I agree, those coats are hideous and the templar uniforms are goofy and expensive. I'd prefer to go cap n' mantle or black aprons.
Another big problem I see with Yorkrite is the number of degrees involved. While there aren't as many degrees as their are in SR (if I understand correctly) there just doesn't seem to be much interest in getting enough people dedicated to learning it all. Those one day festivals are few and far in between and the candidate doesn't actually learn anything during them either.
While I adore the Scottish Rite, and have found days of enjoyment in it, really to complete your journey as a Freemason, you need to go through Chapter and Council. In my opinion, next to the Order of the Temple, the Royal Arch Degree is by far one of the most impressive in open membership Freemasonry. A man is seriously robbing himself of a wonderful experience by not taking the degrees of the York Rite.
S&F,
-Bro Vick
Perhaps we need to assign a mentor to each candidate much like we assign an instructor in the Blue Lodge. While there is not memory work, a briefing before the degree as to the intended lesson and a debriefing after the degree/order to discuss the lessons and how it manifested itself in the degree and any subtleties that may have been missed might be worthwhile.
For me personally, the Order of the Temple was second only to Baptism. It is a VERY impressive undertaking.
The York Rite of Freemasonry, which many take to include the three degrees of the Blue or Craft Lodge, involves a good deal of its symbolism with the Hiramic Legend and King Solomon’s Temple. The degrees are not conferred in the order in which the historical events they depict occurred.
HERE is a list of the degrees in chronological order – which may help to put them into perspective and demonstrate the necessity of receiving all of them in order to obtain a complete picture.
I agree the uniforms need to be updated, revised, whatever but, that is proving to be a monumental undertaking. It seems the "old guard" for lack of a better term, is clinging to the previous traditions of the Order and has yet to acquiesce to the modern day obstacles and concerns of prospective members and that is keeping many from taking a second look at the Commandery. If we were to ditch the Naval style uniform, I would be inclined to go with a HiGH quality mantle and dark suit or aternatively black pants, tie, black vest and a baldric to carry the sword and that is it. Wear the medals on the suit or vest. Not sure about wearing them on the mantel. No cap; that belongs to the Scottish Rite, in my view. It would have the look of a modern "Knight".
I think one reason the Naval uniforms prevail is the drill & ceremony associated with the Knights Templar. I have mixed feelings about drill. However, I could get much more excited about doing what the
Levant Preceptory does than drill.
More Levant Preceptory
Traveling Templar