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Post by reddoor on Nov 16, 2010 16:53:22 GMT
If this has been covered before, I apologize..
When wearing a masonic ring, is it proper to wear the points / letter G facing out towards the finger tips (upside down) or facing the wrist and the letter G right-side-up to myself?
I suppose the third option is whatever I feel is best...I guess I'm looking for what the majority of Brothers do..
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Post by jayman on Nov 16, 2010 17:19:45 GMT
If this has been covered before, I apologize.. When wearing a masonic ring, is it proper to wear the points / letter G facing out towards the finger tips (upside down) or facing the wrist and the letter G right-side-up to myself? I suppose the third option is whatever I feel is best...I guess I'm looking for what the majority of Brothers do.. the most common recommendation is point towards you. It was explained to me that this is for you to see you are a mason, not to show others that you are.
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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 Nov 16, 2010 18:11:48 GMT
With respect to you and whoever taught you that, reddoor, I think that's a rather daft opinion. Who needs to wear a ring to tell himself what he is? Apart from a married man, obviously A ring bearing a sign really ought to be worn in such a way that it may be read by others. As the hand is generally seen in a palm-down position, either lying flat or with the fingertips lowermost, the ring must be worn with the compass-points directed downwards. I'm aware some people display the Working Tools when at labour in a configuration that is the inverse of that which I have described, but the square-and-compasses as a conjoined symbol representing Masonry is universally understood in the position I have just delineated.
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Post by jayman on Nov 16, 2010 18:16:19 GMT
With respect to you and whoever taught you that, reddoor, I think that's a rather daft opinion. Who needs to wear a ring to tell himself what he is? Apart from a married man, obviously A ring bearing a sign really ought to be worn in such a way that it may be read by others. As the hand is generally seen in a palm-down position, either lying flat or with the fingertips lowermost, the ring must be worn with the compass-points directed downwards. I'm aware some people display the Working Tools when at labour in a configuration that is the inverse of that which I have described, but the square-and-compasses as a conjoined symbol representing Masonry is universally understood in the position I have just delineated. That was I, not Reddoor that made the comment. Let me choose different wording. The points towards you are to REMIND you that you are a mason. So as you carry on your daily chores you see the S&C and continue to try and polish your ashlar. Showing others you are a mason should never be part of why you wear the ring.
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Post by reddoor on Nov 16, 2010 19:08:46 GMT
Thank you both for your opinions and views..it will definately help me in making my decision when the time comes. I'm currently an EA so I won't be wearing it until raised to MM in the spring so I will have some time to figure it out. I have my grandfather's ring and he has since passed away and so has everyone who would remember how he wore it.
Thanks again...this forum is proving to be a great resource for my Masonic journey!
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Post by hyperion on Nov 16, 2010 19:16:41 GMT
Thank you both for your opinions and views..it will definately help me in making my decision when the time comes. I'm currently an EA so I won't be wearing it until raised to MM in the spring so I will have some time to figure it out. I have my grandfather's ring and he has since passed away and so has everyone who would remember how he wore it. Thanks again...this forum is proving to be a great resource for my Masonic journey! Under your special circumstance, I would put your Grandfathers ring on a chain to be worn underneath my shirt. That way it would always be worn close to my heart.
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Post by jayman on Nov 16, 2010 21:26:12 GMT
Thank you both for your opinions and views..it will definately help me in making my decision when the time comes. I'm currently an EA so I won't be wearing it until raised to MM in the spring so I will have some time to figure it out. I have my grandfather's ring and he has since passed away and so has everyone who would remember how he wore it. Thanks again...this forum is proving to be a great resource for my Masonic journey! Under your special circumstance, I would put your Grandfathers ring on a chain to be worn underneath my shirt. That way it would always be worn close to my heart. An excellent suggestion and completely allowed in pretty much every lodge.
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Post by reddoor on Nov 16, 2010 21:32:51 GMT
Thank you both for your opinions and views..it will definately help me in making my decision when the time comes. I'm currently an EA so I won't be wearing it until raised to MM in the spring so I will have some time to figure it out. I have my grandfather's ring and he has since passed away and so has everyone who would remember how he wore it. Thanks again...this forum is proving to be a great resource for my Masonic journey! Under your special circumstance, I would put your Grandfathers ring on a chain to be worn underneath my shirt. That way it would always be worn close to my heart. Wow! Something I never would have thought of! Great suggestion! This also gives me an excuse to spend money and buy a personal ring wink wink
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Post by hyperion on Nov 16, 2010 22:20:47 GMT
Glad that I could be of help.
On a side note my wife and I have matching Masonic tattoos.
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Post by reddoor on Nov 17, 2010 3:31:30 GMT
Glad that I could be of help. On a side note my wife and I have matching Masonic tattoos. My plan is to get a small tat on my wrist someday...I've never had something of significance to get tattooed before and I'm limited to where I can put a tattoo. I keep telling my wife it's leftover fat from the kids but then she reminds me the kids are 6 and 4 years old and I also didn't carry the children since I am a man and men cannot carry children...I think she's just talking crazy talk...must be post baby craziness...I probably won't tell her that though...she'd just go crazy... That was weird... ;D
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Post by droche on Nov 20, 2010 19:24:37 GMT
There is no prescribed way to wear a Masonic ring. It is purely at the discretion of the individual.
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mre
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Post by mre on Nov 20, 2010 22:42:47 GMT
I'm not a mason yet, so I'm probably missing the point, but...
Isn't being a Mason a personal thing, a personal journey?
What is the point of advertising it, ring, tatoo, bumper sticker etc... FM is not a social club?
With respect Mre.
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Post by droche on Nov 20, 2010 22:49:54 GMT
I think you raise a good point. In my humble opinion there are many Masons who make too big a deal and put too much emphasis over the outward symbols of the Craft. That being said I also do not think there is anything wrong with a ring or a trunk ornament here or there. You are right, Freemasonry is not a social club, but there is a social aspect to it.
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Post by maximus on Nov 21, 2010 17:38:21 GMT
I'm not a mason yet, so I'm probably missing the point, but... Isn't being a Mason a personal thing, a personal journey? What is the point of advertising it, ring, tatoo, bumper sticker etc... FM is not a social club? With respect Mre. Conversely, what is wrong with displaying an outward symbol of one's membership? Freemasonry is not a secret society, after all. A tasteful display of a ring or an emblem creates not only the opportunity to connect with Brothers one may not otherwise meet, but also may open the door to a possible future Brother who may see it and ask a question leading to their petitioning.
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Post by maximus on Nov 21, 2010 17:40:26 GMT
There is no prescribed way to wear a Masonic ring. It is purely at the discretion of the individual. True, but if you've got it on upside down, people will likely think you're a doofus.
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Post by waynecowley on Nov 21, 2010 19:05:22 GMT
Might I suggest that the only correct way to wear a masonic ring is with pride and honour
Wayne
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Post by maximus on Nov 21, 2010 20:26:29 GMT
Might I suggest that the only correct way to wear a masonic ring is with pride and honour Wayne Good suggestion. Hello Wayne.
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mre
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Post by mre on Nov 21, 2010 20:54:29 GMT
Conversely, what is wrong with displaying an outward symbol of one's membership? Freemasonry is not a secret society, after all. A tasteful display of a ring or an emblem creates not only the opportunity to connect with Brothers one may not otherwise meet, but also may open the door to a possible future Brother who may see it and ask a question leading to their petitioning. That's a fair point Maximus, I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for sharing your opinion. I have to say that I never noticed anyone wearing a Masonic ring (I live in Europe). Maybe the culture for this is different here than it is in the US ? Mre.
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Post by maximus on Nov 21, 2010 21:01:27 GMT
Conversely, what is wrong with displaying an outward symbol of one's membership? Freemasonry is not a secret society, after all. A tasteful display of a ring or an emblem creates not only the opportunity to connect with Brothers one may not otherwise meet, but also may open the door to a possible future Brother who may see it and ask a question leading to their petitioning. That's a fair point Maximus, I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for sharing your opinion. I have to say that I never noticed anyone wearing a Masonic ring (I live in Europe). Maybe the culture for this is different here than it is in the US ? Mre. From what I understand from the European Bros. I have spoken to online, that seems to be the case in some parts of Europe.
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Post by droche on Nov 22, 2010 1:12:35 GMT
There is no prescribed way to wear a Masonic ring. It is purely at the discretion of the individual. True, but if you've got it on upside down, people will likely think you're a doofus. Ahhhh, but when it comes to a Masonic ring, who has the authority to decide which way is "upside down?" So, let me explain how I wear my ring and why. I received my ring in 1988 as a gift from the widow of my deceased mentor in Freemasonry, a man whom I had looked up to immensely and who had respected my devotion to Masonry and Masonic principles. She said, "'Bob' would have wanted you to have this ring." If not for that, it is unlikely that I would have purchased or worn a Masonic ring because I am not big on the external signs of Freemasonry; I am firm believer that it is the internal and not the external qualities of what makes one a Mason. When I first began wearing the ring, I wore it with the points facing outward. About a year later, I was in my old home town and went into the store I frequented as a child and said hello to the owner. He noticed my ring and then he showed me his and said, "How do you like that? We are Brothers." Then he said, "Look at the way I wear my ring. The points face towards me. When you wear the points away from you, you are telling the world that you are a Mason, but when I wear the points toward me, that tells me that I am a Mason." That made sense to me, so since then that is how I wear the ring. So, I guess if others want to think I am a "doofus" because of the way I wear my ring, that is their problem. The meanings of why I wear it and how are solely what is is of importance to me.
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