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Lodge Attire

wwinger

Registered User
Recently I sent the following email to the officers of the two lodges I belong to.

To: Officers of 33 and 81

Brethren,

Proper attire for attendance at our lodge functions has long been a concern of many of the members of 33 and 81.

We have all been concerned that being too restrictive can be a negative when a person is debating about whether or not to attend lodge. Still we have also noticed that without standards the appearance of the officers and members in the lodge is deteriorating.

Lodge meetings used to be, and should still be, something special. The membership should be looking upon the meetings as an opportunity to put their 'best foot forward', and not look like they just finished mowing the lawn or changing the oil in the car.

True, it is the internal qualities that recommend a man to be made a Mason. Unfortunately, our newest Masons and those that visit our lodges have not had the time to learn about our inner qualities. They have only the external by which to judge us. If they don't see something they want to emulate, we will not likely see them again.

Recently, I received the following notice. What caught my attention was the part in quotation marks, not only that the WM was describing the 'preferred dress' but why he was concerned, "...a very energetic and driven candidate seeking the light of Masonry."
THU, APR 7 --- EA degree, S.B. Mosser Lodge in Alice. Meal at 6:30 PM,
degree to follow. Lots of prominent Masons on the degree team. Secretary
Ben Johnson says, “Worshipful Master has requested Coat and Tie as the
preferred dress with Past Masters wearing their aprons if available. Hope to
have a good turnout, because this is a very energetic and driven candidate
seeking the light of Masonry…â€

Isn't that what we want all of our candidates and members to be? If so, why shouldn't we dress appropriately for all of our lodge meetings?

I realize that with Winter Texans making up so much of the attendance in the Valley, we have to permit attendees to come in casual dress as many of our visitors do not even bring a coat and tie with them. Still, the officers can set the tone.

At 81, the WM has asked all officers to wear a coat and tie at all meetings. Although that has slipped a bit recently, it has inspired others, myself included, to dress better for lodge meetings. Non-officers, such as myself, do not often wear a tie and we may even leave the jacket at home but we do dress better than before to avoid feeling out of place.

33, located in the midst of a resort area, probably should not even encourage its officers to wear a coat and tie. Still, we do not need to allow the standards to drop so precipitously as to suggest that canvas shoes, blue-jeans and/or collarless shirts are considered acceptable.

We all want to see both of these lodges grow and prosper. That is not going to happen if we do not make Masonry something special that others WANT to participate in. There is little interest in those things that can be had cheaply or with little effort. There are many things that we need to do to make Masonry attractive, but how we dress is one of the easiest fixes and one we should correct immediately.

Fraternally,
Warren Winger

I have received comments, both negative a positive. Here is one of them:

This is the page I am on in regard to the message: I firmly believe that it is the internal and not the external virtues that qualify a Mason, still I believe in decorum. For me this means a persons best foot forward and not his best shoe. Our brethren around the world with less fortune than we enjoy and our local lodge brothers that may not have the coin to sport lack tie are no less the Mason than our Grand Master himself. Our recent younger, less formally attired, brothers work better that any I have heard any where else or than those any better dressed.
I would like to have your comments. My letter was my opinion. I would like to hear yours.
 

JohnnyFlotsam

Premium Member
From the comment you shared...
...I firmly believe that it is the internal and not the external virtues that qualify a Mason, still I believe in decorum. For me this means a persons best foot forward and not his best shoe...
The Brother who made that statement has missed the point of "internal" and "external" virtues defining the man. "Decorum" would demand one's best shoe as well. It needn't be an expensive Italian model. It simply needs to be one's "best" shoe. I don't care if a Brother wears sneakers to Lodge, if that is the best set of footwear he can afford to put on his feet. That he had enough regard for the import of the Lodge's proceedings to dress accordingly is what matters, not what that dress consists of.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Personally you have to see it from this point of view:

Many Grand Jurisdictions & their Lodges require its members (officers & members) to wear not just coat & tie, but tuxedo. I find that Texas is VERY relaxed in this aspect.

That being said, both of my lodges #1356 & #511 requires its Officers to wear Coat & Tie, and regular members to wear attire appropriate to Sunday Church Service. Of course the officers usually go the extra step and actually wear suits. We do have a summer dress (during the hot weeks) that allows the officers to leave the coats at home, unless it is a special occasion or official visit.

I personally agree with the coat and tie requirement, but I can see where some of our more "relaxed" Brethren might have an issue... All I can say is, lead by example.
 

Tony Siciliano

Premium Member
My lodge has no suit / tux requirement that I am aware of. Officers have always worn suits (with a couple of exceptions). The members of our lodge come as they are, for the most part. Our lodge is comprised of older gentlemen and military folks. I just glad they show up (lol)... we'll work on the suits as we go.

Personally, I wear a coat and tie at an absolute minimum - usually a suit. I wear a uniform all day, every day... any opportunity I can get to wear something nicer, I take it. Plus, I like to show some respect to the organization.
 

tom268

Registered User
In Germany, black suit, white shirt and white tie or bow-tie are worn by every brother in every lodge. Some lodges add top hat for all, some brothers chose to wear a cut. It does not matter, if the suit is by Armani or from the local department store. What matters is, that we are all the same. The question of affordable and not affordable is much greater, when everybody can wear what he likes. Some wear t-shirt, others wear pinstripe like Al Capone. What shows social differences in a brotherhood more than these? And in the lodge, we all should be the same, as far as possible.

In addition, as it was mentioned in the starting post, a lodge meeting should be something special, something important, something valuable. And for such an event, we would dress up too, like a wedding or a baptism. Initiations, Passings and Raisings, these are life-changing events for the candidate. Often longer lasting than a marriage. We should dress up, to give this event the important look, that it earns.

Dressing up for a lodge meeting, is the first step in mental preparation for the degree work. With dressing up, we start to leave our day-to-day life and tip into that special fluidum of the lodge. That's why a lodgeroom don't have any windows, to block out the day-to-day life, and create a special sphere of solemn sincerity.

At at last, how can a man, who cannot even afford a simple tie, give money for those who are in need? He is in need himself. And we should not admit those, who are in need, but those, who are strong enough to help those in need. OK, that don't have to be neccessarily financial, but a brother should be that settled, that he can afford his dues and have enough money left over to buy a tie every two years or so.
 

Bro.BruceBenjamin

Premium Member
We wear suits to lodge meeting with no exceptions. If you not wearing one you will not get pass the tyler.
 
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SWATFrog

Premium Member
My lodge doesn't have strict dress code either. Being a Police Officer I wear a uniform daily so I dont even own a suit. I keep meaning to buy one. But it is hard to spend that kind of money on a suit ill bearly wear. In the mean time I just wear button up dress shirts and dress pants like Dockers.

In the least I try to dress better on Festivals and Degree nights out of respect for the candidate.
 

wwinger

Registered User
That he had enough regard for the import of the Lodge's proceedings to dress accordingly is what matters, not what that dress consists of.

All I can say is, lead by example.

I like to show some respect to the organization.

Initiations, Passings and Raisings, these are life-changing events for the candidate. Often longer lasting than a marriage. We should dress up, to give this event the important look, that it earns.

We wear suits to lodge meeting with no exceptions. If you not wearing one you will not get pass the tyler.

In the least I try to dress better on Festivals and Degree nights out of respect for the candidate.

Brethren, thanks for taking the time to read my post and comment on it. I am particularly partial to the comments highlighted above, certainly because they tend to support my own views on the subject, but also because they demonstrate the seriousness with which each of you regards the subject matter. Thanks again. Hopefully more replies will be posted and we can also see the strong support which must exist for a contrarian view.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Remember that the membership of many of our rural Lodges is made up of working men- farmers, ranchers, & the like. For them, a clean, pressed pair of blue jeans is formal enough while still being comfortable. Many of us also wear sneakers so that others can tell that we are real cowboys, and not truck drivers! :wink:

While I am not in favor of Brethren coming to Lodge in shorts, t-shirts, & flip-flops, I am also not in favor of making a Brother feel unwelcome due to his dress. I think we need to strike a reasonable balance, taking into account the Brother's circumstances. My $0.02.
 

S.Courtemanche

Premium Member
Remember that the membership of many of our rural Lodges is made up of working men- farmers, ranchers, & the like. For them, a clean, pressed pair of blue jeans is formal enough while still being comfortable. Many of us also wear sneakers so that others can tell that we are real cowboys, and not truck drivers! :wink:

While I am not in favor of Brethren coming to Lodge in shorts, t-shirts, & flip-flops, I am also not in favor of making a Brother feel unwelcome due to his dress. I think we need to strike a reasonable balance, taking into account the Brother's circumstances. My $0.02.

This is more like the lodges that I belong to (o:
 

Ashlar

Registered User
We have no dress code here in Ky and for that I am thankful . Though I own several suits and sports coats and have a tie collection that some would envy (thanks to my wife) I am uncomfortable in a suit and tie and will not wear them unless absolutely needed . If I was FORCED to wear a suit and more especially a tux , I would not be an officer , nor would I be active . It is not who I am or who I want to be , and if Freemasonry can not except me for that , then Freemasonry does not need me . I do wear slacks and nice dress shirts .

All I know is I am a great ritualist , I mentor new Masons , I study Freemasonry most ever day , I am there for my Brethren and my lodge when needed and most importantly I try to be the best man and Mason I can be in and out of lodge and by myself NOT wearing a suit/tux to lodge does not change that fact .
 
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Ol Kev

Registered User
Remember that the membership of many of our rural Lodges is made up of working men- farmers, ranchers, & the like. For them, a clean, pressed pair of blue jeans is formal enough while still being comfortable. Many of us also wear sneakers so that others can tell that we are real cowboys, and not truck drivers! :wink:

While I am not in favor of Brethren coming to Lodge in shorts, t-shirts, & flip-flops, I am also not in favor of making a Brother feel unwelcome due to his dress. I think we need to strike a reasonable balance, taking into account the Brother's circumstances. My $0.02.

While being one of the new kids on the block, something tells me that this becomes more of the norm the further west you go in Texas. What works in Dallas and Houston is not likely work as well, if at all, in the smaller places like those in the Panhandle, South Plains, and far West Texas.
 

Brent Heilman

Premium Member
I don't really know if there is a dress code for us in Oklahoma. I know that for my Initiation I was not informed of any particular dress code. I guess I had the idea in my head that everyone would be in a suit and tie. I have one suit and it no longer fits so I decided that since I didn't have one to wear I went with one of my nicer dress shirts, tie, and slacks. I got to lodge and I felt way over dressed compared to some that were there. Our Lodge is not a large one in a large city either. We are mostly made up of older gentlemen that are retirees, farmers, and the like. The other person that was initiated with me was from an even smaller lodge to the south of us. He wore a t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. His dad who was also in attendance was dressed worse, for lack of a better term. If we were to have a dress code it would not change my opinion of anything. I am there learning as much as I can because I joined not for the dress but for what it offered me as a person. I am there to make myself better and I don't feel that a dress code is going to make me that. All that being said I think that there should be a minimum standard. Anything else above the minimum is even better.
 

Tx4ever

Registered User
A young brother was able to make a MM degree the other night straight from work . I was glad to have him , he kept saying " sorry for the way im dressed " We dont have any formal dress code and im proud of it , starched jeans and shirts tucked in with collars are the norm. Being a 50 short with and 18 inch neck i dont have alot of choices in suits .
 

Casey

Mandalorian
Premium Member
At my lodge we are pretty lax, no shorts or flip flops definitely. Most of our officers wear suits or at least a shirt and tie to meetings. There is no requirement; it's just done b/c exactly like is said previously in other posts. Now I will say this; I wear slacks and a button up shirt without a tie, or a polo to work everyday. If I get caught in a time crunch and don't have time to go home and change clothes before going to lodge I go in what I have on. I am sure most would prefer brothers showing up and wanting to be there, and actually attending lodge..... than to show up once ever few months but always look spiffy.

I'm all for looking sharp at lodge, and feel it should be a dressier occasion, but with that said....

Brothers at lodge > Brothers at home b/c they don't have time or energy to get all fancy
 

Bro. Bennett

Premium Member
I have shorts, flipflops, suit tie, Tuxedo, Starched Wranglers, holy wranglers, dress shoes, cowboy boots, ropers, you name it, I cannot wear them all at once and some would offend anyone that had to gaze upon my NEON white legs in shorts. I have always tried to wear something appropriate to the occasion, but lets face it. If a true brother came to lodge in a pair of jeans with stains from years of hard labor yet they were clean, how many would cast the first stone?
We have an EA that lives and works 45 miles from town, and if he shows up at all, I am very happy to have him no matter how much cow dung we have to smell out at the boot scraper.... Now, look at my profile picture and tell me I look like just an old hardheaded cowboy that drove 18 wheelers for 18 years....
 

wwinger

Registered User
I was sure that given a little time there would be a number of replies advocating minimum restrictions on lodge attire. Thanks to all of you for your imput.

Nevertheless, there are still some things that don't make sense. Let me share a bit of my confusion wiith you.

A couple of years back, I went to a celebration being held by a lodge a couple of hours from my home. This was one of those lodges that most would describe as a rural lodge. I had visited there before and hadn't encountered anyone wearing a suit or sport coat, not even a tie.

The event was on a Saturday, during the day. I wore dress slacks and a sport coat with no tie and was sure I would be overdressed. I got to the lodge early but as the members began to arrive I saw that I was the only one without a tie. Fortunately, there was a Grand Lodge sales table there and I was able to buy a tie for the meeting.

Huh?
 
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Christopher

Registered User
My personal feeling is that there is a world of difference between a regular brother and an officer. I think it's great if a regular brother shows up looking nice, especially for a degree, but, as plenty of other brethren have already said, the important thing is that he showed up. However, officers have volunteered to take on a burden of responsibility, which in my opinion includes looking nice for lodge. They walk into it with both eyes open and hopefully knowing the expectations the WM has for them, including expectations for dress. If they can't abide by the requirements, they shouldn't agree to become officers.

If I was FORCED to wear a suit and more especially a tux , I would not be an officer , nor would I be active. ... All I know is I am a great ritualist , I mentor new Masons , I study Freemasonry most ever day , I am there for my Brethren and my lodge when needed and most importantly I try to be the best man and Mason I can be in and out of lodge

I'm a bit perplexed by this. You seem, by your list of activities, to be very committed to your lodge and to invest a lot in Masonry. How is it that you're willing to sacrifice so much time and effort to learning and teaching the work, showing up for meetings and degrees, etc. etc., but you're not willing to make the comparatively simple sacrifice of wearing an uncomfortable set of clothes for a couple hours? After all your work and dedication you would really not go back to lodge if you had to wear a coat and tie to do it? I really can't comprehend that.
 

brandon.prewitt

Premium Member
I don't have a say in this, but I recently bought my first suit for a job interview and only paid $300 for an Italian Imported high end suit with socks and shoes after I was unemployed for 5 of the last 7 months of last year. They can be found cheaper.
It's not that expensive and you only need one. You can get a nice shirt and tie set for $20 - $50. I was actually surprised by how comfortable it was, although they tailored it before I picked it up. I don't see why wearing a suit is such a problem.
I assumed it was required,and don't understand how something so Ceremonial would not have a required dress code.
 
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