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DRESSING FOR MASONS

There appear to be some gray areas in the form of dressing considered suitable for Masonic occasions, and we thought some pointers may help dispel them.

Most Lodges specify as they should, a Dark Suit, and some other Dinner Jackets / Dress Suits for Lodge Meetings while one or two suggest Black Coats and White Trousers. These can also do with some clarifications.

Dark Suits mean just that, but does not include Black Blazers / Sports Jacket with Dark Trousers. These are combinations which should be avoided. A Dinner Suit is specific, with a Black, Bow Tie – and please, no other accompanying coloured neck wear! When wearing a Dark Suit, a plain Black Tie, without any embellishments is recommended, or can be substituted by the new Masonic Tie. For Morning meetings the Dark Suit is the appropriate Dress, and not the Dinner Jacket / Suit / Black Bow Tie.

In U.K., for the Morning meetings, the prescribed Dress Code is the Morning Suit, which is a Dark Jacket and striped trousers, as we see some of our Senior Advocates wear.

Why the Dress Code? Most people will admit that wearing the appropriate clothing whether it be for sport, leisure or formal occasions pre-disposes one to that avocation. Dressing for formal occasions such as Lodge Meetings and Festive Boards gives them a special ambience, which is well captured in our formal Group photographs. It also leads, we think, to more reserved and formal behaviour!