Search results

The uniform isn't the expensive part. The expensive parts are the chapeau and sword belts. The uniform can be purchased fairly inexpensively. As I have always said, you'll never get those with a complete setup and those without to agree. Now that I have purchased a really nice chapeau, no way...

Every thread about the Commandery gets jacked by people who don't like the uniforms. As for New London, I think, from my recent research, they have the nicest chapeaus. They will run you about $100 more than the cheaper ones out there, but as I believe I have said earlier, if you are making a...

I don't think the chapeaus and current uniforms as we know them are going away anytime soon, not in my lifetime. When I started this thread, I was in the market for a good chapeau. I went ahead and sucked it up and bought a really nice one from New London Regalia. They were a tad more expensive...

That is a difference. In Tennessee, Tiler and Chaplain are both appointed.

Here, the tiler isn't really considered part of the officer line. It is an appointed office each year, but there is no progression to or from it. As I said, I know several lodges where the same guy has been tiler for years and years.

Tennessee has a Civil War Lodge of Research as well as the regular Lodge of Research. As noted, the primary function is to further Masonic education. In Tennessee, it meets four times per year in various parts of the state.

I have never seen a lodge make a newly raised MM the tiler (maybe fill in for a night but never appointed). In my area, it is customary for a tiler to be a past master of the lodge. In many cases, tilers hold that spot for years.

In simple terms, keep them involved. Whatever keeping them involved may be -- degree work, investigating committees, putting their work skills to use around the lodge, traveling with them, etc. -- make sure they know there is more to Masonry than showing up to hear how much the electric bill is...

RIP to a good Mason. It wasn't out of the ordinary to see him at Grand Lodge in years past.

In Tennessee, and I'm sure most everywhere else, you can hold one office in one lodge at one time. Here, if you belong to more than one lodge, you can hold offices in each, but you can not hold more than one elected office at any given time. For example, if you belong to two lodges, you could...

In Tennessee, the chaplain is an appointed position, and in many cases the same man will serve for several years. If you have an actual preacher in the spot, even better. He sits on the right hand of the WM.

Our Grand Lodge is right on Broadway in Nashville. It is a very nice building, but it, too, is a money pit. The first floor is offices, museum, library, etc. Upstairs is the main GL auditorium and a small lodge room as well as other ancillary rooms. Here is the outside and inside the main room.

We give a fruit basket to any widow whose husband died during the year. Our Commandery has a Christmas observance that is open to everyone.

I agree with Brother Mike. The simple answer is no. The expense is not that great. It is expected that a man is capable of supporting himself. If he can't, there are other necessities of life he needs to focus on rather than joining a local fraternal organization. A person once asked me why do...

Congratulations. You will enjoy the degrees. They are a very important part of your Masonic education.

Congratulations. Don't overlook your duties as SD. You control all the floor work, and that is the difference between a crisp degree and a sloppy degree. I'm sure you'll do great.

I really wished by state still stood by 21. In my opinion, most 18 year olds aren't ready. It was 21 when I joined.

Wear what you wear to church. You should be provided clothes to wear during the ceremony, anyway.

The CPO jacket is a good choice if you can find one. Get it, and then order a set of buttons, sleeve crosses, and a state patch for it. You can also do the same thing with about an black, double breasted suit coat. My jacket is a hand-me-down. The date in the pocket says it was made in 1961. I...

I really like the old high collar frock coat with the white sash look. I don't know what kind of hat would go best with it. As far as I am concerned, you don't have to have a hat.