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Masters Hat

Kenneth Lottman

Registered User
What if any are the laws on what type of cover the worshipful master can wear?

I'm not much of a cowboy hat type of person.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Although the "cowboy" hat is the normal for us here in Texas. The fact remains this:

The hat should be full brimmed.

There is not much else to it...
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
This afternoon the mailman rang the door bell. My new fedora Panama Jack is here. Nice.

Last PM of our lodge wore a ten-gallon Stetson. A friend of mine wore a black Derby last year.

It's all about personal taste and heritage. The last generation to wear hats in my family frequently wore fedoras. My wife, from Colombia, S.A., was shocked when she saw it. Her grandfather wore an exact copy of mine throughout his life as a medical doctor in Mompos ... the oldest Spanish settlement in Neva Granada dating back 50-plus years before New Orleans. My heritage from the New Orleans area wore the same hats as their trading partners from that region.

There's lot of history behind the hats some folks ware. So ware what becomes you and your heritage. Just make sure it has a brim in Texas.
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Art. 278. Master Presiding "Covered."

The ancient custom of the Master presiding "covered" must be complied with, except that the Brother presiding at Masonic funerals, memorial services, graveside services, or during open meetings of the Lodge, may at his discretion, preside over such services and ceremonies uncovered.

To be "covered" shall mean the wearing of a hat, and a hat is described as a head covering with a shaped crown and a full circle brim. No person other than the presiding Master shall wear any type of head covering, except for required religious head coverings, while in Lodge or at other Masonic ceremonies. (Revised 2010)
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
Go on line. Good hat stores well represented. You can shop all the good brands from one or two websites.

We held a MM degree today and I noticed everything but a derby and a welder's "lid" hanging on the past master's rack. We certainly have a well-rounded representation in our suburban Houston lodge.
 

Kenneth Lottman

Registered User
jwhoff said:
Go on line. Good hat stores well represented. You can shop all the good brands from one or two websites.

We held a MM degree today and I noticed everything but a derby and a welder's "lid" hanging on the past master's rack. We certainly have a well-rounded representation in our suburban Houston lodge.

I found a good site but there is nothing like the feel and the look of the hat in person!
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
The same can be said of the female gender. I've never understood on-line dating. Never.
 

Steve Cumbie

Registered User
When I was Master of the my Lodge I wore many types of hats Cowboy felt & straw,Top Hat,Derby my favorite was my old brown Ferdora
 

gnarledrose

Registered User
I asked a similar question recently and was promptly lectured on the "fact" that when you're in the East, it's not about you, it's about your lodge-- the hat you wear shouldn't be a representation of you, but your lodge's tradition. Thoughts?
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
The same can be said of the female gender. I've never understood on-line dating. Never.

Brother, let me tell you. It is totally overrated haha. For sure hard to be successful at it in a small town like Burnet...lol Although, I would like to have been the guy that started up the whole trend of charging money for memberships to online dating sites. There is no end to the amount of guys that are looking high and low for a woman and are willing to pay for a monthly membership on something that produces as little online dating sites...lol

To be "covered" shall mean the wearing of a hat, and a hat is described as a head covering with a shaped crown and a full circle brim

I recently asked my WM about what rules there were on the hats that a Master of a lodge could wear as I pretty much only wear baseball caps and was just curious for when my time comes to be in the East. He of course gave me the same answer you provided, but I am curious to know if you can't have any logos on the hat? Like for example, a cowboy hat that has the Texas Rangers logo on it. The idea of that seems tacky to me and I wouldn't get anything like that, but just wanting to know if having a company or team logo on the hat violates anything.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I am curious to know if you can't have any logos on the hat? Like for example, a cowboy hat that has the Texas Rangers logo on it. The idea of that seems tacky to me and I wouldn't get anything like that, but just wanting to know if having a company or team logo on the hat violates anything.

I find nothing in the Law regarding logos but I personally would think it unseemly, unless it was Masonry-related. When I was WM, I wore a straw "planter's" hat- it had a blue band with a silver S&C embroidered on the front. Of course, YMMV
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
I was thinking about a fedora but there is no place down here to look at them! EVERYTHING is cowboy hats!
The local cowboy shop laughed when I asked if they sold top hats. ;)

I was thinking about switching things up and getting a top hat for my year in the East since I, like you, have never been a cowboy hat kinda guy. Your best bet might be to travel to a bigger city and find a real hat shop, or measure your head, find the equivalent size online, pay now, and pray.
 

KSigMason

Traveling Templar
Site Benefactor
In Idaho, the hat can be anything as long as it does nothing to take away the dignity and respect of the office.

I did the classic top hat my year as Master.
 
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