Welcome

We are a Lodge of Freemasons meeting in Wokingham

Our next Meeting is the Installation Meeting
4th  September 2025

Freemasonry gives us a sense of belonging and creates friendships that last a life-time, it is a very enjoyable hobby. We are a friendly lodge and enjoy our Freemasonry. We have fun with our ceremonies and take pride in working for charity. We support each other.

Scouting and Freemasonry are independent worldwide Movements, both founded on moral principles with many parallels between them

We hope you will find this site informative. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a member.

Not requiring a member to believe in a specific Supreme Being, makes both Scouting and Freemasonry attractive to people from around the World, where people of different faiths can meet in fellowship and harmony with shared moral values, despite the religious, social, cultural and national differences.

What do we get from our membership?

* We enjoy ourselves * We make new friends * We are a team * We are part of a 300 year old organisation *We have a sense of belonging * We donate to charity * We contribute to society * We enjoy our ceremony * We value honesty and integrity

Freemasonry provides a unique environment for people from all backgrounds to learn skills, make lasting friendships, achieve their potential and, above all, have fun. Members of the lodge have a strong sense of belonging. As one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, we have a thriving community of approximately 175,000 members throughout England and Wales, as well as Districts overseas. Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and we aim to empower members to be the best they can be.

Start your Masonic journey

Rather than working on buildings like the Masons of old, today’s Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.

One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not defined by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasions and provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.

With a membership of more than 150,000 people drawn from communities across the UK, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.

Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. The organisation provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events or volunteer work.

Our Lodge

Why Freemasonry and Scouting?

Scouting and Freemasonry are independent worldwide Movements, both founded on moral principles with many parallels between them.

The first of these, a requirement for Freemasonry and a desirable attribute for Scouting, is a belief in a Supreme Being.

The second shared moral principle is service to others. Freemasonry requires members to be ‘extensively serviceable’; Scouting teaches service to others, no matter the Country, Class or Creed.

The third is to look after & develop oneself. In Scouting, one learns to “Do your best” & “Be Prepared”; Freemasonry offers personal development in a spiritual nonreligious journey.

Our Meetings

We meet five times a year, on the fourth Thursday in February & April, the third Thursday in June, the first Thursday in September (Installation), and the second Thursday in December

Venue

Meetings are held at the Wokingham Masonic Centre,

7 Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 1EG

Who can join?

Given that the lodge has a wide age range, we can welcome new members at any point in their adult life.

Elections

The Master of the Lodge is elected into that appointment after progressing through the lodge offices. When he is appointed, this is called ‘Installation’.

Visiting

Many of our members visit and meet with members of other lodges – new members are encouraged to visit and meet other masons.

Social Events

We have social events to which friends and family are invited.

Other

We are known as a Craft lodge based on the medieval stonemason lodges. It is the starting point in Freemasonry.

Neil

“When my wife became terminally ill and I became her principal carer, I felt I needed something outside the home, as an occasional diversion. Freemasonry seemed to offer this, and as well as filling a need at the time, it has continued to be a large part of my life.  As a Founder and member of Be Prepared Lodge, I am proud of the strong relationship Freemasonry has with the Scouting movement in fulfilling our shared objectives.

Steve

I have been a Freemason since 1988, have lived in Bracknell for 32+ years, and been in Scouting for 20 years. When looking for a local Lodge, Be Prepared Lodge was the obvious choice, and I joined in 2013. In Be Prepared Lodge we have Scouting & Freemasonry in common, as well as the Kindred Lodges Association with twice-yearly festivals where we can meet other Scouters from around the country. In almost 40 years as a Freemason I’ve enjoyed meeting people I wouldn’t ordinarily have met in my daily life, attended many meetings in other countries, and  widened my personal contacts and experience.

Paul

“I have enjoyed becoming part of a Brotherhood of likeminded friends from varied backgrounds, who enjoy meeting, dining and having a drink as equals. Being a member of a big organisation (United Grand Lodge of England) that follows good precepts ‘making good men better’ along with raising and donating huge charitable funds to wonderful causes.”

Mike

“Gives me a sense of inclusion and I enjoy the rich history, traditions and hidden meanings.”

Social Events

In April, we hold a ‘Scout uniform’ meeting, when those still active in Scouting can wear their uniform, and those that wish to can reaffirm their Scout Promise. It also includes an informal ‘White Table’ afterwards to which we invite local Scout Leaders and members, and all our & their wives and partners.

Our annual Ladies Festival is in June/July, which is normally a relaxing and fun full weekend for our friends and family, hosted by the Master, at the Riviera Hotel on the Bournemouth coast.

We are part of a big family

Freemasonsry is a local, Provincial (County), National and International body.

Charity

Freemasonry is a great contributor of charitable donations and is solely funded through the generosity of individual Freemasons and their families with no contributions being collected from the public. During the lodge meeting or at the Festive Board, we collect alms, and run a raffle. We also use our social events to raise money.

The national charity is the Masonic Charitable Foundation and if you would like more information on its work please visit the website.

MASONIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The Province of Berkshire supports a number of Provincial charities and details of these can be found by following the link to Provincial Grand Lodge Home Page.

Be Prepared Lodge plays its full part in supporting National, Local, and Masonic Charities.

Province of Berkshire

Join us!

How do I join?

Thinking about joining Freemasonry but do not know where to start?

You may not know much about Freemasonry, or know any Freemasons from Hampshire. As a result, the internet is fast becoming a point of contact for new members and therefore we have developed our website to help potential members gain a better understanding of Freemasonry in general and Mercury Lodge in particular.

You don’t need to be invited

just ask!

To find out more about our fascinating worldwide institution and in particular how to become a member of our Lodge, please take a few moments to send us a message through our Contact Form.

Arrangements will then be made to meet you socially to find out more about you, and to give you a chance to find out more about us. You will then in due course be invited to meet a committee of members of the Lodge, before being balloted for membership of the Lodge. You will want to be aware of the following conditions to be considered for membership:

* You must be at least 18 years of age.

* You must believe in a supreme being to be a Freemason. We won’t ask about religion, that is personal to you.

* You must be of good character with no unspent criminal convictions. If you’re not sure what counts and what doesn’t, ask us.

* Your family should be made aware of your interest in Freemasonry, and be supportive of your intention.

* Given your current stage of life and personal circumstances, you need to have some time available to commit to joining and becoming an active Freemason.

* Whilst not disproportionately expensive, there is a cost to Freemasonry (Joining fee. regular lodge subscription, dining fee, regalia) and you must factor that into your consideration.

What commitment will I need to make?

We are friendly, and charitable and enjoy Freemasonry’s history and tradition. We have social dinners mixing formality with fun. Our ethos is that every member brings a different set of skills. Every member is afforded the opportunity to become better at what they enjoy doing. As a new member, you will have a Mentor and be encouraged to engage at your own pace – there is no pressure to take on responsibility.

We hold informal sessions and rehearsals before each formal meeting. We also have informal and impromptu social gatherings. All members are encouraged to participate remembering that family and work come first.  learn more

How long will it take?

It takes a little time to be invited to join a Lodge and become a Freemason. There is an interview process, which can sometimes seem a little lengthy, but is necessary to make sure we welcome good men into our Lodges. Secondly, our lodge meets seven times per annum, and not all of the meetings can be used to Initiate a new Freemason.

 learn more

What will it cost?

There is a cost to Freemasonry: Joining fee. regular lodge subscription, regalia. Brethren are also encouraged to donate to charity whatever they can afford.

It is usual to have a meal after each of our lodge meetings, but it is not compulsory. The current cost of the meal is around £32.  learn more

Looking to rejoin Freemasonry?

Are you thinking of re-joining our fraternity but don’t know any local Freemasons?

Perhaps you have just moved into the area and wondered where the best lodge for you is located and when it meets? Please take a few moments to send us a message through our Contact Form.  learn more

almost 100 Lodges

in Berkshire

10 Lodges

meet at Wokingham

48 Lodges

meet at Sindlesham

We support various charities which are chosen by the Master of the Lodge during his year in office. In addition, every seven years, Berkshire will support a Masonic Charity Festival – a new one will start in  2027 which is a major commitment for the lodge.

Some of the non-masonic charities and causes that the lodge has supported are:

Elsie’s Moon

Berkshire Scouts Jamboree Fund

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

Alexander Divine Children’s Hospice

Altzheimers Society

Combat Stress

Youthline

Various Scout Units

We would be delighted to hear from you!

If you would like to start your Masonic journey or have a general enquiry, please contact the Lodge Secretary using the form below or the email link.