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Post by Blackadder on Oct 15, 2006 15:05:34 GMT
I have been told dress during meeting is formal through out the world. Here in Florida its acceptable to were polo shirts etc. no jeans. I was told this is because of the weather,I think thats a cop out. I think it shows lack of respect,I may be wrong but I would be interested to hear from other Brothers and what attire is acceptable during regular meeting.
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Oct 15, 2006 15:44:23 GMT
In my jurisdiction, I'm told we show due respect by the way we dress. Which, generally, is white robes for women, white suits for men. I'm told the guys can wear robes, too, but I've seen them only in suits. White suits, I imagine, can't be easy to find but they seem to manage it.
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Post by JulesTheBit on Oct 15, 2006 20:37:22 GMT
I once saw a serving US marine enter his Lodge wearing a combat jacket, jeans and trainers. He was greeted like a long-lost brother, which is what he was. Made a nice contrast to me in dark morning dress and full-dress regalia S&F, Julian
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Post by munkholt on Oct 15, 2006 21:06:58 GMT
Hmm ... I accept that it's what's on the inside that matters, and that the apron is the finest piece of clothing we could hope to wear.
At the same time, in Denmark it's full dress for every meeting -- tails, black vest, white tie & gloves, top hat, the works. And I would be very sad to lose that formality. Dressing up helps me get into the right mood, and it definitely adds to the aesthethics of the ceremony -- it just goes really well with our ritual, and I think it makes everyone want to perform their best. But fraternity should always prevail: guests would be well greeted, no matter their attire, as Jules attests -- that's what really matters.
Anyway, I think a minimum should be observed, be it robes, similar colours, black suit and tie or whatever, and if that's what your lodge wanted, I'm certain a comfortable solution could be found.
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
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Post by staffs on Oct 15, 2006 21:10:06 GMT
Now Steve is just gonna love this one ...........
The master elect of my Lodge has sent out the customary letter to all those whom he wishes to be one of his Officers next year and at with the following directive that was voted on without any objection at the GPC meeting that ........All officers of the year are to wear a plain Black tie Lodge for the duration in the Temple .
It was agreed that this sort of like mannered dress code looks much smarter than different coloured ties of many descriptions and colours no matter how approved they may be..
maybe this is the start of a new lodge tradition ?
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Post by taylorsman on Oct 15, 2006 21:31:25 GMT
GREAT! I Salute him and Greet him most Heartily and Well!
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Post by swede on Oct 16, 2006 15:05:35 GMT
In Sweden the custom is black suit, white shirt and dark (pref. black/lodge) tie when attending lodge. If taking active part of the ritual as the recipient of a degree or as an officer, the brother will be in full attire (tails etc as described above by our Danish brother Munkholt).
On occasion we have a brother that for some reason has failed to change his attire. I am yet to see such a brother to be tossed out. If he has been long gone and has gotten his nerves up to return to lodge he will be warmly welcomed in any attire.
Just my five cents.
/Swede
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phil
Member
Just me all at sea
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Post by phil on Oct 16, 2006 17:50:41 GMT
In Holland, the accepted norm is white shirt, white bow-tie, black tails and black waistcoat; very formal by today’s standards but very normal dress in older days for the GENTLEMAN of that time.
These sorts of traditions are like nostalgia. It’s just not what it used to be!
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giovanni
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odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
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Post by giovanni on Oct 16, 2006 18:35:52 GMT
man ought to wear tunics! So he is at full liberty for the dress which is under it. BTW: in Sicily, in hot days, none!
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Post by JulesTheBit on Oct 16, 2006 21:51:50 GMT
Hmm ... I accept that it's what's on the inside that matters, and that the apron is the finest piece of clothing we could hope to wear. Yes, but in that case the choice was to come as he was, or not come at all. From the reaction he got he seems to have made the right decision. And in other constitutions too. There were German masons at one of my Lodges a couple of weeks ago .... white tie & tails, top hats etc. Interestingly a German PGM was among them and quite casually dressed by comparison. He wore a dark suit. I agree, but with the work pressure on some young people, and even older ones like me sometimes, it's not always practical to get changed. For example I had an emergency at work and unexpectedly couldn't get home to change. I could have borrowed regalia. My suit would have been acceptable in the most traditional of City institutions, but it was cream coloured with a yellow shirt and I would have stuck out like a sore thumb if I had gone to the Lodge meeting. I'd like to see what would happen if we had Lodges with a more relaxed dress code, just as an experiment. That wasn't a guest, it was a member! It was his first opportunity to attend his Lodge in years and he didn't have a change of clothes. Extending "clothing" slightly, interestingly there are some places where UGLE-style honorary ranks are quietly regarded as un-Masonic, on the grounds that we should meet on the level and not flaunt our "superiority" over other brethren with great big badges. It set me thinking when it was first mentioned to me. I'll try my cream suit, yellow shirt and Donald Duck tie, then shall I S&F, Jules
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Post by taylorsman on Oct 16, 2006 22:45:36 GMT
" .....some places where UGLE-style honorary ranks are quietly regarded as un-Masonic, on the grounds that we should meet on the level and not flaunt our "superiority" over other brethren with great big badges"
Jules, I have thought that for a while now and am quite happy to be addressed simply as W Bro Steve Foley PM, I do not tend to put my Provincial Honorific on any correspondence to other Brethren etc these days. Perhaps the Honorary Rank,e.g. PPSGD should only be awarded to someone who has actually done that Office as I understand is now the case with London, and as Badge of Years Served there could be Provincial Grand Rank and Senior Provincial Grand Rank copying the London System, or maybe some other award such as a Collarette could be awarded instead either for Years of Membership or special service to The Craft in that Province?
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Post by JulesTheBit on Oct 16, 2006 23:48:15 GMT
Steve
Risks re-opening a very old can of worms, but briefly, you know I agree with most of what you say.
London still has the "honorary" LGR and SLGR system, translating its active offices to those 2 ranks instead of using the full "past provincial" structure.
Ranks are being handed out even more sparingly in London ... year before last over 200 LGRs were available but not awarded, the candidates were not thought good enough.
Jobs are more important than ranks, and ranks should not be confused with long service awards.
In the archives of Meridian Lodge there's a picture from the 1800s of the members when it was a military Lodge in India. Not a single dark blue among them ... not one.
The rank structure is yet another modern innovation, and it's certainly not a strength of the system. I was at a group meeting where 40 mins of a 45 min Q&A was about rank & honours. I found it enormously frustrating. Is honorary rank really the most important issue facing English freemasonry today? Right at the end somebody asked a question about communication and the chairman changed the subject!
That said, I have enormous respect for Grand Officers, active or past.
S&F, Julian
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