About Us

Oakwood Lodge 8299 is a friendly, diverse and energetic lodge of Freemasons who meet at Oakley House in Bromley.

We pride ourselves on being probably the most proactive, innovative, and fastest-growing Lodge in West Kent, with a diverse membership of over 40 people.

So if you are interested in joining freemasonry, or finding out more about Oakwood Lodge in particular, browse our website to find out what we get up to, including where we meet. 

We welcome people from all different walks of life and are always happy to have an informal meeting to discuss what we do and the next steps you may wish to take.

Contact us an e-mail or follow us on Twitter and say hello.

The Lodge is in the Province of West Kent – which regulates Freemasonry in West Kent, and you can visit their website here.

OAKWOOD LODGE INSTALLATION MEETING 8th December 2023

The Lodge has over 40 members, and uses Emulation workings.

We meet 4 times a year, on the second Fridays of February, April, October and December, which is the installation meeting.

There is also a Lodge of Instruction, which meets regularly prior to our scheduled meetings.

There is a Royal Arch Chapter associated with the Lodge, which shares the name and nominal number (Oakwood Royal Arch Chapter 8299). The Chapter meets 3 times a year, on the second Saturdays of January, June and November. To contact the Chapter – click here.

Our installation meeting on the 13th of December was a hugely enjoyable occasion. W. Bro Ron Cobden was inducted into the chair of King Solomon for the first time in Oakwood Lodge.

The ceremony was carried out in fine style by W. Bro Dennis Burnett as the outgoing Worshipful Master.

With 42 brethren in the temple, and a similar number dining – it was satisfying to have a full lodge room and festive board.

We still have room for more though, so if you wish to experience being a member of our friendly, thriving lodge – please do use the contact details on the site.

A Christmas themed festive board followed and all present enjoyed the festivities.

If you are wondering what Freemasonry is – below is a very nice description by one of our members – W.Bro. C. R. Moore. PM, ProvGOrator, SLGR

What is Freemasonry?

Firstly, let’s say what it is not.

It is not a religion; candidates must believe in a Supreme Being, but we do not ask about their particular faith.
Nor are we a charity or benefit society, although charity and helping others are amongst our key principles. Since 1981 our Masonic Charitable Foundation has given over £150 million to charitable causes; both Masonic and non-Masonic, including medical research and disaster relief. In addition to which our provinces, districts, and individual lodges donate to, and actively support, a wide range of local charities.

The money we give comes from Freemasons themselves, supported by their families and friends. We do not go out collecting from the general public, and Freemasons are asked to give only what they can afford to spare. However, to us charity is about more than just the raising and giving of money; it is also about kindness, compassion, and providing practical help.

Okay, if that is what Freemasonry is not; what then is it?

It is a society where like-minded men can work together, without any religious or political connotations, to improve both themselves and the world they live in. Whilst at the same time enjoying a wide range of social events, which are also open to their families and friends. Okay, the bit about improving yourself sounds like jargon; but many of the candidates who come to us have previously only addressed small family gatherings, and Freemasonry can help them to develop wider communication skills, and to grow in confidence.

Today there are about six million Freemasons worldwide, and they come from many different backgrounds and walks of life. Josef Haydn, Oscar Wilde, Sugar Ray Robinson, Alexander Fleming, Peter Sellers, Winston Churchill, Casanova, and Nat King Cole; were all Freemasons. What a lodge they would make, so many different talents and personalities; but all of them with one thing in common, Freemasonry.

There are some lodges whose members do all come from similar backgrounds, such as old school and military lodges; in others the members might all share a particular interest, such as show business or motorcycles; in the USA there is a Native American lodge where the members all wear feather headdresses.

Every Freemason pledges himself to uphold Freemasonry’s moral and spiritual values. That does not mean that every Freemason is perfect, we are only human; but by endeavouring, in every aspect of our lives, to put our Masonic principles into practice we do strive to make ourselves better men. In this way Freemasonry’s beneficial influence reaches well beyond our lodge rooms; by encouraging good citizenship, and supporting local communities.

Finally, I will tell you Freemasonry’s biggest secret.

It is not the good values it promotes, the good lessons it teaches, or the good works it supports; no, it is the good time we all have!

NEWSFLASH!!

Oakwood Lodge has always been a great supporter of the Friends of the Chislehurst RMBI home, and I am pleased to advise that we have just been made a Grand Patron of the RMBI Prince George, Duke of Kent Court.