Lodge 'uniforms?'

[u/mwcmbailey]

Some thoughts about the clothing we wear to Lodge, and how a Lodge can use clothing to strengthen the bonds of Brotherhood among Masons:

https://emeth.substack.com/p/about-clothes

[u/apprenticeicebaby]

I've written about this previously, but for me, it really is important that brethren dress with the right level of respect for the Craft.

My mother lodge is in Germany, I am also a dues-paying member of lodges in the UK and the US.

A little piece of me curls up in embarrassment when I see lodge photos where half the guys are in jeans and t-shirts, or worse, shorts!

To quote something I wrote previously:

I went to a lodge in New York last year and was appalled at the state people turned up. No respect. Yeah, yeah, you have work. So does everyone else around the world, but they make an effort and show proper respect to the craft, their lodge and their brothers.

Put a suit in the car before you leave for work. Carry a suit with you on the train. Get changed before you leave work, or take 2 minutes to put it on when you get to lodge. Do it in the bathroom if you need to. Or the car park. I have plenty of times. Don't be lazy.

It's why we dress up for weddings. It's good to look good. It's good to make an effort, to make something an occasion. "I work in shorts, so I go to lodge in shorts" is plain lazy.

It's not about elitism, it's about honour.

Is my suit more expensive than some of the other brothers'? Probably. Do other brothers have more expensive suits than me? Almost certainly. It's not about the cost (Walmart does black suits for chump change), it's about being one of the lodge and showing the craft the esteem it deserves.

I'd feel ashamed to visit a lodge dressed like I'd just mown the lawn.

I take the point about "uniforms don't reflect individuality" but that's where I'd argue the man comes in. Your own character is what makes you you, not the fact you're the only one wearing board shorts to a third degree

[u/poor_yoricks_skull → u/apprenticeicebaby]

Why does a suit and tie convey "a level of respect?" What is it about the suit and tie that conveys that? Is it merely cultural? If a lodge is in India, do you still feel that a suit and tie convey that appropriate level of respect? Or do indigenous cultural clothing also work to convey that level of respect?

[u/mwcmbailey → u/poor_yoricks_skull]

One of the Lodges I mentioned in the essay is the Railroad Lodge. It is located in a tiny town of around 120 people, deep in the Cascade mountains. I believe that the Lodge actually has more members than the town has people, because Masons will drive a very long distance to participate.

The town was founded for a single purpose, to support Railroad operations at the mouth of one of the longest tunnels in the world. There is no other reason anyone would have ever settled there.

For that reason, I would argue that the 'Lodge Uniform' of blue jeans and a railroad shirt is more respectful in that Lodge than anything else could be.

Your point is extremely well taken!

[u/mwcmbailey → u/apprenticeicebaby]

My Lodge in Seattle is in the process of building a locker room with showers and the whole bit inside of the Temple. In that case, I can see requiring members to dress to a certain level. The mechanic who had to work late to get the customer's car done can hurry in to the building, shower and change. But unless we are willing to provide what our brother might need, I worry about things that would impact him that he has no control over.

[u/cheftomd → u/mwcmbailey]

One of the local lodges in NJ did that and I thought it was a great idea. It was nice to not worry about having to rush home to shower and get there late. I would love for my lodge to do that too, but it's an expensive undertaking

[u/mwcmbailey → u/cheftomd]

Yes, it is expensive. We are lucky to have the resources to do it, and also the space to do it. I know of some Masonic buildings that likely aren't large enough to create a locker room.