At our most recent Rummer & Grapes gathering, something was mentioned in passing that has stuck with me since. So, I thought that maybe we should discuss it here:
What responsibilities, benefits, and risks come about when we wear a Masonic ring in public?
The same question applies I think no matter what Masonic thing we might be wearing, ring, shirt, hat, &c. But it is I think a very interesting question to ponder.
I'd just like to say to start with I really enjoy your updates, you clearly put a lot of work in to them and they're nice to receive in my inbox.
So, on to the discussion, I'm from UGLE and generally we try to be a little conservative or understated with our jewellery. I have a ring and a small lapel pin on my coat, which look quite smart but at the same time are not extravagant.
The aim is mainly so, if I'm on the bus or tube, there's the chance another mason may recognise it but most of the public probably won't even see them, and if they do it's the chance for a discussion about the "mysteries and privileges" of our ancient and honourable institution.
I generally don't like ostentatiousness as it always appears to be only half a step away from bragging, I think a gentleman should be reserved, smart and understated in his dress, that's just my own opinion, but there's no harm in wearing a ring as long as it's not to show off,
Thank you for your very kind compliments. I'm glad that you enjoy the newsletter!
I've never had the honor of visiting the UK, but I had heard that in general Masons in your corner of the world are generally a lot more reserved with such things than we generally are in the US. I imagine that probably holds true for a lot of things outside of Masonry as well.
We seem to wear a lot of Masonic stuff here. In my state of Washington, and a lot of states, we even have our own Masonic license plates on our cars.
One place I do find Masons here to be more reserved is within certain work environments where it might be thought to be detrimental to one's prospects if he were known to be a member of a male only organization. The environment in which I work is such a place, and the few Masons who work in it alongside me tend to keep it quiet. That is impossible for me due to my level of involvement, but I don't think it has been detrimental for me. Partially because I've been a part of that particular workplace for so long, and partially because I imagine it is seen as just 'my quirk.' I imagine that most have something considered a little odd, so get a bit of a pass as long as there aren't a lot of odd things. If that makes sense.
I have however spent a great deal of time through the years in Mexico, where things are much more reserved as far as advertising one's Masonic affiliation is concerned. That has been quite interesting, because I continue to wear there what I wear here, and by doing so I've met loads of Masons there who have seen something I'm wearing and come up to introduce themselves.
Don't forget tattoos. We're not that many years/decades from a prohibition on masonic paraphernalia in public here in my jurisdiction. Older members tell me of times that it was frowned upon to advertise your membership. Something I can say from experience here in the southeastern USA that i take to heart. Safety has to be considered when wearing paraphernalia and being open about your membership, although less so today than years ago.
I've heard tales of Primitive Baptist congregations threatening Lodge members with death threats after posting officer pictures in the local paper here in a local town. To this day the lodge is careful what they publish. I sat in a lodge who argued over new signage, worried that the use of the word "temple" on the sign would offend the locals and set off attacks, others argued that the lodge is a group of masons, and the temple the building.
I'm glad many of those days are behind us, the prohibition on masonic paraphernalia is gone. That said, some brothers over do it but thats imho. The issue is, when you wear this "swag" your a public representation of all of us and we all make mistakes. We must take extreme care of our brand, as a group. Remember that there are fanatics still out there political and religious. There are already enough clandestine groups out there ruining our brand. Personally I only wear Masonic paraphernalia to masonic events. Those that know me personally know i am a mason. I don't share it with those at work, etc. I do on my private social media. Freemasonry is really the only reason i keep a FB account. in that sense Social media may be just like "swag". I keep my account locked down but, its public regardless. Perhaps the lodges being more open, and masons being more open is just a necessity of the time.
Sorry to hear about the troubles you're having from the Baptist crowd, it's always a shame when self-professed "christians" act in such an unchristian manner.
I actually don't advertise my membership on FB; I've had my account a long time and over 1300 acquintances on there, and I know that for more than a couple of them, learning I am a mason would give them a lower opinion of me, rather than raising their opinion of Freemasonry, and sometimes it's a case of just picking one's battles.
My work are a very forward-thinking bunch however, they're all aware I'm a mason. When I showed my friend my dues card his first question was "has it got you out of any speeding tickets" so I suppose some misconceptions hang around!
>>>when you wear this "swag" your a public representation of all of us
I think that you hit it directly on the head with this.
When we wear things that make us a walking advertisement for Freemasonry, it becomes our absolute duty to ensure that the message we are sending with our actions is exemplary.
In my own life for example, I have Masonic license plates on my Silverado, but I almost never drive it to Masonic events. I don't have Masonic plates on my Jeep, but it is what I almost always drive to Masonic events. Frankly it is because I drive the Silverado in a calm and civilized manner. My wife is the daily driver of the Jeep, and she is a much more aggressive driver. It is never good to see a car with Masonic plates or symbols plastered on it, driving like a bat out of hell.
I enjoy all the Masonic swag, and wear it constantly, but it does, as you point out, create responsibilities.
I’m afraid I have dark thoughts on this topic these days as I see our country entering a period of potential turmoil. I suppose that it’s technically almost always a possibility in this country since I cannot remember a time in my life where there wasn’t a world ending crisis on the horizon. Still politics being what they are, I have seen many Q people talk about Jews and Freemasonry and pedophile rings. One of the founding Q documents referenced a supposed ancient war between factions of the Knights Templar and the Illuminati and somehow it was tied to John McCain and the US Navy and went back to the pirates of the Caribbean and the war is funded by child sex trafficking which was somehow run by John McCain and the navy. It was obviously garbage but it makes me worry a bit. Things like that are like the Nigerian Prince scams, we look at it and see it for the garbage it is, poorly written, illogical and full of spelling errors; however those are the point. It’s designed to pre-screen for people who ignorant enough to fall for it since they don’t want to waste their time trying to scam someone who are smart enough to avoid it.
Still I don’t think we can talk about Masonic accoutrements without noticing the difference between how our brothers in other countries do it and how Americans do it. In this country it has never ceased to amaze me how much the culture is geared towards identifying with or as something. From trucks with 50ft flags in the back to VW beetles covered in save the earth bumper stickers or my favorite “no blood for oil” bumper stickers. Let’s not forget sports teams and every other organization you can think of. Americans really seem to like to identify as, or with things and they are very in your face about it. Still it isn’t everyone. I strictly avoid bumper stickers of all kinds, besides I think they’re tacky I don’t generally like telling everyone what I think all the time.
There are good things about bumper stickers though. I was attending a new lodge nearby and since I was not able to get any response from email it was sort of a blind date. All I had was the lodge address and a time and no idea if they did dinner first or really anything about how this lodge ran things. So I showed up a little early and the parking lot is shared, the door is locked and I have no honest idea if this lodge is even active. Could be an old webpage. I waited around a while and it was getting really close to time. Long story short I had to pee, went to the gas station, came back and spotted a new car in the lot with a square and compasses so I knew I wasn’t the only waiting for lodge to open and it was after time to start. I would have left otherwise.
So I agree with Bro. Potts I have a ring and lapel pin that I wear sometimes, that’s it.
I also definitely believe we have a responsibility to rep what we wear in a positive light. While a part of me hopes people will notice my ring and maybe ask a question. I’ve only ever had one person notice and that was because her dad was a mason. I’ve given up on the idea that they’re a recruitment tool.
Humans are always seeking a higher purpose. For most traditionally that was religion. But as our country becomes less and less religious, people turn to other things to fulfill a purpose in their life. Be it social activism, saving the planet, animal rights, what have you. Those crusades replace religion for people who have turned their backs on any supreme being.
I mentioned Mexico in another comment. It is there that I have had the most interaction because of my Masonic swag than anywhere else, and in Mexico Masons generally avoid advertising Masonic involvement.
By wearing jewelry or a shirt there I've been able to meet a lot of local Masons.
The most interesting time happened quite a few years ago now, my wife and I were in a hotel in Mexico City, having dinner. There was apparently a Masonic gathering going on that we knew nothing about, because the restaurant was filled with Masons. I distinctly remember that we didn't pay for a drink all night as we met our fellow diners. That was the largest experience I've had with swag, but there have been loads of other, less dramatic encounters with Masons there through the years.
But it does come with responsibility.
Should one in desperate need ever see a hand with a Masonic ring turn away with indifference?
I would argue no.
If we travel internationally, we might well travel to places in which we encounter those in desperate need through no fault of their own. We must, I think, in those cases act in a way that honors the ring on our finger. If we aren't willing to do that, well then, we should leave the ring at home.
As for such things serving as a recruiting tool, I'm kind of with you, kind of not, just based on my own experience becoming a Mason.
I've told the story a lot through the years about how I was too stupid to actually become a Mason. ;-) I thought it was invitational, so kept waiting around for an invitation. Eventually I saw one of those goofy 2b1ask1 bumper stickers, and that let me figure out how it actually worked. This was before our days of advertising online, radio and TV. Well, as soon as I figured that out, I remembered a fellow who wore a Masonic hat all the time, so I gave him a call and that was that.
Once I figured out that you had to ask, I would have asked someone even if I didn't know the man with the hat, but his hat certainly made it easy.
In all my years commuting back and forth to work on public transportation, only two men asked if I was a mason, both were fellow masons. I've surprisingly had more women mention it, they all were former rainbow girls, or jobs daughters. More than likely most of the people that might notice the symbols may not even know what they are, as Bro David noted.
Also, as Bro Robert mentioned, I firmly believe that there was a generation that didn't quite understand the fraternity. They took to heart the whole "secret society" thing, They came up with all sorts of new traditions that were counterproductive to the craft. That's why I really love the idea of "reclaiming the narrative", as we need to be open and transparent with the public about who and what we are, not hiding in our temples waiting for that odd man to stumble into the building.
Long ago there was no need. Almost anyone in a typical town knew who the masons were, and who were members. The urban members tended to be the well-to-do, the businessmen, the movers and shakers in their communities. In the US the merchant class were the nobility of the masses, as well as the professionals, the doctors, lawyers, etc.
But the explosion of fraternal organizations in the 40s, 50s and 60s, the lowered standards, lowered dues costs, lowered expectations all brought in the "average joe" who missed the camaraderie of the military lifestyle and joined up, looking for that brotherhood missing in civilian life.
I'm not saying that those men were bad masons, but there was a growth of bad men joining, simply because no one was guarding the west gate. And in more than one occasion, all it takes is one bad apple to spoil the bunch.
Also, as towns grew, the percentage of people who knew about the masons shrank. It no longer was exclusive. When you drive into tacoma, there's no longer that typical display of organizations to greet you. In port orchard where I used to live, they tore down those placards completely, and put up these stupid marketing signs that looks like they were designed by a 12 year old. A lot of lodges either have a small sign, or even nothing at all to let someone know we even exist. I can't tell you how many times when someone finds out I'm a mason that they admit they didn't even know we existed in the town, even though they probably drove by the temple almost every day.
Boy, did I really go off on a tangent.
For some this topic might be about conduct and civility while representing the craft outside of lodge. Perhaps that's true as well, but it's (obviously) not my focus in life, perhaps it should be. But maybe my point is, even with the symbols, most people couldn't tell you what they meant, regardless.
I'm glad that Grand Lodge is making the effort to raise our visibility within our communities. It's the only way we will reverse the ship and set things right.
May 2, 2023·edited May 2, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
Yeah the 50s 60s fraternal organization explosion has done more harm than good I think. I honestly think that the future of our craft is going to be more like the old days in England and Scotland where we rent space above bars or conference rooms in business centers. A craft that is not ashamed to focus on the esoteric teachings and just maybe stops pretending that the efforts it so lazily puts into charity are meaningful. Don’t get me wrong the Shriners and children’s hospitals are amazing and they have really accomplished something there. Same with Scottish Rite but I’m talking about the blue lodge where once in a while something more than donating 5 dollars to food bank occurs. I think the blue lodges should not focus on charity for a while and instead focus on the primary task of blue lodges which is making masons.
And instead of spending effort and money on food bank stuff or tshirt sales or whatever. Maybe put a focus on the charitable efforts of supporting our older members and their widows. Go fix their roofs and porches. I know grand lodge started pushing that just before I moved and I actually had my wife onboard to go help out older masons stay in their homes.
I think my experience here at home is similar to yours. Here I've had lots more chance encounters or comments from women than men. Usually a comment about growing up as a Rainbow Girl. That is interesting, but I think points in a way to the positive impact Rainbow had on those women. Not a bad thing.
I'm a "less is more" guy when it comes to Masonic bling. We've all seen Brothers in Lodge meetings sporting so much bling that it almost appears that they were inspired by the NASCAR practice of smothering a car with sponsor logos. In my opinion it's a bad look inside a Lodge, so any similar practices will likely appear as an oddity (a polite phrase for weird) to the outer world. But that's only my opinion. I don't think any less of the Brothers who are into bling. It must be making them happy and they're certainly not doing me any harm.
I wear my father's ring and a tiny past masters pin on sport coats and suit jackets. I wear them not to attract attention but because I'm proud to be a Mason and they serve as a physical reminder to me to square my actions and circumscribe my passions. In the ten years since I was first installed as a Worshipful Master my lapel pin has sparked only one or two conversations. At district or Grand Lodge events I wear my Grand Masters Achievement award as a sign of gratitude and respect to those who bestowed the award on me. I have a Lewis Jewel to honor my father and grandfather and I think I've worn it two or three times, but if they were alive and sitting in Lodge with me I'd wear it to every meeting,
Generally I'm a Masonic swag guy. Polo shirts, hats, Craft Masonry and Scottish Rite rings. But I am kind of always surprised by the lapel pins. I've always figured one lapel pin max. Alas though, in some Lodges it seems I am in the minority on that!
I wear my rings everywhere and usually have a hat on as well. People are going to think what they will. I know I was able to meet brothers from VA, MD, and NC when I was in Rapid City, SD on vacation because I had my hat on. I've met a Past Grand Master of FL at Disney World because of a Polo shirt. So I'm not afraid to wear my rings or apparel in public. I've been able to learn about other jurisdictions on my travels because I was wearing a Polo shirt from WA. It's been educational and opened doors to information.
I hate to brag, but it does not hurt that here in Washington we do have the very finest polo shirts of any Masonic jurisdiction in the world, bar none! Those are the greatest quality pieces of clothing I've ever owned, I believe that I'm still wearing a couple that must be at least ten years old.
At first when I became a MM ten years ago, I started wearing a lot of lapel pins. After a while I decided I needed to scale back things, so now I restrict myself to two. I wear my past master ring at meetings, otherwise I don't usually wear it. I have a light jacket with a smallish past master symbol on the left breast that I bought a year ago from Ink Nutz. I wear that jacket a lot, mostly because it's perfect for life in wet western washington.
On my motorcycle vest I have a S&C patch but otherwise, the patches on it are mostly veteran related.
I always get a kick out of some of the older masons who have lapels on their suits that look like a 20 star North Korean general. Their hangers must be made out of solid steel.
Don’t get me wrong I loved Boy Scouts, but I get a kick out of the brothers with pins like weebelo badges.
I remember reading a story long ago, when I was brand new to Masonry. Who knows if it was true or not in the particulars, but given how old Freemasonry is, and its vast scope, I'm sure it has happened.
The story went something like, a guy was found dead in a big city, no ID, and no way to identify him. But, he was wearing a Masonic ring, so a local Lodge ensured that he was buried with honor at their own expense.
So, I figure, the ring might have a practical purpose if I up and croak on the street one day!
The story came back to me yesterday when I received my new dues card from Doric Lodge, and noticed a new line added to it. A request that if someone finds the bearer of the card dead, please call the Grand Lodge office.
After reading about the lapel pin thing, I decided to count the pins I have on my Team Uniform.
There are 5: One is the Hiram Award, which is a small blue pin in the shape of Washington State, that was presented to me by Tenino Lodge No. 86 (my home Lodge) in 2013. One is the Grand Master’s Achievement Award, which is the same shape, but larger and white. It was presented to me at the 2007 District 17 meeting by the Grand Master, MWB Charles McQuery. One is the current Grand Master’s pin. One is the pin of the lodge I’m attending, or if I don’t have that Lodge’s pin, I wear my Tenino 86 pin. I just added a 5th one, my 25 year pin. It’s pretty small, but it has meaning.
So I have 5 pins. I suppose there might be occasions that I’ll add more, but not often. I might swap out the Lodge pin with a specific pin for a special occasion, etc. So I guess I’m in between the no-pin department and Captain Crunch with every pin in my possession on the lapels. Or if you’re from Portland, Oregon, Ramblin’ Rod.
Not to be flippant but one of my lodges actually turned the whole Masonic Bling thing into a fun night......Wear All Your Pins Night.......several Brothers filled a merit badge sash and most managed to at least cover one, if not both lapels. It was fun.
On a serious note....I wear my Grandfathers Blue Lodge/Shrine ring to remind myself of my obligations. I have a PM insignia on my car, and again....it is to help me keep my actions within due bounds (I don't give other drivers the one-fingered wave due to not wishing to embarrass the fraternity).
To each his own....I own a number of tshirts and hoodies with PM or S&C logos. Again....they mainly serve to remind ME to always try and speak and act accordingly.
I think that the 'Wear All Your Pins Night' sounds like a great fun idea! Two of my Lodges are talking about camping trips, perhaps the idea could be incorporated into one of those trips during a shared dinner or something.
When I first started traveling extensively as a DDGM, I started accumulating pins at a fairly brisk clip, so I got the idea of buying a heavy leather vest and sticking every pin on it. A Lodge here has an annual fundraising event where the idea is to dress as idiotically as possible, and then the Grand Master inspects your dress and issues fines for looking like an idiot. It's a goofy thing, but it is very popular and raises a great deal of money for charity.
So, I bought the vest, and have worn it to that event in the past.
Trouble #1, it is completely covered with metal now, and I'd guess it must weigh 20 pounds. It's amazing how those things add up in weight when there are so many. Trouble #2, once I began going to COGMNA every year, with every GM/GL making their own pins, I've run out of room on the vest.
“Wear all your pins night.” I attended one of those in an OES meeting. It was pretty cool! Not a bad idea for a special fun evening. I can only imagine what some of us would look like… I know I have a ton of them, I’d probably fall forward from all the weight!
Balance the risks, I’ve run into the fringe explorers who have noticed the name tag on my suit when I’ve had to run to the store on Lodge night for drinks who have accosted me with the strangest questions, I’ve met the angrily distrustful who noticed my ring who believed that it’s my prerogative to kill them for putting a square and compass sticker on their over stickered work truck because they thought it looked cool, and I’ve done my level best to meet them with the most sincere kindness. Those are risks that if met with anything but kindness will only reinforce whatever negative ideas those people have conjured for themselves about our Fraternity. Responsibility is a key component here regarding Masonic jewelry and identifying personal articles. We’re responsible for our reactions to the people who see masonry in a negative light. Showing kindness to the strange questions, and potentially threatening questions in my mind is my responsibility to masonry, it may not be possible to change already made up minds about the fraternity but at least I can show that as a Mason I’m not a threat and I’ve let them feel heard. The other side of responsibility is the rarified time that my ring is recognized and I’m asked about what my Lodge does, and I need to be ready to describe my Lodge and Masonry in the best possible light, and if I can express that best possible light with sincerity and enthusiasm, I might create the benefit of sparking the right curiosity with the right man to one day help that man become a Mason.
I've received difficult questions to answer through the years, but I hope that I've always succeeded in giving measured and thoughtful answers. As you point out, we do our Craft no good if we give dismissive or defensive answers.
That said, I don't recall ever actually encountering anyone who was rabidly anti-masonic. Slightly anti perhaps, or badly misguided, but not someone with hatred towards us.
If I’m wearing a suit or sport coat it will always have a lapel pin (one pin only), usually a Masonic one of some kind depending on the circumstances (I have a couple of cool Northrop aviation related ones that were my grandfathers I break out sometimes), I default to some version of a forget-me-not a lot if I’m traveling for work.That way those who know, know.
I used to wear either my grandfather or my great-grandfathers ring quite often, but they are quite old, and were showing their age before I started banging them around, now I tend to wear those for special occasions. Even when I wore one of them all the time, as others have noted, most of the people who noticed were people with a Masonic connection, never got any questions from anyone else, never really even got any looks. I did get challenged once by a Prince Hall Mason in Michigan to “defend my light”, which lead to an interesting conversation about customs.
I’ve never been an apparel kind of guy outside of Lodge functions (like a lodge polo shirt at a jambalaya cook off where the Lodge entered a team).
During COVID I also just got out of the habit of putting a Masonic ring on in the morning since I wasn’t leaving the house anyway. I’m going to think about getting back into that habit.
The old jewelry from our forebears does offer unique considerations, given its sentimental value, and in some cases fragility.
I've got three Masonic rings, two I wear regularly, all three are extremely old, but were not passed down by relatives. I simply enjoy beautiful old objects. Even my Past Master's apron is almost 100 years old now. I don't worry about wearing any of those things.
But when I became GM, the position came with a GM ring that has been passed from GM to GM, through about 90 GM's now. Most of my recent predecessors didn't wear it, but I did. It didn't seem at all fragile, so I had no concern about doing so. I believe that our current GM is wearing it as well.
Conversely, as IPGM, I was given a jewel for that office, quite large and heavy, solid gold. It is not terribly old, but it appears fragile and could be easily lost or stolen, so I've only worn it on a single occasion. I'll pass it down in June.
I wear my hat with the square and compass on a daily basis. Sometimes I might swap it with my valleys scottish rite ball cap. No one has really ever said anything about it. But I know, when I wear that hat, that I am the face of the craft to whomever sees me. So I remind myself to act as such.
Hi Cameron,
I'd just like to say to start with I really enjoy your updates, you clearly put a lot of work in to them and they're nice to receive in my inbox.
So, on to the discussion, I'm from UGLE and generally we try to be a little conservative or understated with our jewellery. I have a ring and a small lapel pin on my coat, which look quite smart but at the same time are not extravagant.
The aim is mainly so, if I'm on the bus or tube, there's the chance another mason may recognise it but most of the public probably won't even see them, and if they do it's the chance for a discussion about the "mysteries and privileges" of our ancient and honourable institution.
I generally don't like ostentatiousness as it always appears to be only half a step away from bragging, I think a gentleman should be reserved, smart and understated in his dress, that's just my own opinion, but there's no harm in wearing a ring as long as it's not to show off,
Dave
Nottinghamshire province
UGLE
Thank you for your very kind compliments. I'm glad that you enjoy the newsletter!
I've never had the honor of visiting the UK, but I had heard that in general Masons in your corner of the world are generally a lot more reserved with such things than we generally are in the US. I imagine that probably holds true for a lot of things outside of Masonry as well.
We seem to wear a lot of Masonic stuff here. In my state of Washington, and a lot of states, we even have our own Masonic license plates on our cars.
One place I do find Masons here to be more reserved is within certain work environments where it might be thought to be detrimental to one's prospects if he were known to be a member of a male only organization. The environment in which I work is such a place, and the few Masons who work in it alongside me tend to keep it quiet. That is impossible for me due to my level of involvement, but I don't think it has been detrimental for me. Partially because I've been a part of that particular workplace for so long, and partially because I imagine it is seen as just 'my quirk.' I imagine that most have something considered a little odd, so get a bit of a pass as long as there aren't a lot of odd things. If that makes sense.
I have however spent a great deal of time through the years in Mexico, where things are much more reserved as far as advertising one's Masonic affiliation is concerned. That has been quite interesting, because I continue to wear there what I wear here, and by doing so I've met loads of Masons there who have seen something I'm wearing and come up to introduce themselves.
Don't forget tattoos. We're not that many years/decades from a prohibition on masonic paraphernalia in public here in my jurisdiction. Older members tell me of times that it was frowned upon to advertise your membership. Something I can say from experience here in the southeastern USA that i take to heart. Safety has to be considered when wearing paraphernalia and being open about your membership, although less so today than years ago.
I've heard tales of Primitive Baptist congregations threatening Lodge members with death threats after posting officer pictures in the local paper here in a local town. To this day the lodge is careful what they publish. I sat in a lodge who argued over new signage, worried that the use of the word "temple" on the sign would offend the locals and set off attacks, others argued that the lodge is a group of masons, and the temple the building.
I'm glad many of those days are behind us, the prohibition on masonic paraphernalia is gone. That said, some brothers over do it but thats imho. The issue is, when you wear this "swag" your a public representation of all of us and we all make mistakes. We must take extreme care of our brand, as a group. Remember that there are fanatics still out there political and religious. There are already enough clandestine groups out there ruining our brand. Personally I only wear Masonic paraphernalia to masonic events. Those that know me personally know i am a mason. I don't share it with those at work, etc. I do on my private social media. Freemasonry is really the only reason i keep a FB account. in that sense Social media may be just like "swag". I keep my account locked down but, its public regardless. Perhaps the lodges being more open, and masons being more open is just a necessity of the time.
as you can tell in my monolog, I wrote what i thought as i thought it.
Sorry to hear about the troubles you're having from the Baptist crowd, it's always a shame when self-professed "christians" act in such an unchristian manner.
I actually don't advertise my membership on FB; I've had my account a long time and over 1300 acquintances on there, and I know that for more than a couple of them, learning I am a mason would give them a lower opinion of me, rather than raising their opinion of Freemasonry, and sometimes it's a case of just picking one's battles.
My work are a very forward-thinking bunch however, they're all aware I'm a mason. When I showed my friend my dues card his first question was "has it got you out of any speeding tickets" so I suppose some misconceptions hang around!
Nothing disappoints me more than the expectation that we do this for career or favors.
>>>when you wear this "swag" your a public representation of all of us
I think that you hit it directly on the head with this.
When we wear things that make us a walking advertisement for Freemasonry, it becomes our absolute duty to ensure that the message we are sending with our actions is exemplary.
In my own life for example, I have Masonic license plates on my Silverado, but I almost never drive it to Masonic events. I don't have Masonic plates on my Jeep, but it is what I almost always drive to Masonic events. Frankly it is because I drive the Silverado in a calm and civilized manner. My wife is the daily driver of the Jeep, and she is a much more aggressive driver. It is never good to see a car with Masonic plates or symbols plastered on it, driving like a bat out of hell.
I enjoy all the Masonic swag, and wear it constantly, but it does, as you point out, create responsibilities.
I’m afraid I have dark thoughts on this topic these days as I see our country entering a period of potential turmoil. I suppose that it’s technically almost always a possibility in this country since I cannot remember a time in my life where there wasn’t a world ending crisis on the horizon. Still politics being what they are, I have seen many Q people talk about Jews and Freemasonry and pedophile rings. One of the founding Q documents referenced a supposed ancient war between factions of the Knights Templar and the Illuminati and somehow it was tied to John McCain and the US Navy and went back to the pirates of the Caribbean and the war is funded by child sex trafficking which was somehow run by John McCain and the navy. It was obviously garbage but it makes me worry a bit. Things like that are like the Nigerian Prince scams, we look at it and see it for the garbage it is, poorly written, illogical and full of spelling errors; however those are the point. It’s designed to pre-screen for people who ignorant enough to fall for it since they don’t want to waste their time trying to scam someone who are smart enough to avoid it.
Still I don’t think we can talk about Masonic accoutrements without noticing the difference between how our brothers in other countries do it and how Americans do it. In this country it has never ceased to amaze me how much the culture is geared towards identifying with or as something. From trucks with 50ft flags in the back to VW beetles covered in save the earth bumper stickers or my favorite “no blood for oil” bumper stickers. Let’s not forget sports teams and every other organization you can think of. Americans really seem to like to identify as, or with things and they are very in your face about it. Still it isn’t everyone. I strictly avoid bumper stickers of all kinds, besides I think they’re tacky I don’t generally like telling everyone what I think all the time.
There are good things about bumper stickers though. I was attending a new lodge nearby and since I was not able to get any response from email it was sort of a blind date. All I had was the lodge address and a time and no idea if they did dinner first or really anything about how this lodge ran things. So I showed up a little early and the parking lot is shared, the door is locked and I have no honest idea if this lodge is even active. Could be an old webpage. I waited around a while and it was getting really close to time. Long story short I had to pee, went to the gas station, came back and spotted a new car in the lot with a square and compasses so I knew I wasn’t the only waiting for lodge to open and it was after time to start. I would have left otherwise.
So I agree with Bro. Potts I have a ring and lapel pin that I wear sometimes, that’s it.
I also definitely believe we have a responsibility to rep what we wear in a positive light. While a part of me hopes people will notice my ring and maybe ask a question. I’ve only ever had one person notice and that was because her dad was a mason. I’ve given up on the idea that they’re a recruitment tool.
Humans are always seeking a higher purpose. For most traditionally that was religion. But as our country becomes less and less religious, people turn to other things to fulfill a purpose in their life. Be it social activism, saving the planet, animal rights, what have you. Those crusades replace religion for people who have turned their backs on any supreme being.
I mentioned Mexico in another comment. It is there that I have had the most interaction because of my Masonic swag than anywhere else, and in Mexico Masons generally avoid advertising Masonic involvement.
By wearing jewelry or a shirt there I've been able to meet a lot of local Masons.
The most interesting time happened quite a few years ago now, my wife and I were in a hotel in Mexico City, having dinner. There was apparently a Masonic gathering going on that we knew nothing about, because the restaurant was filled with Masons. I distinctly remember that we didn't pay for a drink all night as we met our fellow diners. That was the largest experience I've had with swag, but there have been loads of other, less dramatic encounters with Masons there through the years.
But it does come with responsibility.
Should one in desperate need ever see a hand with a Masonic ring turn away with indifference?
I would argue no.
If we travel internationally, we might well travel to places in which we encounter those in desperate need through no fault of their own. We must, I think, in those cases act in a way that honors the ring on our finger. If we aren't willing to do that, well then, we should leave the ring at home.
As for such things serving as a recruiting tool, I'm kind of with you, kind of not, just based on my own experience becoming a Mason.
I've told the story a lot through the years about how I was too stupid to actually become a Mason. ;-) I thought it was invitational, so kept waiting around for an invitation. Eventually I saw one of those goofy 2b1ask1 bumper stickers, and that let me figure out how it actually worked. This was before our days of advertising online, radio and TV. Well, as soon as I figured that out, I remembered a fellow who wore a Masonic hat all the time, so I gave him a call and that was that.
Once I figured out that you had to ask, I would have asked someone even if I didn't know the man with the hat, but his hat certainly made it easy.
In all my years commuting back and forth to work on public transportation, only two men asked if I was a mason, both were fellow masons. I've surprisingly had more women mention it, they all were former rainbow girls, or jobs daughters. More than likely most of the people that might notice the symbols may not even know what they are, as Bro David noted.
Also, as Bro Robert mentioned, I firmly believe that there was a generation that didn't quite understand the fraternity. They took to heart the whole "secret society" thing, They came up with all sorts of new traditions that were counterproductive to the craft. That's why I really love the idea of "reclaiming the narrative", as we need to be open and transparent with the public about who and what we are, not hiding in our temples waiting for that odd man to stumble into the building.
Long ago there was no need. Almost anyone in a typical town knew who the masons were, and who were members. The urban members tended to be the well-to-do, the businessmen, the movers and shakers in their communities. In the US the merchant class were the nobility of the masses, as well as the professionals, the doctors, lawyers, etc.
But the explosion of fraternal organizations in the 40s, 50s and 60s, the lowered standards, lowered dues costs, lowered expectations all brought in the "average joe" who missed the camaraderie of the military lifestyle and joined up, looking for that brotherhood missing in civilian life.
I'm not saying that those men were bad masons, but there was a growth of bad men joining, simply because no one was guarding the west gate. And in more than one occasion, all it takes is one bad apple to spoil the bunch.
Also, as towns grew, the percentage of people who knew about the masons shrank. It no longer was exclusive. When you drive into tacoma, there's no longer that typical display of organizations to greet you. In port orchard where I used to live, they tore down those placards completely, and put up these stupid marketing signs that looks like they were designed by a 12 year old. A lot of lodges either have a small sign, or even nothing at all to let someone know we even exist. I can't tell you how many times when someone finds out I'm a mason that they admit they didn't even know we existed in the town, even though they probably drove by the temple almost every day.
Boy, did I really go off on a tangent.
For some this topic might be about conduct and civility while representing the craft outside of lodge. Perhaps that's true as well, but it's (obviously) not my focus in life, perhaps it should be. But maybe my point is, even with the symbols, most people couldn't tell you what they meant, regardless.
I'm glad that Grand Lodge is making the effort to raise our visibility within our communities. It's the only way we will reverse the ship and set things right.
Yeah the 50s 60s fraternal organization explosion has done more harm than good I think. I honestly think that the future of our craft is going to be more like the old days in England and Scotland where we rent space above bars or conference rooms in business centers. A craft that is not ashamed to focus on the esoteric teachings and just maybe stops pretending that the efforts it so lazily puts into charity are meaningful. Don’t get me wrong the Shriners and children’s hospitals are amazing and they have really accomplished something there. Same with Scottish Rite but I’m talking about the blue lodge where once in a while something more than donating 5 dollars to food bank occurs. I think the blue lodges should not focus on charity for a while and instead focus on the primary task of blue lodges which is making masons.
And instead of spending effort and money on food bank stuff or tshirt sales or whatever. Maybe put a focus on the charitable efforts of supporting our older members and their widows. Go fix their roofs and porches. I know grand lodge started pushing that just before I moved and I actually had my wife onboard to go help out older masons stay in their homes.
I think my experience here at home is similar to yours. Here I've had lots more chance encounters or comments from women than men. Usually a comment about growing up as a Rainbow Girl. That is interesting, but I think points in a way to the positive impact Rainbow had on those women. Not a bad thing.
I'm a "less is more" guy when it comes to Masonic bling. We've all seen Brothers in Lodge meetings sporting so much bling that it almost appears that they were inspired by the NASCAR practice of smothering a car with sponsor logos. In my opinion it's a bad look inside a Lodge, so any similar practices will likely appear as an oddity (a polite phrase for weird) to the outer world. But that's only my opinion. I don't think any less of the Brothers who are into bling. It must be making them happy and they're certainly not doing me any harm.
I wear my father's ring and a tiny past masters pin on sport coats and suit jackets. I wear them not to attract attention but because I'm proud to be a Mason and they serve as a physical reminder to me to square my actions and circumscribe my passions. In the ten years since I was first installed as a Worshipful Master my lapel pin has sparked only one or two conversations. At district or Grand Lodge events I wear my Grand Masters Achievement award as a sign of gratitude and respect to those who bestowed the award on me. I have a Lewis Jewel to honor my father and grandfather and I think I've worn it two or three times, but if they were alive and sitting in Lodge with me I'd wear it to every meeting,
Generally I'm a Masonic swag guy. Polo shirts, hats, Craft Masonry and Scottish Rite rings. But I am kind of always surprised by the lapel pins. I've always figured one lapel pin max. Alas though, in some Lodges it seems I am in the minority on that!
I wear my rings everywhere and usually have a hat on as well. People are going to think what they will. I know I was able to meet brothers from VA, MD, and NC when I was in Rapid City, SD on vacation because I had my hat on. I've met a Past Grand Master of FL at Disney World because of a Polo shirt. So I'm not afraid to wear my rings or apparel in public. I've been able to learn about other jurisdictions on my travels because I was wearing a Polo shirt from WA. It's been educational and opened doors to information.
I hate to brag, but it does not hurt that here in Washington we do have the very finest polo shirts of any Masonic jurisdiction in the world, bar none! Those are the greatest quality pieces of clothing I've ever owned, I believe that I'm still wearing a couple that must be at least ten years old.
At first when I became a MM ten years ago, I started wearing a lot of lapel pins. After a while I decided I needed to scale back things, so now I restrict myself to two. I wear my past master ring at meetings, otherwise I don't usually wear it. I have a light jacket with a smallish past master symbol on the left breast that I bought a year ago from Ink Nutz. I wear that jacket a lot, mostly because it's perfect for life in wet western washington.
On my motorcycle vest I have a S&C patch but otherwise, the patches on it are mostly veteran related.
I always get a kick out of some of the older masons who have lapels on their suits that look like a 20 star North Korean general. Their hangers must be made out of solid steel.
Don’t get me wrong I loved Boy Scouts, but I get a kick out of the brothers with pins like weebelo badges.
I remember reading a story long ago, when I was brand new to Masonry. Who knows if it was true or not in the particulars, but given how old Freemasonry is, and its vast scope, I'm sure it has happened.
The story went something like, a guy was found dead in a big city, no ID, and no way to identify him. But, he was wearing a Masonic ring, so a local Lodge ensured that he was buried with honor at their own expense.
So, I figure, the ring might have a practical purpose if I up and croak on the street one day!
The story came back to me yesterday when I received my new dues card from Doric Lodge, and noticed a new line added to it. A request that if someone finds the bearer of the card dead, please call the Grand Lodge office.
After reading about the lapel pin thing, I decided to count the pins I have on my Team Uniform.
There are 5: One is the Hiram Award, which is a small blue pin in the shape of Washington State, that was presented to me by Tenino Lodge No. 86 (my home Lodge) in 2013. One is the Grand Master’s Achievement Award, which is the same shape, but larger and white. It was presented to me at the 2007 District 17 meeting by the Grand Master, MWB Charles McQuery. One is the current Grand Master’s pin. One is the pin of the lodge I’m attending, or if I don’t have that Lodge’s pin, I wear my Tenino 86 pin. I just added a 5th one, my 25 year pin. It’s pretty small, but it has meaning.
So I have 5 pins. I suppose there might be occasions that I’ll add more, but not often. I might swap out the Lodge pin with a specific pin for a special occasion, etc. So I guess I’m in between the no-pin department and Captain Crunch with every pin in my possession on the lapels. Or if you’re from Portland, Oregon, Ramblin’ Rod.
Not to be flippant but one of my lodges actually turned the whole Masonic Bling thing into a fun night......Wear All Your Pins Night.......several Brothers filled a merit badge sash and most managed to at least cover one, if not both lapels. It was fun.
On a serious note....I wear my Grandfathers Blue Lodge/Shrine ring to remind myself of my obligations. I have a PM insignia on my car, and again....it is to help me keep my actions within due bounds (I don't give other drivers the one-fingered wave due to not wishing to embarrass the fraternity).
To each his own....I own a number of tshirts and hoodies with PM or S&C logos. Again....they mainly serve to remind ME to always try and speak and act accordingly.
I think that the 'Wear All Your Pins Night' sounds like a great fun idea! Two of my Lodges are talking about camping trips, perhaps the idea could be incorporated into one of those trips during a shared dinner or something.
When I first started traveling extensively as a DDGM, I started accumulating pins at a fairly brisk clip, so I got the idea of buying a heavy leather vest and sticking every pin on it. A Lodge here has an annual fundraising event where the idea is to dress as idiotically as possible, and then the Grand Master inspects your dress and issues fines for looking like an idiot. It's a goofy thing, but it is very popular and raises a great deal of money for charity.
So, I bought the vest, and have worn it to that event in the past.
Trouble #1, it is completely covered with metal now, and I'd guess it must weigh 20 pounds. It's amazing how those things add up in weight when there are so many. Trouble #2, once I began going to COGMNA every year, with every GM/GL making their own pins, I've run out of room on the vest.
“Wear all your pins night.” I attended one of those in an OES meeting. It was pretty cool! Not a bad idea for a special fun evening. I can only imagine what some of us would look like… I know I have a ton of them, I’d probably fall forward from all the weight!
Balance the risks, I’ve run into the fringe explorers who have noticed the name tag on my suit when I’ve had to run to the store on Lodge night for drinks who have accosted me with the strangest questions, I’ve met the angrily distrustful who noticed my ring who believed that it’s my prerogative to kill them for putting a square and compass sticker on their over stickered work truck because they thought it looked cool, and I’ve done my level best to meet them with the most sincere kindness. Those are risks that if met with anything but kindness will only reinforce whatever negative ideas those people have conjured for themselves about our Fraternity. Responsibility is a key component here regarding Masonic jewelry and identifying personal articles. We’re responsible for our reactions to the people who see masonry in a negative light. Showing kindness to the strange questions, and potentially threatening questions in my mind is my responsibility to masonry, it may not be possible to change already made up minds about the fraternity but at least I can show that as a Mason I’m not a threat and I’ve let them feel heard. The other side of responsibility is the rarified time that my ring is recognized and I’m asked about what my Lodge does, and I need to be ready to describe my Lodge and Masonry in the best possible light, and if I can express that best possible light with sincerity and enthusiasm, I might create the benefit of sparking the right curiosity with the right man to one day help that man become a Mason.
I've received difficult questions to answer through the years, but I hope that I've always succeeded in giving measured and thoughtful answers. As you point out, we do our Craft no good if we give dismissive or defensive answers.
That said, I don't recall ever actually encountering anyone who was rabidly anti-masonic. Slightly anti perhaps, or badly misguided, but not someone with hatred towards us.
If I’m wearing a suit or sport coat it will always have a lapel pin (one pin only), usually a Masonic one of some kind depending on the circumstances (I have a couple of cool Northrop aviation related ones that were my grandfathers I break out sometimes), I default to some version of a forget-me-not a lot if I’m traveling for work.That way those who know, know.
I used to wear either my grandfather or my great-grandfathers ring quite often, but they are quite old, and were showing their age before I started banging them around, now I tend to wear those for special occasions. Even when I wore one of them all the time, as others have noted, most of the people who noticed were people with a Masonic connection, never got any questions from anyone else, never really even got any looks. I did get challenged once by a Prince Hall Mason in Michigan to “defend my light”, which lead to an interesting conversation about customs.
I’ve never been an apparel kind of guy outside of Lodge functions (like a lodge polo shirt at a jambalaya cook off where the Lodge entered a team).
During COVID I also just got out of the habit of putting a Masonic ring on in the morning since I wasn’t leaving the house anyway. I’m going to think about getting back into that habit.
The old jewelry from our forebears does offer unique considerations, given its sentimental value, and in some cases fragility.
I've got three Masonic rings, two I wear regularly, all three are extremely old, but were not passed down by relatives. I simply enjoy beautiful old objects. Even my Past Master's apron is almost 100 years old now. I don't worry about wearing any of those things.
But when I became GM, the position came with a GM ring that has been passed from GM to GM, through about 90 GM's now. Most of my recent predecessors didn't wear it, but I did. It didn't seem at all fragile, so I had no concern about doing so. I believe that our current GM is wearing it as well.
Conversely, as IPGM, I was given a jewel for that office, quite large and heavy, solid gold. It is not terribly old, but it appears fragile and could be easily lost or stolen, so I've only worn it on a single occasion. I'll pass it down in June.
I wear my hat with the square and compass on a daily basis. Sometimes I might swap it with my valleys scottish rite ball cap. No one has really ever said anything about it. But I know, when I wear that hat, that I am the face of the craft to whomever sees me. So I remind myself to act as such.
I think that you are right, properly worn, these things do help us to regulate our actions if we consider them as we should.