LODGE OAK NO. 877

ON THE ROLL OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE

AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF SCOTLAND

 

LODGE OAK WAS FORMED BY BRETHREN OF OTHER LOCAL LODGES WHO FELT THAT, WITH THE INFLUX OF POPULATION (MAINLY MINERS) TO KELTY, THAT THE VILLAGE COULD SUSTAIN A MASONIC LODGE.

THERE WERE 7 FORMATIVE MEETINGS HELD WITHIN WOODS HALL IN KELTY BEFORE THE LODGE WAS GRANTED A CHARTER ON THE 4TH. AUGUST 1898.

IT WAS DURING THESE FORMATIVE MEETINGS THAT THE NAME OF LODGE OAK WAS AGREED, NAMED AFTER THE LARGE OAK TREE WHICH GREW OUTSIDE THE HALL.

THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE LODGE WAS HELD ON THE 16TH. AUGUST 1898 IN THE COOPERATIVE HALL, WITH THE INSTALLATION BEING HELD IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. WITH THE CONSECRATION TAKING PLACE ON THE 1ST. JULY 1899. MEETINGS WERE HELD IN WOODS HALL FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS.

THE MASONIC HALL IN KELTY WAS BUILT IN 1904 AND MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE HALL REGULARLY EVER SINCE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PERIOD OF THE TWO WORLD WARS WHEN THE ARMY TOOK OVER THE HALL FOR USE AS A FIRST AID POST, MEETINGS BEING HELD IN NO. 1 INN IN KELTY FOR THE DURATION OF THESE WARS.

THE LODGE HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY ACTIVE PART IN THE KELTY COMMUNITY AND THE MASONIC HALL IS USED TO THIS DAY FOR MANY VARYING FUNCTIONS AND MANY LOCAL ORGANISATIONS USE THE HALL AS ITS MEETING PLACE.

LODGE OAK HAS A VERY STRONG CORE OF MEMBERS AND HAS TRADITIONALLY DRAWN ITS MEMBERS FROM THE MINING COMMUNITY, ROSYTH DOCKYARD AND THE ARMED FORCES A MIX THAT HAS FORMED THE HEART OF THE LODGE.

THE LODGE HAS HAD MANY PROMINENT MASTERS AND THERE IS ALWAYS A LARGE TURNOUT OF PAST MASTERS AT LODGE MEETINGS AND FUNCTIONS.

AT THE PRESENT TIME THERE IS A STRONG TEAM OF OFFICE BEARERS WITH ALL PROGRESSIVE OFFICES FILLED WITH BRETHREN FROM THE COLUMNS.

IN RECENT TIMES AND INDEED THE PRESENT THE MASONIC HALL HAS AND IS UNDERGOING CHANGES TO ALLOW THE LODGE TO MAINTAIN ITS TRADITIONAL STANDARDS AND TO ENABLE IT TO BECOME EVEN MORE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF KELTY.