My question would be, you mentioned you used to buy Beaver or Rabbit felt hats, why did you stop? Cost?
I have a coachman's hat, but it's cheap, with a plastic shell. Mainly a costume prop. It looks ok, but it's a little uncomfortable and doesn't fit as well as it's not an exact size.
I didn't stop, although I don't imagine that I need any more. I've got a pretty darn good collection now. Hats have just been a passion of mine ever since I was a kid, and as an adult, watching the doctors seemingly continually cutting skin cancer off my granddad's head just reinforced the value of a good hat to me.
Amen to that, concerning the skin cancer. I’ve seen too many bald heads with absolutely gross lesions and growths due to these cancers. And I know I’ve burnt my scalp (a couple of times severely) to realize that these cancers might be in my future, although most of the time I use sunblock on my scalp, back of my neck, tops of my ears, nose, and any other place that I’ve seen customers develop skin cancers.
Remember, detection is as simple as A,B,C,D,E.
A is for asymmetrical. As you know, most moles are symmetrical. If that changes, pay attention!
B is for Border. Moles have basic, normal-type borders. If they become irregular or random, that’s a red flag.
C is color. If the color changes, or the mole, etc. takes on multiple colors.
D is Diameter. If it’s getting bigger, it might be spreading.
E is for evolving. If the above 4 show significant change, you’d better get to your Doctor sooner than possible. A bad melanoma can kill within weeks!
Although the clinics don’t add the next letter, I’ll do it.
F. does the Mole start to Feel itchy, making you want to scratch it? And if you do, that could accelerate the growth.
Serious stuff, my Brothers, My Aunt had a malignant Melanoma in 1971, and they had to take out a quarter of her leg, down to the bone, to get it all out. She survived to old age, but it was close!
Thank you for posting this important reminder VW. Top of the head skin cancer is a huge risk for us bald guys, but really easily prevented by wearing sun block or a good hat on a super consistent basis.
I have accumulated a number of hats over the years. I have mostly wool Stetsons, but I do have a silverbelly made in Abilene that’s a low cost beaver felt that I really like, but needs a new band.
I’m thinking about getting a silverbelly Bat Masterson made before I go to the big chair. A big bad beaver one will be about 1200 I believe. 😬
That's what I did, got that big beaver before going into the big chair!
Might I suggest that you consider Roy Jackson?
He is a Mason in Idaho, he made mine, he made our current GM's, and I understand that he makes one for each GM of Idaho. His prices are extremely reasonable and his quality is superb. Plus all the extra little touches like 'Custom Made for Lucas, MWGM Arkansas' in the band are sure cool!
His website shows lots of different styles, but you aren't limited to that. You just talk to him on the phone and let him know what you want it to look like. It's a process and he's got a heck of a waiting list so you probably want to order at least a year or so early.
Roy will make you a 100% Beaver for a bit under $600, which is an exceptionally good price.
When you call, you'll want to tell them that you are a Mason headed into the big chair.
As an Englishman the idea of wearing a hat inside for a formal occasion is rather anathema to me, but I do enjoy reading about the customs of other places. I can't imagine the Worshipful Master being lead in procession to Chair, and keeping his hat on after crossing the threshold, and then - clutches pearls - *sitting down * in his hat!
I'd very much like to see an American Lodge, I imagine there's more than a couple of differences to our English constitution.
Just to put my mind at rest, one final question - do please tell me you take it off for dinner?
Yes, the WM only wears his hat while in the east. I'm with you, custom demands removing your hat indoors, a bit of etiquette taught in the military.
But, oddly, our Scottish Rite brothers wear their caps while eating, which I find abhorrent. I asked why, and they said well, it's a prayer cap, so it's ok. I still don't wear mine regardless of if it's ok or not.
You would also be dismayed at the plethora of men in the states wearing baseball caps while dining, regardless of where they are. Even older men, who (you'd think would know better) wear their hats at the dinner table. I find it even harder to accept in a military town where most of the residents are current or prior veterans and should know better.
I'm with you on men wearing hats while eating indoors. It is not good, and I see it as just one more little sign about how far our society has slipped.
The worst I ever saw was a handful of years ago at my wife's grandmother's funeral. My wife's sister's husband sat in the front row during the service, ball cap on his head the entire time.
That said, I will wear a hat while eating outdoors at a restaurant if the sun is beating down. I burn too easily to do otherwise. That's generally limited to Mexico though, we just don't have that much sun here!
Two things have I think contributed to the men wearing hats in restaurants though:
First of all, very few men wear real hats anymore. They wear what a famous American author calls 'little boy caps.' Men have gone from wearing actual hats to something more traditionally worn by children.
Secondly, restaurants should provide a place for a man with a real hat to put it. If nothing else a rack near the entrance. But here I've got to bring up Mexico again. I walk there and it's almost always sunny there, so I always wear a hat while there. I walk into a restaurant, no matter how humble or fancy, taking my hat off at the entrance. Without fail, as soon as I'm seated, someone comes by with a little stand to hang my hat on. Doesn't matter, nice restaurant or working man's diner, the little hat stands come out. I imagine that was the case here as well, back in the days before President JFK, when every man wore a proper hat.
It is an odd custom. As part of the ceremony of Installation, whomever is Installing the Master wears a hat until the moment that the Master is actually Installed. He then removes his hat, and places a hat on the Master's head. From then on, only the Master wears a hat in that Lodge. (Or whomever might be running the Lodge on an occasion that the Installed Master can't attend.)
It is certainly an expected thing. I get hot, hats are hot, and most of our buildings here in Washington are not air conditioned, so years ago when I was Master of my Lodge I generally had my hat with me in the East, but didn't wear it. That really bothered some guys!
I've also, always, refused to wear a Top Hat. Some guys have also gotten upset about that, believing that the tradition of a Master wearing a Top Hat somehow goes back to Time Immemorial, but of course they are nuts. The Top Hat wasn't invented until well after Freemasonry had spread throughout the world. As time has gone on, and fewer and fewer Masters actually wear the Top Hat, these complaints have fallen off to nothing.
But yeah, here the Master is supposed to be wearing a hat while in the East. No one else does unless there is an outdoor ceremony.
Thanks for reading my posts! I truly appreciate it!
“It is certainly an expected thing. I get hot, hats are hot, and most of our buildings here in Washington are not air conditioned, so years ago when I was Master of my Lodge I generally had my hat with me in the East, but didn't wear it. That really bothered some guys!”
Even to this day, if I’m in the East, I get static concerning wearing a hat. So I simply grab one or more of the supplied hats in the East, and it really silences the squawking, since over the last 28 years, I can still count on one hand the number of Lodge hats that weren’t 4 sizes too small. They concede they’d rather have me with no hat than looking like Oliver Hardy. And good grief, the number of times I’ve presided over something in the last 5-6 years? Every once in a while, and rarely scheduled, so I’m not taking one of my own hats with me.
Although I did find my old "Coonskin" a couple of meetings ago in the Tenino building! It was under the small piano, and when a couple of the Brothers moved it, they picked it up and put it up with the others. I instantly recognized it and thanked the Brothers for "finding" it! It's been almost 14 years since I "lost" it. It's still in the Lodge, although I'm considering taking it home so I can use it in other Lodges for specific events.
I think I talked about this hat on a previous post, but while nobody thought I had killed a rat, a couple did think I was being disrespectful of the position of Worshipful Master by not wearing the Top Hat or something similar. When I explained the 3 reasons why I chose to wear it during the 2009 year at a Stated Communication early in the term, it squelched the “Top Hat Only” guys.
Hey, like you note, a hat with meaning that’s in good shape does beat wearing a “little boy cap.” Unless, of course, that WM was a former professional baseball player, scout, or something in that field. Then it means something.
My question would be, you mentioned you used to buy Beaver or Rabbit felt hats, why did you stop? Cost?
I have a coachman's hat, but it's cheap, with a plastic shell. Mainly a costume prop. It looks ok, but it's a little uncomfortable and doesn't fit as well as it's not an exact size.
I didn't stop, although I don't imagine that I need any more. I've got a pretty darn good collection now. Hats have just been a passion of mine ever since I was a kid, and as an adult, watching the doctors seemingly continually cutting skin cancer off my granddad's head just reinforced the value of a good hat to me.
Amen to that, concerning the skin cancer. I’ve seen too many bald heads with absolutely gross lesions and growths due to these cancers. And I know I’ve burnt my scalp (a couple of times severely) to realize that these cancers might be in my future, although most of the time I use sunblock on my scalp, back of my neck, tops of my ears, nose, and any other place that I’ve seen customers develop skin cancers.
Remember, detection is as simple as A,B,C,D,E.
A is for asymmetrical. As you know, most moles are symmetrical. If that changes, pay attention!
B is for Border. Moles have basic, normal-type borders. If they become irregular or random, that’s a red flag.
C is color. If the color changes, or the mole, etc. takes on multiple colors.
D is Diameter. If it’s getting bigger, it might be spreading.
E is for evolving. If the above 4 show significant change, you’d better get to your Doctor sooner than possible. A bad melanoma can kill within weeks!
Although the clinics don’t add the next letter, I’ll do it.
F. does the Mole start to Feel itchy, making you want to scratch it? And if you do, that could accelerate the growth.
Serious stuff, my Brothers, My Aunt had a malignant Melanoma in 1971, and they had to take out a quarter of her leg, down to the bone, to get it all out. She survived to old age, but it was close!
Thank you for posting this important reminder VW. Top of the head skin cancer is a huge risk for us bald guys, but really easily prevented by wearing sun block or a good hat on a super consistent basis.
I have accumulated a number of hats over the years. I have mostly wool Stetsons, but I do have a silverbelly made in Abilene that’s a low cost beaver felt that I really like, but needs a new band.
I’m thinking about getting a silverbelly Bat Masterson made before I go to the big chair. A big bad beaver one will be about 1200 I believe. 😬
That's what I did, got that big beaver before going into the big chair!
Might I suggest that you consider Roy Jackson?
He is a Mason in Idaho, he made mine, he made our current GM's, and I understand that he makes one for each GM of Idaho. His prices are extremely reasonable and his quality is superb. Plus all the extra little touches like 'Custom Made for Lucas, MWGM Arkansas' in the band are sure cool!
His website shows lots of different styles, but you aren't limited to that. You just talk to him on the phone and let him know what you want it to look like. It's a process and he's got a heck of a waiting list so you probably want to order at least a year or so early.
Roy will make you a 100% Beaver for a bit under $600, which is an exceptionally good price.
When you call, you'll want to tell them that you are a Mason headed into the big chair.
https://jaxonbilthats.com/
This is quite wonderful.
As an Englishman the idea of wearing a hat inside for a formal occasion is rather anathema to me, but I do enjoy reading about the customs of other places. I can't imagine the Worshipful Master being lead in procession to Chair, and keeping his hat on after crossing the threshold, and then - clutches pearls - *sitting down * in his hat!
I'd very much like to see an American Lodge, I imagine there's more than a couple of differences to our English constitution.
Just to put my mind at rest, one final question - do please tell me you take it off for dinner?
Always an avid reader of your posts,
Dave
Yes, the WM only wears his hat while in the east. I'm with you, custom demands removing your hat indoors, a bit of etiquette taught in the military.
But, oddly, our Scottish Rite brothers wear their caps while eating, which I find abhorrent. I asked why, and they said well, it's a prayer cap, so it's ok. I still don't wear mine regardless of if it's ok or not.
You would also be dismayed at the plethora of men in the states wearing baseball caps while dining, regardless of where they are. Even older men, who (you'd think would know better) wear their hats at the dinner table. I find it even harder to accept in a military town where most of the residents are current or prior veterans and should know better.
Yes, it's a sore subject with me.
I'm with you on men wearing hats while eating indoors. It is not good, and I see it as just one more little sign about how far our society has slipped.
The worst I ever saw was a handful of years ago at my wife's grandmother's funeral. My wife's sister's husband sat in the front row during the service, ball cap on his head the entire time.
That said, I will wear a hat while eating outdoors at a restaurant if the sun is beating down. I burn too easily to do otherwise. That's generally limited to Mexico though, we just don't have that much sun here!
Two things have I think contributed to the men wearing hats in restaurants though:
First of all, very few men wear real hats anymore. They wear what a famous American author calls 'little boy caps.' Men have gone from wearing actual hats to something more traditionally worn by children.
Secondly, restaurants should provide a place for a man with a real hat to put it. If nothing else a rack near the entrance. But here I've got to bring up Mexico again. I walk there and it's almost always sunny there, so I always wear a hat while there. I walk into a restaurant, no matter how humble or fancy, taking my hat off at the entrance. Without fail, as soon as I'm seated, someone comes by with a little stand to hang my hat on. Doesn't matter, nice restaurant or working man's diner, the little hat stands come out. I imagine that was the case here as well, back in the days before President JFK, when every man wore a proper hat.
I do love that with the hat stand.
Yes I always wear a hat eating al fresco, I almost get sunburn from sitting in front of my computer screen too long!
I'm with you, I burn far too easily.
It is an odd custom. As part of the ceremony of Installation, whomever is Installing the Master wears a hat until the moment that the Master is actually Installed. He then removes his hat, and places a hat on the Master's head. From then on, only the Master wears a hat in that Lodge. (Or whomever might be running the Lodge on an occasion that the Installed Master can't attend.)
It is certainly an expected thing. I get hot, hats are hot, and most of our buildings here in Washington are not air conditioned, so years ago when I was Master of my Lodge I generally had my hat with me in the East, but didn't wear it. That really bothered some guys!
I've also, always, refused to wear a Top Hat. Some guys have also gotten upset about that, believing that the tradition of a Master wearing a Top Hat somehow goes back to Time Immemorial, but of course they are nuts. The Top Hat wasn't invented until well after Freemasonry had spread throughout the world. As time has gone on, and fewer and fewer Masters actually wear the Top Hat, these complaints have fallen off to nothing.
But yeah, here the Master is supposed to be wearing a hat while in the East. No one else does unless there is an outdoor ceremony.
Thanks for reading my posts! I truly appreciate it!
“It is certainly an expected thing. I get hot, hats are hot, and most of our buildings here in Washington are not air conditioned, so years ago when I was Master of my Lodge I generally had my hat with me in the East, but didn't wear it. That really bothered some guys!”
Even to this day, if I’m in the East, I get static concerning wearing a hat. So I simply grab one or more of the supplied hats in the East, and it really silences the squawking, since over the last 28 years, I can still count on one hand the number of Lodge hats that weren’t 4 sizes too small. They concede they’d rather have me with no hat than looking like Oliver Hardy. And good grief, the number of times I’ve presided over something in the last 5-6 years? Every once in a while, and rarely scheduled, so I’m not taking one of my own hats with me.
I've learned that a lack of 'squawking' is one of the advantages of a PGM's apron. 😀
Although I did find my old "Coonskin" a couple of meetings ago in the Tenino building! It was under the small piano, and when a couple of the Brothers moved it, they picked it up and put it up with the others. I instantly recognized it and thanked the Brothers for "finding" it! It's been almost 14 years since I "lost" it. It's still in the Lodge, although I'm considering taking it home so I can use it in other Lodges for specific events.
You are just lucky that they didn't decide it was a rat or something and go running and screaming from the Lodge Room!
I think I talked about this hat on a previous post, but while nobody thought I had killed a rat, a couple did think I was being disrespectful of the position of Worshipful Master by not wearing the Top Hat or something similar. When I explained the 3 reasons why I chose to wear it during the 2009 year at a Stated Communication early in the term, it squelched the “Top Hat Only” guys.
Hey, like you note, a hat with meaning that’s in good shape does beat wearing a “little boy cap.” Unless, of course, that WM was a former professional baseball player, scout, or something in that field. Then it means something.