While Maryland adheres to the tux and top hat uniform for officers (even in rural lodges), you can see an exception. We have a square club called the Shield and Square Club which is composed of policemen, firemen, EMTs and other such men. They have a standing dispensation (given by a Grand Master who was a Col. in the State Police) to confer the MM degree in their uniforms in any lodge that invites them to come and do so. They have done it in my lodge and it’s quite interesting to see this done by men in State Police, City and County police, fire fighters, EMTs all in their dress uniforms, WM wearing his uniform hat (in the case of State Police, a peculiarly large wide-brimmed hat).

Bro. Bob….......that is something I would really like to see. I do have a vested interest in those type professions.

The Freestate Shield and Square Club came to my lodge last evening and conferred the MM degree on one of our FCs who is a Baltimore City policeman. In the first section, the WM, SW and JW were all Baltimore City policemen in dress uniforms, the other officers State Policemen and some in tuxedos who are plainclothes officers. In the second section, the WM was a State Policeman. The ritual was impeccable and extremely well done. There were a goodly number on the sidelines, especially since our officers were not in the chairs.

The most impressive part of the degree was the obligation. The members were lined up in two solid walls extending from the arch over the WM in the east up to the arch over the SW in the west on both sides. When the candidate was brought to light, he saw himself surrounded by all the brothers and for once we exemplified what this is supposed to represent - the tabernacle erected by Moses. The candidate was raised in his dress uniform and made a really impressive appearance, made more so by the fact that he’s a relatively young and good looking man.

Here’s an interesting update on dress for meetings. One of my fellow Past Masters in my lodge has a son who was receiving his EA degree in a lodge in rural Virginia last week. My friend went down there to be present and wore what he would wear to a MD lodge on a similar occasion, i.e., tux, PM jewel and apron. The members of the VA lodge were astonished at this. They were wearing casual clothes; the WM wore a business suit and a fedora; the Jr. Deacon wore bib overalls. They all had a good time.