staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Feb 18, 2005 8:33:49 GMT
Adding to Munkholts thread what do you wear if any on your lapel.And when is it permissible during your masonic life.
I know some of you wear yourt heart on your sleeve ;D ;D
but:
i wear a forget me not occassionally and alternate with the point within a circle symbol lapel badge.
I did not start wearing a forget me not or any other type of pin until i was a FC
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Post by munkholt on Feb 18, 2005 9:06:00 GMT
Well, I know I won't be wearing any pins until I'm sure it doesn't brand me as the Extremely Great High-loftedness Secret Past and Future Emperor of all Freemasonry (or something). But! I can add that one of the little things that helped me me move forward on my impulse to become a mason was seeing a friend wearing a pin from his order. It helped put things into perspective that he would proudly (but tastefully) display his membership. In the end I chose a different order (his is irregular), but seeing someone I could relate positively to (and ask direct questions), rather than some anonymous people that I could easily dismiss as "not my crowd", helped me take the first step. (Hope that makes sense - words mine not today good friend no.)
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Post by taylorsman on Feb 18, 2005 12:11:42 GMT
I wear the Forget Me Not and usually the emblem of the Order I am attending that day, otherwise only the Forget Me Not in the lapel of my suit. If I wore all my lapel badges I would look like a Pearly King, so I stick to 2 or at most 3 at any time. God help anyone who tells me that I should NOT be wearing any of my lapel badges! I think they can replace the external ears with realistic plastic imitations these days?
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Michael
Member
... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
Posts: 326
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Post by Michael on Feb 19, 2005 11:51:32 GMT
I agree with steve, the Forget-me-not is my favourite for my jacket, though I do not have the same number of alternatives I always wear the square and compass as a tie pin when at work. With one or two interesting results.
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Post by Mikepm on Feb 19, 2005 12:21:37 GMT
I wear a forget-me-not, also i have 2 pins one a Level & one Square & Compass which was made for those that were the Master & Wardens of their Lodge for the year 2000. ;D
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Post by Jumile on Feb 19, 2005 12:44:37 GMT
As an EA (for another 9 days at least!) I wear a forget-me-not lapel pin in my suit jacket, and I doubt that I will ever replace it for another. It's not so much that it's a masonic symbol that advertises me as a member, but that it's become a masonic symbol through its specific use in Europe in the last Century. It doubles as my personal tribute to those people. I do, however, remove it for ethical reasons whenever I'm in certain meetings and situations.
Once I'm raised I intend to get a S&C ring (no 'G') to wear permanently, though it will be reversible for the same reasons.
I also have a S&C fob on my keyring which, because my keys are always on my person or at home, it is never displayed without me meaning it to be. Very occasionally I find it useful to test the waters, and am pleased to say that I may be about to introduce my first candidate to my lodge due partly to the judicious display of it.
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Post by Mikepm on Feb 19, 2005 23:10:11 GMT
Jumile, you don't have to hid any symbols. Why do you have to remove the Forget-me-not when those in WW2 used it for recognition in Germany??? We are in the 21st century now.
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Post by mrmason on Feb 20, 2005 8:01:20 GMT
I have various pins and very rarely wear them however I do wear the pin belonging to the AASR in Scotland. A small double headed eagle with sword in it's claws and a wreath of thistles below.
For Steve and MP the pin is identical to that of the emblem on the tie only smaller.
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Post by middlepillar on Feb 20, 2005 11:08:15 GMT
Bob
That must be an impressive Pin,
I wear 3 pins all the time, I wear a plain silver No 5 which represents my French Lodge, Jeanne d'Arc No 5.
I wear a white enamel pin that is engraved with my Mother Lodge Name Number & Logo.
And I wear the Pin of The SRIA.
I personally think you should wear what you want to and it is a personal choice.
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sarge
Member
peace and harmony
Posts: 224
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Post by sarge on Feb 20, 2005 11:36:38 GMT
When we are initiated we are presented with a small gold S & C lapel badge I wear that and my gold and enamel red rose on my dinner suit . I wear aother S & C on my business suit and my masonic ring at all times sarge
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Post by Mikepm on Feb 20, 2005 11:42:07 GMT
What about the 2 B C, thats a nice pin, & the Surrey Oakleaf.
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Post by taylorsman on Feb 20, 2005 14:43:06 GMT
The 2 BC does have the advantage that only a Freemason would be likely to understand its meaning, I don't wear one myself though. I also don't wear any Provincial Pins, or Ties etc as I consider myself to be a Freemason first and foremost and do not feel any local affiliation to any particular Province although I am a Member of Craft Lodges in two and in London.
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Feb 21, 2005 0:27:25 GMT
I always usually wear a small slipper pin with the S&C on the instep. However I recently removed it to attend the funeral of a close friend and just haven't replaced it again.
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Post by taylorsman on Feb 21, 2005 8:32:58 GMT
A nice badge Ruff, but its imnport would only be known to a Scots Mason, or a knowlegable English one.
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Post by PaulS on Feb 21, 2005 15:55:18 GMT
I have a 2 B C on my casual coat all the time.
A forget me not is used as a tie pin for whenever I wear a tie, masonic or not.
The Lapel pins that I wear vary depending on the order, S&C , T.T. , Keystone. and these are only worn when attending the relevant meeting.
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Post by Jumile on Feb 21, 2005 15:58:44 GMT
mikeipm, I suspect you've missed my point - I'm not hiding my symbols for fear of persecution or because I mistakenly believe that UGLE requires it. Let me give you a scenario (one I've been living numerous times per week since December, actually): if you're going for a job interview it is only right that you remove all indications of being a Freemason for a number of reasons: - Will my symbols be misinterpreted for trying to gain unfair advantage? What does that potentially say about me?
- Will the interviewer feel obliged to employ a brother? What does that say about him?
- What if the interviewer is an anti?
- Why should any bought membership provide advantage over another?
And that's just for job interviews. What about other meetings where decisions are made based upon your presence? To me it's simply and clearly unethical to display such affiliation in those kinds of situations. Part of me thinks the same true of old school ties, club memberships, and so on - but none of them require an obligation and high standards of its members, so I'm not adamant about them.
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Post by taylorsman on Feb 21, 2005 23:49:03 GMT
I don't wear any pins etc to work. I don't need to, everyone there knows I am a Freemason. Otherwise if wearing a suit or jacket I have at least the "Forget Me Not" in the lapel whatever it is I am attending be it Profit or Pleasure. I also give the Masonic Handshake at all times.
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Post by Mikepm on Feb 21, 2005 23:58:53 GMT
I don't wear any pins either, as like you Steve, most of the people i work with, know that i'm on the Square, but i do always give the masonic hand shake. Jumile, it's an interesting comment you make. In my job i have come across customers wearing a Probus Pin, a Red Cross of Constantine Pin, Buffalo, ( i asked what it was) and a few others, but i take on board what you are saying as i wouldn't wear any pins for a job interview, or a interview for promotion.
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Post by taylorsman on Feb 22, 2005 8:25:36 GMT
I take the Opposite view point to Mike and Matt. I WILL help a Brother in time of need as I have sworn many times to do. I have said this at length on another place but if all other aspects are equal and by doing so I am breaking no Law of the Land or Rules of my Employment, I will give preference to the Brother Freemason but will expect in return a far higher standard of conduct etc from him than from "The World at Large that are not Masons" . In my personal life of course I can chose where I may shop, whom I may hire etc and if there is a Mason who is a business I wish to make use of he will get my trade.
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Post by Trinityman on Feb 22, 2005 10:46:45 GMT
It's very interesting to compare the situation in the UK with that in the United States. IMO in the UK although we like to see people succeed, we don't want then to succeed too much, and we're certainly just as happy to see them fail. Contrast this with a more can-do approach in the US. We're just as likely to back the plucky loser as the winner. Consequently, giving a preference to your friends is taken as quite natural in the US but is regarded somehow as wrong, inequal, unfair etc in the UK. This may be because here in the UK less emphasis is placed in financial achievements. Or - maybe there is less emphasis on financial success because we're not so good at it. Chicken and Egg?. Either way, one can see the impact this has had on masonry. We (and I am as guilty as the next man on this) tend to hide our masonry in business environments, or indeed any environment where we might be preferred, simply because we don't want the accusation of favouritism to reflect badly on the Craft. This ties over with the PC thread, as that is exactly what we have become. In the US it's almost completely the reverse. Freemasonry is far far more open that it is over here, and the culture means that this kind of preferment just isn't an issue. Perhaps here in the UK we need to grow up a little and accord the decision maker the respect of not assuming he will be influenced. For my part I certainly would not be influenced one way or the other if I saw a masonic pin on a lapel, but I would wonder why he was wearing it, and whether he thought there was anything to gain by doing so. We're just suspicious, cynical and always willing to believe the worst in others. What a shame.
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