikh Othman on 29th January 1919 and transferred to the Province of Surrey on 3rd February 1967.

Until then it was under the jurisdiction of the R. W. District Grand Master for Bombay.

The history of freemasonry in Aden would be incomplete without some mention of this Lodge, although it has only been some five years in existence.

Early in the year 1918, not only was the War still proceeding, but in many persons opinion it was likely to continue for a considerable further time. At that time a considerable garrison was stationed at Sheikh Othman, which as we have seen is some ten miles from Aden, and in consequence the brethren there found it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible to come into Aden to attend the Lodge; and it was felt that a new Lodge might usefully be founded at Sheikh Othman. Among the military brethren there was Wor. Brother W. Boughton Chambers P.D.G.S.W. Bombay, and he sent out a circular asking for the names of brethren Wishing to be founders; and in February an application was sent to D.G.L. Bombay for a Provisional Charter, pending the issue of a Warrant. It is here interesting to remark, that the founders, as in the case of Lodge Felix, were practically all military.

During the course of the year several Founders’ meetings were held at Sheikh Othman, at the bungalow of Mr. Menahem Messa., which was hired for the purpose at the rent of Rs. 30/- per mensem. Draft bye-laws were also drawn up, and it is interesting to note that the Founders all resolved, and signed a declaration to the effect that only their own V.S.L, was to be used in the new Lodge, and further resolved that this provision should be incorporated in the bye-laws. This however was not done, though the minutes do not record that the resolution was ever cancelled.

By December news was received that a Warrant had been granted by Grand Lodge, but that it had been lost en route, presumably sunk by enemy action. The D.G. L. Bombay was therefore approached for the grant of a Provisional Warrant, which was granted in January 1919, and D. G. L. granted a commission to Wor. Brother H. M. Thornton P.D.G.D. Gib. (who happened to be at Aden) to consecrate the Lodge.

On the 29th January 1919 at 5 oc. p.m., the Lodge held at the bungalow hired from Mr. Menahem Messa at Sheikh Othman was duly consecrated, and Wor. Brother T. W. Twaddle Was installed W. M. The W. M, Officer-bearers and brethren of Lodge Felix attended by special invitation.

On the 13th February 1919 a regular meeting was held at Sheikh Othman; and twenty-four brethren for joining and affiliation duly passed the ballot. The end of the war and the consequent withdrawal of troops from Sheikh Othman had however rendered it unnecessary to hold a Lodge at Sheikh Othman. Arrangements were made therefore with Lodge Felix to rent their Hall at Maala, at which place the installation Meeting in March took place. In 1921 a joint committee of the Lodge and Lodge Felix went into the question of rent, and drew up an agreement fixing the rent at about Rs. 80/- per quarter. In addition the Lodge paid to Lodge Felix Rs. 1000/- on account of capital indebtedness electric light, and other such matters.

From its start the Lodge has been, and still is under D.G.L. Bombay, and it is interesting to note that this fact does not seem to have handicapped it financially. At the end of 1918 the Lodge was in credit to the extent of some Rs. 380/-. The balance sheet for 1920-21 shows in the General Fund a credit of Rs. 2553/- odd, and that for 1922-23 a credit of Rs. 5585/-odd, inspite of the fact that a Lodge Installation Banquet was held each year, Rs. 1000/- paid, as seen above, to Lodge Felix, and other expenses such as for regalia met.

The above sums do not include the Benevolent Fund, which had been constituted from the first by (a) grants from the General Fund and (b) a compulsory donation of 10% of the total income of the Lodge. At the end of 1921 this fund stood in credit to the extent of Rs. 965/- odd, and at the end of 1022 of Rs. 1667/- odd inspite of sundry casual grants to deserving cases, and to Masonic charities.

ln conclusion it may be mentioned that Lodge Light in Arabia has suffered much from the constant change of officers, inevitable in Aden, and in the course of its short history has twice been ruled from the W. for the greater part of a year in each case.

Thus ends the short but satisfactory history of Lodge Light in Arabia, and with it the History of Freemasonry in Aden.

Lodge Light in Arabia meets on the first Friday in October, December, February and April. Our Installation Meeting is that in April.

To truly understand the dynamic of a Masonic Lodge and all it stands for, you first need to understand the principle that every Brother is equal. This principle is well illustrated by Bro. Rudyard Kipling's poem - 'The Mother Lodge':

An' Beazeley of the Rail,
An' 'Ackman, Commissariat,
An' Donkin' o' the Jail;
An' Blake, Conductor-Sergeant,
Our Master twice was 'e,
With im that kept the Europe-shop,
Old Framjee Edu1jee.

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

We'd Bola Nath, Accountant,
An' Saul the Aden Jew,
An' Din Mohammed, draughtsman
Of the Survey Office too;
There was Babu Chuckerbutty,
An' Amir Singh the Sikh,
An' Castro from the fittin'-sheds,
The Roman Catholick!

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

We 'adn't good regalia,
An' our Lodge was old an' bare,
But we knew the Ancient Landmarks,
An' we kep' 'em to a hair;
An' lookin' on it backwards
It often strikes me thus,
There ain't such things as infidels,
Excep', per'aps, it's us.

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

For monthly, after Labour,
We'd all sit down and smoke
(We dursn't give no banquets,
Lest a Brother's caete were broke),
An' man on man got talkin'
Religion an' the rest,
An' every man comparin'
Of the God 'c knew the best.

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

So man on man got talkin',
An' not a Brother stirred
Till mornin' waked the parrots
An' that dam' brain-fever-bird.
We'd say 'twas 'ighly curious,
An' we'd all ride 'ome to bed,
With Mo'ammed, God, an' Shiva
Changin' pickets in our 'ead.

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

Full oft on Guv'ment service
This rovin' foot 'ath pressed,
An' bore fraternal greetin's
To the Lodges east an' west,
Accordin' as commanded.
From Kohat to Singapore,
But I wish that I might see them
In my Mother-Lodge once more!

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

I wish that I might see them,
My Brethren black an' brown,
With the trichies smellin' pleasant
An' the hog-darn passin' down;
An' the old khansamah snorin'
On the bottle-khana floor,
Like a Master in good standing
With my Mother-Lodge once more.

Outside - "Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside - 'Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square,
An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

Rudyard Kipling received his degrees in Hope and Perseverance Lodge No. 782,
Lahore, Punjab, India, in 1886. He was 20 years, old at the time.

Proposed into the Craft by an Englishman, seconded by a Chinaman (who also initiated him), passed by a German,
raised by an Irishman and installed in the Chair of King Solomon by a Cantonese.

He further said his Mother Lodge has members who are Protestants, Anglicans,
Roman Catholics, a Muslim, a Hindu, and several Buddhists.

Later Kipling became a member of Independence and Philanthropy Lodge No. 301, at Allahabad; then he became
an Honorary Member of Kilwinning Lodge, Edinburgh, Scotland.

He received his Mark Master Degree in Mark Lodge Fidelity on 12th April 1887. On 17th April 1888, he received the
Royal Ark Mariner's Degree in Lodge Mt. Aarat.

In England Kipling was one of the founders of Builder of Silent Cities Lodge No. 4948 in 1927.
He was also a member of Authors' Lodge No. 3456 in London.