I guess the most likely answer to my question is each Lodge is different and I will definitly find out what it is for my nearest lodge.

But I thought I’d ask here anyways.

Do I have to wear a suit when I’m at the Lodge?

Thanks for your inquiry about Freemasonry.  You are correct in your assumption that attire varies from Lodge to Lodge (to a certain extent.) While I cannot speak intelligently on the practices of the Grand Lodge of New York, I can tell you it is the common practice in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts for members to wear business suits to most Masonic events.  (Family dinners, cookouts, etc. are sometimes the exception.) The suit is worn to show respect for the Institution and the history of Freemasonry.  I’ve also found that if you dress better, you feel better about yourself and those around you.

I would strongly recommend that if not wanting to wear a suit is a reason for you to not consider Masonry, it is a SMALL price to pay for an awful lot in return.

Best of luck in your Masonic journey.

Parindra - 25 March 2008 02:54 PM

Do I have to wear a suit when I’m at the Lodge?

Our lodge is jacket and tie for the members, a full suit not being strictly necessary.  That being said, prior to being made a Mason I owned a grand total of one suit, which I only took out for job interviews.  I’ve since bought two more and taught myself how to tie a tie with a reasonable amount of success. :)

It does do something to elevate the level of our meetings, at least mentaly, from a bunch of guys hanging out to men gathering for a more noble purpose.  It’s not as bad as it seems.

This is a great fraternity. In Paris, France, our lodge required tuxedo and black tie, or black suit at a minimum. In Richardsville, KY, the brothers wear bib overalls, and work clothes.  Here in Iraq, the military brothers wear desert camouflage uniforms, and the civilians wear jeans. It is the same great fraternity, regardless of the attire of the participants.

Masonry is concerned with the betterment of the participant. Many lodges have a dress code.

I suggest that you check with the secretary of the lodge that you are interested in.

I was in the neighborhood so I stopped by the Grand Lodge in NY last night.

I can’t believe the location it is in.  I must have been on that street corner 1,000 times and never knew they were there.

It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the neighborhood.

With a big flag sign that you just couldn’t miss.

It amazes me how you guys are so in the public.
I guess it’s like the book I finished reading said.

Free Masonry is not a secret society.  It’s a society with secrets.

And luckily, there were a few brothers standing outside smoking their cigs.

So I had a small chat with two brothers, one of which had a medallion around his neck.
Couldn’t identify his position through it.

They did wear a tux I believe.

I tend to agree with Charles about the suit.

My personal experience is suits can sometimes lower the energy, but maybe that depends on the purpose of the place and who goes.

I volunteer at my meditation place, and as an usher and a service reader we are required to wear suits.
The reason is our founder came in the 1920’s and was lecturing to Catholics and Christians.
It was the only acceptable way of doing things at that time.

They’ve recently changed that it doesn’t have to be a navy blue suit, but it does have to be a suit.

Honestly, because our place is about Spirituality, Meditation, and Yoga I believe it brings down the energy.
It makes us feel like secret service agents or CIA, versus yogis.

But I can understand how it may uplift the consciousness at a Mason lodge.

I did pause my service at my meditation group due to the suit thing.

But this issue isn’t big enough to stop me from joining the brotherhood.

Thanks for the replies.

That brings me to another question....

Since appearance is important almost everywhere.

Are there any Brothers with beards?

I actually have a beard and dread locks.

I wouldn’t want to be denied just because of that.

Parindra - 26 March 2008 09:40 AM

Are there any Brothers with beards?

Yes, myself for one; as do several other brothers in my lodge.

Parindra - 26 March 2008 09:40 AM

I actually have a beard and dread locks.

I wouldn’t want to be denied just because of that.

I cut off my dreads long before I became a Mason, but I’d like to think that it wouldn’t have disqualified me.

Masonry is concerned with the inner quality of a man, not his outward appearance.  Folks will of course make judgements based on appearance, but the tenets of our Fraternity would have us look past that.

Excellent thank you.

Yes I would hope the brothers would see my inner quality and look passed the outer appearance.

Thanks again.

No one is interested in your hair length, dreadlocks, or beards. our fraternity has existed since for many centuries.  In the middle ages, only wealthy people could afford razors and daily shaving.  Masonry is concerned only, with the betterment of the man, and in your self-improvement. Please do not get too hung up on appearance.

Thank you.

That is a Brotherhood I would be honored and privileged to be apart of.

I am a TX Mason and a MA Mason.  I actually had to buy a suit when I began going to lodge in MA.  I had an old suit in TX for a funeral once but it seemed to have shrunk.  It’s not uncommon for southern states to not require a suit and tie.  Brothers still dress to pay respect to the craft but there was a time when a man may have come right from the farm or ranch to attend lodge depending on the time and season.  I didn’t see overalls in my TX lodge and only a couple of suits.  We never went dark during the summer and when it gets over 100 degrees for several weeks in a row during the spring and summer, comfort is paramount.  I now own several suits and a tuxedo.  One suit is before the holidays and another is for after, until I can get back in to the other...lol.

Not to take this off on too much of a tangent, but do lodge officers ever wear white jackets during the warmer months, assuming the lodge does not go dark, or is it strictly classic dinner jacket?

Although I’ve never seen a while jacket, I have been to a lodge in Hawaii where the officers and members all wear white Aloha shirts.  I was also at a lodge meeting the other night where a member was wearing a bright red blazer.  I almost accidentally game him my keys to have him park my car!

Seriously though, it is totally up to the specific lodge as to what they will wear.  In Massachusetts, most lodges wear suits for members, tuxedos for officers.  Shave your head, grow dreadlocks, a beard, mustache, get a tatoo, pierce your nose, do whatever.  As long as you are a friendly, giving, and caring person who has a desire to improve themselves and their community, you will be a good Mason.

I only have 1 tattoo and no piercing (anymore) ;-p

Actually my tattoo might be appropriate (haven’t learned the symbols yet).

Although you couldn’t tell by looking at it, it’s a tattoo of a moon and a half a moon.
Some people think it’s a devil or a cow.

It’s a pagan symbol for God.

When I was 17, I had an experience that made me realize the importance of God and knowing God (actual experience and not book knowledge).
So I took a vow to dedicate my entire life to serving God and I wanted to symbolize it.

So that was when I started to grow my hair (did have it cut a few times after that).

I wanted to get a tattoo to symbolize that God and I are one, and so that I would never forget God.

Just so happened a female friend called me up asking if I wanted to get a tattoo with her to mark our friendship....
She was the one that told me about this symbol, because she wanted the female Goddess version done on her.

Well, we all know how that story ends haha.

Cool Tat!

In Southern Illinois it is recommend, but not ordered to wear a suit.  At Grand Lodge, funerals and other special events we do but at our monthly stated meetings we at Fellowship Lodge #89 in Marion, Illinois we dress in a comfortable dress slacks and polo shirts.  If we have special guest such as District Deputies or other Grand Lodge officers then we “suit up”.  We have a great time in lodge and all brothers are viewed equal from a suite to bib overall’s.