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MM's, do you wear a ring all the time?

Chris Hill

Chris Hill

Registered User
Excuse me if this is a repeated question, I rarely get on here.

First of all, brethren, I am Bro. Chris Hill and I hail from Killeen Lodge 1125 AF&AM, in Killeen, TX. I am also a new member of Manitou Lodge 68 AF&AM, Colorado Springs, CO.

My question comes from observing many other Mason's during my short year and half as a mason- and one thing I've noticed, which I'm sure I am not the only one, is that there are many brothers who do not wear a ring, nor anything identifying themselves as a mason.

I personally do not know why a brother would not want to at least wear a ring, after all, we all should be very proud to be seen as a mason. I have asked a few brothers why they do not wear a ring or some sort of light, and the general answer is, they just don't feel the need to.

Although I understand that there are many Mason's out there who will flaunt their light, some in a very overkill manner, I personally believe that we all should wear the light, that way when someone in the darkness is seeking the light, they have an opportunity to ask.

When I was in the dark, I had no clue about freemasonry because I never knew one, I didnt even remember seeing the light until an old army buddy of mine wore his light and I finally saw and asked about it. That is when I first remember seeing our symbol and becoming very interested in it. If it wasn't for him, I might have never known, nor ever became a mason.

What are your thoughts?
 
C

chrmc

Registered User
Chris Hill said:
Although I understand that there are many Mason's out there who will flaunt their light, some in a very overkill manner, I personally believe that we all should wear the light, that way when someone in the darkness is seeking the light, they have an opportunity to ask.
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I wear my ring because it has a sentimental and personal meaning for me, and because I like showing that I'm a mason. However I don't think we as brethren have any special obligations to do so. If a man is interested there's plenty of ways to find information and get in contact these days.

This is also one of those debates that are very regional. You very rarely see rings of other gear worn in Europe. In the Middle East it can be out right dangerous whilst in the US we can't get enough of rings, decals, belt buckles etc.
 
B

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I don't wear mine all the time because it's old and I don't want to damage it at work. Of course, now that I have an office job I've considered wearing it more. I have a pin on my hat that I've worn for years, and there is a small S&C on my desk.
 
Bro. Landry

Bro. Landry

Registered User
I don't always wear light , I guess it's like any other person who belongs to a fraternal organization. They don't always wear paraphernalia.
 
W

Winter

Premium Member
There are many reasons a Brother might choose not to wear their ring. They may work in a profession that it would be preferable to not advertise personal associations, like corrections. Or they could work in a profession where jewelry is prohibited, like aircraft mechanic. A Brother may keep their Masonic affiliation secret because his spouse's family is not well disposed towards us. Or they may belong to a denomination that does not look favorably on Masonic membership. I know many Masons that were rushed through the degrees and never received a solid education in the Order and do not wear any outward signs because they worry that someone may ask them a question they do not know how to answer.

To say that we should all "wear the light" (I assume you mean a Masonic ring or other marking) so those in darkness can ask us about may work for some Brothers but is not a one size fits all position. For many, Freemasonry is a private journey and they are not interested in discussing it with outsiders. A person that is a true seeker of wisdom will undoubtedly come across the Freemasons if they are seeking enlightenment, regardless if anyone around him is wearing a ring. Especially in this age of digital media and some jurisdictions doing outright advertising an recruiting campaigns.

Myself, I wear my S&C ring every day. Not to show the world that I am a Mason. I wear it to remind myself that I am a Mason and as a mark of my Ob to the GAOTU.
 
Warrior1256

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Greetings and welcome to the forum. I wear my Masonic and Knight Templar rings all of the time. I'm very proud of my association with these groups. In the future I will be getting a AASR pendant that I will also wear. This is just my personal preference. If a Brother chooses not to wear any "bling" I have no problem with it. To each his own.
 
Dontrell Stroman

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Chris Hill said:
Excuse me if this is a repeated question, I rarely get on here.

First of all, brethren, I am Bro. Chris Hill and I hail from Killeen Lodge 1125 AF&AM, in Killeen, TX. I am also a new member of Manitou Lodge 68 AF&AM, Colorado Springs, CO.

My question comes from observing many other Mason's during my short year and half as a mason- and one thing I've noticed, which I'm sure I am not the only one, is that there are many brothers who do not wear a ring, nor anything identifying themselves as a mason.

I personally do not know why a brother would not want to at least wear a ring, after all, we all should be very proud to be seen as a mason. I have asked a few brothers why they do not wear a ring or some sort of light, and the general answer is, they just don't feel the need to.

Although I understand that there are many Mason's out there who will flaunt their light, some in a very overkill manner, I personally believe that we all should wear the light, that way when someone in the darkness is seeking the light, they have an opportunity to ask.

When I was in the dark, I had no clue about freemasonry because I never knew one, I didnt even remember seeing the light until an old army buddy of mine wore his light and I finally saw and asked about it. That is when I first remember seeing our symbol and becoming very interested in it. If it wasn't for him, I might have never known, nor ever became a mason.

What are your thoughts?
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Greeting, what GL do you hail from ?
 
W

Winter

Premium Member
People were able to join Freemasonry for a long time before the internet, television, radio, magazine ads, movies, Dan Brown novels, and open houses. If we are doing more in our communities than bean suppers and arguing about the bills, then people will know who we are.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
Winter said:
People were able to join Freemasonry for a long time before the internet, television, radio, magazine ads, movies, Dan Brown novels, and open houses. If we are doing more in our communities than bean suppers and arguing about the bills, then people will know who we are.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.
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True, but dont mistake "donations" for connectedness. In a single donation was just gave away $750,000 - and i bet on a advertising basis of dollar per reach per person it does not stack up. I've given a group $100k and another group $50 and advanced the organization further with the $50 than the $100k.

Growing membership is like selling a house, if one single thing worked you would only do that and save the expense and effort of the others.... but it's the sum of all you do which brings the best price, thats why you list it on multiple Internet sites, put it in print media, produce brochures, a for sale sign, put up pointer boards, run open houses, use your buyers list etc etc...
 
W

Winter

Premium Member
Bloke said:
True, but dont mistake "donations" for connectedness. In a single donation was just gave away $750,000 - and i bet on a advertising basis of dollar per reach per person it does not stack up. I've given a group $100k and another group $50 and advanced the organization further with the $50 than the $100k.

Growing membership is like selling a house, if one single thing worked you would only do that and save the expense and effort of the others.... but it's the sum of all you do which brings the best price, thats why you list it on multiple Internet sites, put it in print media, produce brochures, a for sale sign, put up pointer boards, run open houses, use your buyers list etc etc...
Click to expand...

I'm in the camp that we do not need to grow our membership. Throughout history the mystery schools have never been for the masses or large numbers of people. Only a small percentage of any society will be truly interested in the Craft for its intrinsic value, as opposed to the prestige they believe membership will bring. Freemasonry has been shrinking steadily in numbers and while many doomsayers argue that Freemasonry is dying and we need to recruit, recruit, recruit to save it, I believe it is more appropriate to say that we are returning to a more natural number of Masons. The membership boom post WWII (and WWI) were aberrations and inflated our numbers to a level that is impossible to maintain.

But during the boom years, we built these massive buildings and huge Grand Lodge systems that cannot exist without the numbers we no long have. So, of course, we have to wear our rings so people ask about Freemasonry so we can drag them into the Lodge. I believe this argument puts us on a level of the local Rotary or Kiwanis clubs as opposed to the Western Mystery School we should be.

I am not taking issue with any particular Brother or jurisdiction with this discussion. Merely an observation about Freemasonry in the present day and the purpose of our maintenance of a public image.
 
Glen Cook

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
jdmadsenCraterlake211 said:
Can i ask why you feel compelled to do so brother? Do you feel those orders are higher/more prestigious then MM?

this question feels like its coming off condesending and that is not my intention.

Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app
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Oh, not compelled, and I'm surely not going to set the group on fire by claiming anything is "higher" than MM!

My turn to avoid the appearance of condescension in an effort to explain it's just a practical issue: it is common to wear an AASR 33 degree ring upon receiving that degree. I may wear the Sixth Degree ring of the Scottish Rectified Rite (little finger of right hand per rule). When I'm in the UK, and at other times, I may wear my signet ring with my crest. I typically wear a wedding ring and, again, in the UK may wear my 33 ring as my wedding ring. I only wear one ring on each hand.

I couldn't think of a way to make the explanation longer.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
Winter said:
I'm in the camp that we do not need to grow our membership. Throughout history the mystery schools have never been for the masses or large numbers of people. Only a small percentage of any society will be truly interested in the Craft for its intrinsic value, as opposed to the prestige they believe membership will bring. Freemasonry has been shrinking steadily in numbers and while many doomsayers argue that Freemasonry is dying and we need to recruit, recruit, recruit to save it, I believe it is more appropriate to say that we are returning to a more natural number of Masons. The membership boom post WWII (and WWI) were aberrations and inflated our numbers to a level that is impossible to maintain.

But during the boom years, we built these massive buildings and huge Grand Lodge systems that cannot exist without the numbers we no long have. So, of course, we have to wear our rings so people ask about Freemasonry so we can drag them into the Lodge. I believe this argument puts us on a level of the local Rotary or Kiwanis clubs as opposed to the Western Mystery School we should be.

I am not taking issue with any particular Brother or jurisdiction with this discussion. Merely an observation about Freemasonry in the present day and the purpose of our maintenance of a public image.
Click to expand...

I'm a quality over quantity kinda guy as well, but i hate seeing warrants go in. If i could change one thing, its the old idea a lodge needs to have 60 guys in it, the best lodges i've been in are small tight groups with high attendance and strong friendships, with one exception, every Lodge i know like that is going strong. All that said, i'm in the "management" group of by my craft lodges and two buildings, and some other masonic and non-masonic organizations and have had succession drilled into me and seen the consequences of failing to hand on the batton. At 44, i'm constantly scanning for the successors to roles i play, and recruitment of new brothers have been critical. Latest job dumped: lodge auditor to a FC ( not sure if its constitutional but i'm not checking - he's better qualified to do that job than me !)
 
Warrior1256

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Glen Cook said:
Oh, not compelled, and I'm surely not going to set the group on fire by claiming anything is "higher" than MM!

My turn to avoid the appearance of condescension in an effort to explain it's just a practical issue: it is common to wear an AASR 33 degree ring upon receiving that degree. I may wear the Sixth Degree ring of the Scottish Rectified Rite (little finger of right hand per rule). When I'm in the UK, and at other times, I may wear my signet ring with my crest. I typically wear a wedding ring and, again, in the UK may wear my 33 ring as my wedding ring. I only wear one ring on each hand.

I couldn't think of a way to make the explanation longer.
Click to expand...
Practical reasons....can't argue with that.
 
Dontrell Stroman

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Winter said:
I'm in the camp that we do not need to grow our membership. Throughout history the mystery schools have never been for the masses or large numbers of people. Only a small percentage of any society will be truly interested in the Craft for its intrinsic value, as opposed to the prestige they believe membership will bring. Freemasonry has been shrinking steadily in numbers and while many doomsayers argue that Freemasonry is dying and we need to recruit, recruit, recruit to save it, I believe it is more appropriate to say that we are returning to a more natural number of Masons. The membership boom post WWII (and WWI) were aberrations and inflated our numbers to a level that is impossible to maintain.

But during the boom years, we built these massive buildings and huge Grand Lodge systems that cannot exist without the numbers we no long have. So, of course, we have to wear our rings so people ask about Freemasonry so we can drag them into the Lodge. I believe this argument puts us on a level of the local Rotary or Kiwanis clubs as opposed to the Western Mystery School we should be.

I am not taking issue with any particular Brother or jurisdiction with this discussion. Merely an observation about Freemasonry in the present day and the purpose of our maintenance of a public image.
Click to expand...
I must agree brother.
 
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