By The Rules of Etiquette. If the Governor invited you to a semi formal dinner and you showed up in shirt and tie you’d be turned away.By whose standards? Cause growing up a formal was black tie /tux and a semi formal was dress shirt and slacks and tie.
So here's what I found to explain it (yes.. I would need this lol)
White Tie
•Black dress coat (tailcoat), matching trousers with a single stripe of satin or braid in the US; two stripes in Europe or the UK
•White piqué wing-collared shirt with stiff front
•Braces, to ensure a good fit
•Shirt studs and cuff links
•White vest
•White bow tie
•White or gray gloves
•Black patent shoes and black dress socks
This conversation has taken a very judgemental tone imo. Every brother in the world has an opinion as to the "proper" way the craft "should" be. As far as I am concerned, I will treat my fellow brothers no differently whether they are wear a polo or white tie. The same goes for whether I am dining on fine China or "eating KFC from a paper plate".
It all depends on the jurisdiction and doing some homework on proper wear before you visit a Lodge to make sure you won't be over or under dressed. I think I remember hearing my dad say that to be a worshipful master in Pennsylvania that you are suppose to wear tails and if you are an officer you are suppose to wear a tux and everybody else can wear a dark colored suit with a dark colored tie. So as most discussions about fine details like what you wear to lodge really depends on what jurisdiction you are in.
Same here. Hell, I've lived places where a button down shirt would be considered dress up.
Clean blue jeans and a polo are my idea of dressing up.....
Yep.just shirt and tie for officers, collared shirts and khakis or dress pants for the brethren.
I prefer to wear a suit or tux when attending lodge. I also believe it is the responsibility of the lodge to inform candidates and then teach new EA's of the lodges particulars. For lodges who wear tuxedos this includes proper wear of the tuxedo.
Here is the guide I use: http://www.blacktieguide.com/Classic/Classic_Intro.htm
For an affordable option of tux/suites: https://alaindupetit.com/collections/black-suits
This conversation isn't about blue collar of white collar. It's about our individual tastes and lodge/grand lodge standards. No one forces me to wear a coat and tie. The lodge I was raised in jeans and a polo were normal. I took upon myself to start wearing a coat and tie because for me (me please read that I just said ME) I knew I could do better for the Craft. I personally want a lodge experience that is different from the outside world. I don't want to dress to go lodge and my wife think I'm going to grab a drink with a buddy. I want my outer expression to match my inner desire to purposefully separate what I am about to do as different, special and important. I expect no one to feel as I do however, I shall attempt to find a lodge with at least similar thoughts.
My dads lodge is jeans and t-shirt. I have no issue visiting that lodge but I know it isn't meant to be my lodge. Different strokes for different folks.
@Keith C thank you for the clarification. I think the book I should pickup is the Pennsylvania rule book because I can't remember off the top of my head the name of it but to read it and make sure I get to know them well. I have been working on the guide work for the first degree.
Btw, is that one site for real??? 40 or 50 bucks for pants and coat? That's insanely cheap.I prefer to wear a suit or tux when attending lodge. I also believe it is the responsibility of the lodge to inform candidates and then teach new EA's of the lodges particulars. For lodges who wear tuxedos this includes proper wear of the tuxedo.
Here is the guide I use: http://www.blacktieguide.com/Classic/Classic_Intro.htm
For an affordable option of tux/suites: https://alaindupetit.com/collections/black-suits
This conversation isn't about blue collar of white collar. It's about our individual tastes and lodge/grand lodge standards. No one forces me to wear a coat and tie. The lodge I was raised in jeans and a polo were normal. I took upon myself to start wearing a coat and tie because for me (me please read that I just said ME) I knew I could do better for the Craft. I personally want a lodge experience that is different from the outside world. I don't want to dress to go lodge and my wife think I'm going to grab a drink with a buddy. I want my outer expression to match my inner desire to purposefully separate what I am about to do as different, special and important. I expect no one to feel as I do however, I shall attempt to find a lodge with at least similar thoughts.
My dads lodge is jeans and t-shirt. I have no issue visiting that lodge but I know it isn't meant to be my lodge. Different strokes for different folks.
Yep. I have some at home. Shipping isn't free however.Btw, is that one site for real??? 40 or 50 bucks for pants and coat? That's insanely cheap.
The Count of RipicordoI could never fit in to "high society". I thought black tie was a formal as it gets
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I remember reading a UT GM's address. He lamented that in a lodge of 100, only 10 would attend meetings. Sound familiar? It was given c. 1874.It seems that way at times. It's very off-putting for guys coming in with an expectation of a TO/European style of Masonry or even a blend of our more casual style but a bit of class too but then to be presented something that makes it less desirable and disappointing. Again, I just don't see guys back in the day being that lackadaisical about Masonry.