CHAPTER XVIII

DRESS, JEWELS, AND PUNCTUALITY
In discussing ‘Freemasonry and its Eti- quette,’ the question of dress naturally sug- gests itself for consideration. We may briefly state the conclusions at which the consensus of opinion and of practice, in the great majority of cases, would appear to have arrived.
In Lodges where the members dine to- gether after the business of the Lodge is concluded, evening dress is the rule. This is, indeed, so general that it may almost be said to be invariable and universal.
In other Lodges, where a supper or some moderate refreshment is provided, evening dress is not universal. Still, in some even. of these the Brethren make it a rule to wear full evening dress both at their own meet- ings and when visiting other Lodges. The difficulty in the way of this graceful custom is that the interval between the cessation of
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the professional or business avocations of many of the members and the hour for the meeting of the Lodge will not allow time sufficient for an entire change of dress.
In cities and large towns, where in the Lodges the Initiations are more or less fre- quent, there are often two, and occasionally three, Ceremonies to be performed on the same evening, and necessarily the hour for meeting must be comparatively early. This will probably account for the fact that some members have acquired the doubtful habit of attending the Lodge in the habiliments of ordinary every-day life. In this. respect each Lodge is, as a rule, governed by its own custom and usage; but the members should strive, where it is necessary, rather to attain to a higher standard of propriety in the matter of dress than to degenerate to a lower level.
In certain Lodges the summons states ‘Evening Dress.’ This, at least, may be expected of every member, whatever be his circumstances in life, and every effort should be made by those in authority in the Lodge to promote uniformity in this respect, as far as may be done without wounding the sus- ceptibilities of any individual member who
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from any cause may deviate from the general rule.
If morning dress be allowed, it should be black, or very dark in colour; black boots, not brown; and for all outside occasions of ceremony silk hats are de rigueur.
In cases of Lodges of Emergency, Lodges of Instruction, and, indeed, on all Masonic occasions where morning dress is worn, the Apron should be worn outside the coat.
_ While we are discussing that branch of our subject which relates to ‘ dress,’ a few words may be said about the Jewels which may or may not be worn in the Lodge. Few of our members are ignorant of the rule which strictly forbids the wearing in a Craft Lodge of a Jewel belonging to any Degree which is not recognized by, and is not under the authority of, the Grand Lodge. To this tule there is positively no exception. It is therefore a breach not only of etiquette but of the Constitutions, to enter the Lodge wearing the Jewel of the Mark, or some other by-degree, such as that of the Knights- Templar.
It is true that H.R.H. the Grand Master is a member of these Degrees, and has Past Rank in both; and such membership is
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stitutionally regular (see Act of Union); but although he is at the head of one of them, Grand Lodge does not recognize them, nor exercise jurisdiction over them in any way; therefore the Jewels of those Degrees are not allowed to be worn in a Craft Lodge.
The case of Royal Arch Jewels is entirely different from these. ~The. degree of the Master Mason includes the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch (Art. 1, Book of Con- stitutions). H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught is First Grand Principal of the Order, and the Grand Secretary in the Craft is always Grand Scribe E. in the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, consequently all the Jewels of the Royal Arch Order may be worn in a Craft Lodge.
The Jewels issued to Stewards of the In- stitutions are by courtesy worn for twelve months—+.¢., until the next festival.
The Jewels issued at the Centenary | Festivals of the Girls’ and Boys’ Institutions — have been declared Life. Jewels, and may be worn permanently.
The Jewels which may with perfect pro- priety be worn in a Craft Lodge (and in a Royal Arch Chapter also) are those of the
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Master or Past Master; Permanent Charity Jewels and Clasps; Present Stewards’ of either or all of the Institutions; Founders’; Centen- ary; Quatuor Coronati; and the Jewel com- memorating the Jubilee of Her late Majesty, the late Patroness of our Order; also the Jewels of the Royal Arch Order, whether of ordinary Royal Arch Masons, or of Present or Past First Principals, or Present or Past Grand, or Provincial, or District Grand Principals, and some others which need not be specified, with this special reser- vation, that they must belong to either the Craft or the Royal Arch Order, and no other. Miniature Jewels, each being a facsimile in: design of the full-size Jewels, are now very frequently worn by Brethren who have become entitled to wear a considerable num- ber of these honourable badges of distinction.
Many of these Jewels have been presented to the wearers, and are the memorials of the gratitude of their several Lodges for eminent and often long-continued services, and which the recipients may well feel pleasure and pride in wearing They are something more than mere personal adornments; they sub- serve an excellent purpose by inciting younger Brethren to increased zeal and energy in the:
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work of the Lodge. ‘The hope of reward sweetens labour’; and when work is sweet- ened by. hope and lightened by zeal, it becomes a labour of love; and . profit’ to the Lodge and ‘pleasure’ to the worker “ will be the result.’
Application by a Lodge for permission for its members to wear a Centenary Jewel must be by petition to the Grand Master, in which petition the necessary particulars as to the origin of the Lodge are to be given, as well as proof of its uninterrupted existence for one hundred years.
When permission has been granted to a Lodge for its members to wear a Centenary Jewel, the privilege of wearing the Jewel is restricted to actual bona fide subscribing members, being Master Masons; and for so long only as they pay the stipulated sub- scription to the Lodge and are returned to the Grand Lodge. |
The design for a conventional Centenary Jewel has now been approved by the Grand Master, but about forty ancient Lodges have their own designs, which are, of course, very interesting by reason of their antiquity.
A Brother having served the office of Steward to any two of the Institutions has
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the privilege of wearing the Charity Jewel, provided he, at each time of so serving, personally subscribed ten guineas at the least.
A Brother entitled to wear the Charity Jewel, and who may have served the office of Steward to any of the Institutions a second time, may wear a clasp attached to the ribbon, and an additional clasp for each occa- sion of having served the office of Steward if he personally subscribed a like amount.
A Vice-President may wear a rosette attached to the ribbon immediately above the Jewel.
A vice-Patron may wear the Jewel sus- pended from a ribbon around his neck,
With regard to the wearing of Grand or London Rank or Provincial Grand clothing, much difference of opinion and of practice exists. Many—probably the majority of—. Brethren have undress aprons and collars, which they always wear at the ordinary meetings of their own Lodge. Some even of _ these wear full dress if visiting a Lodge other than their own, even if it be a regular meeting _ of the Lodge which they are visiting. Upon Festivals or other occasions out of the ordi- nary way they would, as a matter of course,
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‘wear full-dress clothing, with all proper in- signia appertaining thereto, either in their own or in any other Lodge. Instances are not wanting of Brethren considering it to be their duty to wear the full-dress clothing upon every occasion during the year of their tenure of Grand or Provincial Grand Office. No reason can be urged against their doing so. There is no hard-and-fast rule upon the subject. Customs vary in different districts, and individual taste seems to be the chief guide in this matter.
At all the regular meetings of Grand Lodge, and of Provincial, and of District Grand Lodges, full-dress clothing is invari- ably worn. On all occasions when full-dress clothing is worn, the traditional white tie and gloves should be worn—a compara- tively recent fashion of wearing black ties for full dress, to the contrary, notwithstand- ing. The black tie is not: ‘in accordance with the ancient usage and established cus- tom of the Order’ in this respect. ~
At meetings of Provincial or of District Lodges, upon special occasions other than the’ regular meetings, Provincial or District Grand Masters often allow undress clothing to be worn.
s
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In short, we should show—in so far as outward observance can show—our estima- tion of and our respect for Freemasonry by
_ always being fitly attired in the Lodge. The _ advice of Polonius to his son Laertes is of very wide application; it suits the case in question:
——
. “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man.’
As regards Masonic Mourning dress, see | p. 290. . *
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Very little needs to be said upon the sub- } ject of punctuality in attendance on the part | of both Officers and Brethren, but it can | hardly be passed over without nctice. In | these days of railway locomotion and of high | pressure generally in business matters, sharp | time is as a rule obliged to be observed by | all sorts and conditions of men in the affairs iof the outer world. The same rule should, i by every possible means, be applied to the } meetings of the Lodge. The Master should fj open the Lodge upon every occasion punc- } tually at the hour stated in the summons. } He should be supported in this by his Officers. §He and they should always be clothed and i 207
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in their seats before the tume, and as the hour strikes the Master’s gavel should sound. Certainly the general attendance would be far more punctual and not less numerous. The time stated upon the summons should be understood to mean that time, and not half anhour or anhour later. In the address, to the Wardens after their investiture and their induction into their respective chairs the following sentence occurs: ‘ You ought to be examples of good order and rvegu- larity. Regularity in this sense cannot be separated from punctuality, and the precept applies with equal force to all the Officers of the Lodge. Their acceptance of their several Offices should be taken virtually as a pledge | that, with the honour, they also acknowledge their responsibility for a faithful and punctual performance of their several duties to the best of their skill and ability. Unpunctuality, to which is due the fre- quent paucity in numbers when the Lodge is opened, and even during a Ceremony which may be performed at the earlier portion of the meeting, is not only a bad compliment . and a great discouragement to the Worship- | ful Master: it also produces a bad impression in the mind of new members, and especially 208
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’ those upon whom the Ceremony is being performed.
Further, the interruptions and reports caused by the arrival of late-comers are a great hindrance to the smooth progress of the ceremonies, and a source of delay, and “late dinner.’
One used to hear years ago of members who were seldom in the Lodge ‘ when the Brethren were at labour,’ and seldom absent - ‘when they were at refreshment,’ thereby ' gaining for themselves the title of ‘ knife- and-fork Freemasons.’ This, however, be- | longs to an age now happily passed away, : and with it the reputation for an inordinate | love of feasting, which to some extent our ' Order once had, as many now living can
well remember.
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