Oakley Lodge 694 - Freemasons Basingstoke

19/12/2025

16/12/2025

Who says Freemasnry is a 'Boys Club'!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1yPMfYmN/

16/12/2025

The final episode of Season 1 of Crafted in the South, the official podcast of Hampshire and Isle of Wight has just landed! 🤩

This big finale features the Provincial Grand Master who has returned to the pod to tell us about the significant changes that have come to Freemasonry over the past year, including the ‘One Journey, One Organisation’ initiative, the future of Masonic centres and the recent news about Freemasons serving in the Metropolitan Police Service.

What’s more, this is the first episode of the pod produced in glorious, professional digital video, with the amazing support of Creation DMC. 🤗

Visit www.craftedinthesouth.com to find the episode on your preferred platform and the team will be back in 2026. 🤝

15/12/2025

If you have not taken this step to complete your journey through pure and ancient Freemasonry this is definitely worth a read.

Why Join the Royal Arch - For the Master Mason, the journey is intentionally incomplete—a tragic cliff-hanger leaving a symbolic void. The Royal Arch provides the essential second half, offering narrative resolution and recovering the genuine lost Word. It is the keystone that completes the allegorical arch, transforming a moral builder into a true spiritual Master and fulfilling the promise of further light.

- An article published in the Oct 2025 Issue of The Square Magazine now available online https://thesquaremagazine.com/mag/article/2025q4why-join-the-royal-arch/

- An independent publication, The Square Magazine brings you in-depth and thought provoking articles of Masonic interest, presented in a contemporary way...

If you like it, please share with lodge members - they will thank you.…

15/12/2025

13/12/2025

When I was initiated gloves were worn in the Craft and Royal Arch, and probably in other degrees. Now i only wear gloves in the Craft. There are anecdotes of lodges that kept a large tin of white emulsion paint on show, for Brothers who forgot to bring their gloves!!

WHY the gloves?

Nearly all Freemasons have them. Usually someone can be found frantically looking for a pair in their regalia case, only for someone else to offer a helping hand (or glove).

Originally, the reason why was practical. It dates back to the operative masons for whom it was the standard PPE, to protect the hands from rough stone, heavy labour, and to keep them clean.

Now, they are worn by Freemasons for the same reason that High Court Judges and Bishops historically wore white gloves: showing that their actions were pure, incorruptible, and done with reverence.

This isn't a dusty tome requiring gloves but you can learn about gloves here: https://solomon.ugle.org.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=1503

Our question to you this time is a fun one.

How many pairs of gloves have you owned?

04/12/2025

Freemasons that meet at the Basingstoke Masonic Centre have been donating produce to the Basingstoke Foodbank for over a year. This 50.24kg is the final donation for this year brining the Centre’s total for 2025 to 183.90kg, surpassing the 2024 total of 168.42kg.

02/12/2025

Last night at Oakley Lodge was a busy meeting, with a Brother being Raised the the Third Degree, a Brother receiving his 40 years certificate for service to Freemasonry and a Christmas Festive Board. A very pleasant and satisfying evening.

11/08/2025

Social night for Oakley Lodge, we had a good catch up.