Lodge History:

The United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817 was originally consecrated in 1917 and has always had very strong links to the military (the UAR was a corps in the British Army).

The lodge has enjoyed great popularity with those linked to the armed forces and the wider community, celebrating its Centenary in 2017. Unfortunately, like many lodges, membership was dwindling and they had to seriously consider handing their warrant in.

At a similar time to the lodge’s centenary, a group of Brazilian brethren living in England were starting to explore the idea of founding a lodge to call theirs. They were aware of the Anglo-Brazilian Lodge which was consecrated in the early 20^th Century but had to amalgamate with the Anglo-Argentinian Lodge in the 1960s to become the Anglo-South American Lodge No 3623 which unfortunately ended up erased in 2014. The History of this lodge was not just an indication that there had been, at least for a time, an appetite for Brazilians to congregate, it also made painfully obvious the fact that failure could be around the corner if they were not careful.

Thus, when the United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817 were contemplating the painful decision of handing their warrant back in, the stars aligned, and 19 Brazilian brethren, from England, Brazil and the Netherlands were at the ready and took the lodge over instead. In November of 2019, the United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817 thus took a second lease of life and would then be known, only months later, in the UK, Brazil, Portugal and many other countries as The United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817, the Brazilian Lodge.

Today, we have the extreme honour and privilege to have retained the support and backing of three of the then-existing members of the UAR Lodge who remain with us to this day in their capacity as Secretary, Director of Ceremonies and Assistant Treasurer.

The lodge membership currently stands at 34 members with 30 Brazilians, three British and one Romanian. While the progressive offices are occupied by Brazilian brethren, initiated under the UGLE or a recognised Grand Lodge in Brazil, membership is open to any brother that has any affinity with Brazil, its culture and its people.

Since 2019, despite the suspension for most of the years 2020 and 2021, we have initiated ten new members into our lodge, had the honour of hosting and admitting as a joining member the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (GLERN), ran several virtual lectures for Brazilian members, and put a Brazilian twist onto the Festive Board, all of which has contributed to shaping our identity as the Brazilian Lodge in England.

We are currently working on a long-term strategy to intentionally shape this lodge as a truly worthwhile visiting experience, like no other, and consolidate ourselves as the legitimate Lodge for Brazilians not just in London, or England, but in Europe. One of the many highlights of any visit that makes us unique on English shores is our Festive Board, a decadent Brazilian Rodizio, an all-you-can-eat meat served on a skewer, ensuring that no one ever leaves our meetings hungry.