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Dress Attire Revisited

MGM357

Registered User
as long as there is an effort, and someones heart in the right place. Just as it was stated earlier don't show up like you just woke up from "last nights party". The Fraternity is trying to make good men better.
 

scottmh59

Registered User
I don't see it as disrespectful to come to lodge

In my opinion, there are much bigger concerns than what someone looks like.

you are right,but still will others take you (not you directly jtm)seriously when you try to voice your concerns, if your wearing a t shirt. my job is dress casual,even the zone managers. But when they go to the corporate meetings to talk about concerns in the business,
everyone there is dressed up.
 

Sirius

Registered User
I think how we dress reflects how we feel about what we're here to do. Most everyone in my Lodge comes fairly dress casual. Mostly slacks and polos and a few suits, I fall into the former. Plus, the humidity here is always high, so you don't see a lot of suits anywhere. The culture isn't very formal. Most of the formality is saved for the big Mardi Gras Balls.

I generally don't really think about what someone else is wearing. However, there is this one brother who shows up here and there. He wears sweat pants and a casino t shirt every time. It wouldn't really bother me except for the fact that he never shuts up about the 'right way' to do things. If you're take upon yourself to be the guy who knows everything, you had better be wearing an immaculate suit.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
I would welcome him as I would any other Brother, & thank him for caring to attend.

I am in total agreement with your post above. Many times I have not had time to go home & clean up before Lodge. I don't like it when that happens, but I feel being at Lodge is preferable to staying home, and I have NEVER been called down in my primary (country) Lodges due to my dress. I do belong to one "tuxedo" Lodge, but do not attend unless I can dress according to their expectations, so I generally get there once or twice a year. I also belong to a Lodge which is run by a PGM, and the stated dress code is "business casual". It has been my experience that Lodges cannot be judged by the appearance of the members, but by their attitude. YMMV.

How right you are Brother Lins, Most of the time I do not have time to go home before lodge and I think this situation probably applies to several of us who frequent these boards.
I will say that usually when there is something special going on at my home lodge, then most of the brethren show up dressed well. Most of our officers wear shirt and ties at stated meetings, and so do most of the brethren. We have had a few show up in shorts and sandles, but they either realize that we are having a Stated meeeting or a degree and they either leave and come back, or they show up the next meeting dressed properly. Some times when the DDGM is making his official visit, we have all dressed in Tux, or dark coat and tie. For a while one of our Masters required that all of his officers wear black coat and ties for degree conferrals, but this became a bit of a problem on a continious basis, and was dropped. Over all, most of the brethren are dressed approporately for scheduled meetings. If they don't, I cant remember anyone sending someone home.
I will say that a group of well dressed Brothers makes for an impressive lodge room.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
Grand Lodge was the first time I've seen a Mason in a Tux..lol. Am I wrong here?

You might be right, unless you come to the Galveston Scottish Rite during a reunion. You will quickly see that the 18th, 30th, and 32nd degrees are all conferred in Tux.
 

RedTemplar

Johnny Joe Combs
Premium Member
I think this begins with the officers. Dress should not be required but if the officers take the inititive to raise the bar others will follow suit (no pun). Don't make it manditory I don't think and welcome everyone with open arms however I felt the same way on this issue as I hated and did not want to wear a tie. I was however in good council that showed me you can really take something to the next level just by improving your image. People tend to take someone that is nicely dressed a little more seriously. I hated it and now I own 3 suits I wear mainly for Lodge functions. I love dressing up for the occasions.

(Funny story - Tom told me of a time he visited a rural lodge and he wore a suit, needless to say they thought he was from Grand Lodge.)

Lol, that was wild.

That could very well be my lodge, too.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
I wouldn't make it a requirement either...but I would still recommended it or encourage it. A week after I was initiated i showed up in shorts because of the 100* weather outside and I was asked to show up in pants from then on.
The better dressed you are, the more of a halo-effect everyone will have on you, they'll either look up to you, think you're either smart, or there's something good about you...and that's great for building rapport with people. That's one of those things to take into the real world, not just the lodge. It can be learned in the lodge and then taken into the real world... Which is why you should always look your best. It'll make a good man better..because when you look good you'll feel good, and that will help put you in a better state of mind.
Now...I say it shouldn't be a requirement because of those who do have hardly any time to shower and show up spiffy. Even in church, simply showing up makes other people happy to see you, and they down frown on you if you show up looking like you just woke up from last nights party

recommending/encouraging is fine. shunning for not is not fine, imo.

This is kind of what I am talking about. I think it should be up to the individual. I will be wearing a suit but if a man shows up I don't think anyone should say anything to him. His journey in life may not be the same as ours and who am I to say what is better or worse. I know it makes me feel good to weara suit and a sense of pride however that may not be the same for someone else in the Lodge.

sure it does. i feel like a badass in a suit... i just don't want to go home and spend 30 minutes getting my suit ready 52 times a year.

you are right,but still will others take you (not you directly jtm)seriously when you try to voice your concerns, if your wearing a t shirt. my job is dress casual,even the zone managers. But when they go to the corporate meetings to talk about concerns in the business,
everyone there is dressed up.

i'm 6'7'' and red hair... people tend to listen when i'm talking :)

seriously though, i understand what you're saying, and agree with it. i never show up in a t-shirt... usually a polo and slacks/nice shoes (rarely show up in tennis shoes)...

Grand Lodge was the first time I've seen a Mason in a Tux..lol. Am I wrong here?

You might be right, unless you come to the Galveston Scottish Rite during a reunion. You will quickly see that the 18th, 30th, and 32nd degrees are all conferred in Tux.

"similarity of dress" is one of the bylaws in St. Alban's Lodge. the people that join and the people that created (especially them) wanted it that way. they all show up in a black suit + white shirt/tie at a minimum... most are in tuxes.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
There is also a people that show up at every GL wearing overalls...

Along with those overalls ( which are starched and ironed) they wear a dress shirt and a nice tie. These guys are not just in from the cotton patch or the barnyard. They are dressed this way for a purpose. I would suggest that everyone who posts here to ask them why this year at Grand Lodge.
 

Sirius

Registered User
They are dressed this way for a purpose.

They have a reason? That's cool. What is it? The excitement is killing me I cant wait till GL. tell me tell me tell me tell me

IMHO, you should dress comfortably for GL. Nice. Respectful. But comfortable. We're in there for three days of a Masonic sweat lodge. If you're wearing starched overalls, more power to you. I think they look great.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
They have a reason? That's cool. What is it? The excitement is killing me I cant wait till GL. tell me tell me tell me tell me

IMHO, you should dress comfortably for GL. Nice. Respectful. But comfortable. We're in there for three days of a Masonic sweat lodge. If you're wearing starched overalls, more power to you. I think they look great.

I am as curious as you are. I have seen them for several years ( at least 10 that I know of) I used to know a couple of blood brothers who were dressed the same way, both of whom traveled and made as many MM degrees as they couuld. I think one of them was a DI. Both of them did excelent work. I always wanted to ask, but just never did. I thnk it will be a good exercise for this group to find out the why !
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Along with those overalls ( which are starched and ironed) they wear a dress shirt and a nice tie. These guys are not just in from the cotton patch or the barnyard. They are dressed this way for a purpose. I would suggest that everyone who posts here to ask them why this year at Grand Lodge.

not the one I saw last year...

Last year a lot of the FMRC wore their vests. I will most likely wear a kilt this year at least one day
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
not the one I saw last year...

Last year a lot of the FMRC wore their vests. I will most likely wear a kilt this year at least one day

Good for you Brother ! I suppose a kilt is very dresssy in certain circles. I visited the Dallas SR Stated I think in August . Your Order of the Thistle Honor Guard was impressive.
 

RedTemplar

Johnny Joe Combs
Premium Member
The reason two brothers from my lodge would wear overalls is because they wouldn't want to get lost from one another. You know, its bad not to be able to find your room.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Good for you Brother ! I suppose a kilt is very dresssy in certain circles. I visited the Dallas SR Stated I think in August . Your Order of the Thistle Honor Guard was impressive.


Thank you! We work hard to get involved in not just the Valley but the surrounding districts also. We call our group the Knights of St. Andrew but its the same thing as teh Order of the Thistle. A good kilt in a specific pattern can be very costly, most are over $300!
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
Yes sir , we have a newly formed Order of the Thistle ( otherwise known as the Knights of Saint Andrew) here in Galveston. The group has just taken over the 29th degree here and are already very busy working in and about the temple. I as the Reunion Director definately look forward to their help in Galveston.
 
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