Why the black and white clothing?

The following was prompted by a question as to why Freemasons wear black and white.

This has been the custom for over a hundred years. In the 1700's Freemasons did not wear black and white. In an old masonic catechism of that time there is a question asking about the Master's clothing - "yallow jacket and blue breeches" forms part of the answer. This was an allusion to the colours of a pair of compasses and a square, perhaps.

Above is a painting showing the Scottish poet Robert Burns in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, Edinburgh (Scotland) on his appointment as lodge poet laureate - members of the lodge wear variously coloured coats, breeches and stockings, not black and white. This event was supposedly on 1 March 1787 ; the painting (by Brother Stewart Watson) was produced in 1846 using prints and family pictures to produce accurate portraits of those present. (Although the artist undoubtedly believed in Burns's inauguration, it is unlikely that this event ever took place. Instead, the honour could have been conferred upon Burns posthumously. The Canongate Lodge, also known as St John's Chapel, is the oldest purpose-built Masonic meeting room in the world, dating from 1736. The organ in the background is still played at Lodge meetings.)

Blue and Gold were certainly recognised as the official colours of Freemasonry in the 1720's - nowadays these colours are used as the edging on aprons of Grand Lodge Officers and on their collars; private lodge officers use light blue collars and have light blue trimmings on their aprons.

It seems that black formal wear was invented by an English writer. The idea of wearing black for evening wear was, according to the English clothing historian James Laver, first introduced by the nineteenth-century British writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton (above), who utilized it "as a romantic gesture to show that he was a `blighted being' and very, very melancholy." And it was Bulwer-Lytton who gave further impetus to this notion of black as the color for formal wear by writing, in 1828, that "people must be very distinguished to look well in black." Naturally, the moment this statement was noted by would-be dandies, the style became decidedly de rigueur ... or "cool" in modern parlance.

This was probably a reaction to the sartorial excesses of men during the time of the English Prince Regent (later Brother King George IV) when dandies such as Beau Brummell wore more splendid apparel than females.

The original dinner jacket was "invented" by Brother King Edward VII when Prince of Wales. He was also the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England in the last quarter of the 19th Century. He certainly made the dinner jacket fashionable, and no doubt this is why the vast majority of freemasons in Australia and some other countries wear dinner jackets (some WMs and Grand Lodge folk wear white tie and tails).

The tuxedo was "invented" by Pierre Lorillard IV, a wealthy man of Tuxedo Park in New York State, in 1896. His son and friends wore the first tuxedos to a white tie and tails ball. The cummerbund and bow tie (popular with many Freemasons in Australia) were later additions to the "tux" outfit.

In the more tropical parts of Australia, masons wear white mess jackets rather than the sombre dinner jacket or tuxedo or tailcoat. Members of daylight lodges here wear day clothes such as a business suit or perhaps a formal sports jacket.

Frequent attenders at lodge take their freemasonry fairly seriously, and wearing formal clothes perhaps helps to set the mood. Furthermore, the "uniform" of black-and-white might mean that we pay more attention to the man than his clothes - the reverse might occur if we wore catwalk "gear" to lodge!

In many parts of the world, at least a portion of the lodge floor is black and white. As to how long these chequered or black-and-white mosaic pavements have existed in lodge, maybe someone else can answer that question. I would suspect that these pavements became fashionable in permanent lodge rooms, when chalk marks on the floor or floor coverings were no longer required to be laid out by the tyler in temporary accommodation such as taverns and hostelries. As an aside, there is a vogue in Australia for some new lodges to meet in temporary accomodation such as clubs, so the rolled up masonic carpet (afghan) is making a comeback. Such carpets are mainly comprised of black and white squares arranged in a mosaic pattern.

© Richard Num August 1999 and April 2009

"It is not enough merely to exist.... "

Many years ago, the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote these magnificent words: It is not enough merely to exist.... Every man has to seek in his own way to make his own self more noble and to realize his own true worth.

Those words capture the spirit of Freemasonry. As the world's oldest and largest fraternity, our goal is to build a man's most valuable possession--his character. We believe that the strength of the family, the church, the community and our country rests with men of strong conviction, firm ethical and moral values and a devotion to democratic systems of government.

As Freemasons, we help each other intensify our devotion to these enduring values. In a day when it seems that few people really care about rising to the highest and best in life, it is good to know that there is a group where a man can work to really improve himself. In lodge meetings, there is no talk of politics, no discussion of religious issues, even though every Mason must affirm a belief--according to his own understanding--in deity and devotion to his country.

Freemasons are concerned with developing their minds and enlarging their scope of knowledge. In a word, Masons are dedicated to becoming better men. Because a man's personal desire to build his own character is at the heart of being a Mason, you must ask to join. You must make the request. Men of every walk of life belong to Masonic Lodges. They are proud of their centuries of tradition, their belief in brotherhood, country and the many Masonic acts of charity and compassion.

The Czech/American sculptor Albin Polasek (1879-1965) depicted the task of the Freemason very well in his work "Man carving his own destiny", with the male figure emerging from a block of stone, a chisel in his lowered left hand, a crude hammer in his raised right (illustrated above).

THE FOUNDING OF FREEMASONRY

The origins of Masonry reach back to Medieval times when the great cathedrals of Europe were built. The stonemasons who created these awe-inspiring Gothic structures formed craft guilds to protect the secrets of their trade and to pass on their knowledge to worthy apprentices. In 17th century England, these guilds began accepting honorary members, men of learning and position. These new members were not working stonemasons or even associated with the building trades. As "accepted Masons," they eventually grew into a separate organization called Freemasonry, a moral and ethical society that taught the 18th century ideals of equality and the importance of education in freeing mankind from prejudice, superstition and social injustice.

MASONRY TODAY

Masons continue to use the simple tools of the ancient stonemasons--the square and compasses, the trowel, plumb and level--as symbols to teach their ideals. A Mason is bound to build his life and character with the same care and precision that stonemasons used to construct the cathedrals and temples centuries ago.

MASONIC CONCERNS FOR OTHERS

Freemasonry has an outstanding record for helping others. Along with scholarships and loan funds to assist young people in furthering their education. Masons support Men's Health initiatives and research projects aimed at finding answers to many diseases. Freemasons have also established retirement homes and help provide care for those who can no longer care for themselves.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE

Yes, Masons are members of a fraternity that has its secrets, but the many charitable and character-building activities of Freemasonry indicate that it is far from a secret organization. Masons are active in their dedication to improve life. Always ready to undertake a difficult task in a quiet, dignified way, today's Masons go about the job of extending the hand of brotherhood. It should not be surprising that so many famous men have been proud to be called Masons. George Washington and thirteen other Presidents have been Masons. Other countries honor such names as Simon Bolivar, Benito Juarez, Bernardo O'Higgins, Jose' de San Martin, Francisco de Paula Santander, Jose' Rizal, Jose' Marti, Pandit Nehru, Lajos Kossuth, Jonas Furrer, Guiseppe Mazzini, Eduard Benes, John A. MacDonald, Edmund Burke and Winston Churchill. But is is perhaps not as well known that many leaders in the professions, arts and sciences and other human endeavors benefiting the world at large have been members of the Masonic Fraternity. A few names that come to mind are such writers as Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain; poets-playwrights--Wassily I. Maikow, Heinrich Heine, Jean P.C. de Florian, Leopoldo Lugoner and Antonio de Castro Alves; musicians--Wolfgang Mozart, Jean Sibelius, Franz von Liszt, Josef Hayden; philosophers--Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Gottholf E. Lessing and Francois Voltaire; medicine--Drs. Alexander Fleming, Jules Bordet, Antoine DePage, Edward Jenner, Charles and William Mayo and Karl and William Menninger; sculptor--Gutzon Borglum; artists--Charles W. Peale and Alfons M. Mucha; scientists--Hans C. Orsted, Jons Jakob Frk. von Berzelius, Alfred Edmund Brehm, Luther Burbank, Johan Ernst Gunnerus, Albert Abraham Michelson, Gaspard Monge, C.F.S. Hahnemann and Pedro N. Arata; labor--Samuel Gompers; industrialists and commerce leaders--Henry Ford, Walter P. Chrysler, John Wanamaker, S.S. Kresge and J.C. Penney. Many others prominent yesterday and today in these and other fields, such as the law, religion, space exploration, news media, sports and entertainment, have a common bond to Freemasonry.

THE FIRST STEP

For the man who is looking for deeper meaning in life and who wants to be part of a fraternity committed to his growth and improvement, Masonry is filled with marvelous opportunities and limitless possibilities.

The first step in Masonry is one a man must take for himself. He must say "I want to become a Mason." What follows will be a thrilling, exciting and extremely worthwhile.

"Should I ask?" That is the one important question.

The answer is up to you.

=========

Adapted from "Should I Ask?", which is published and distributed by the Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

William Preston on the ground plan of Masonry

What is the ground plan of Masonry?
Instruction.

Why is instruction the ground plan?
Because no man living is too wise to learn.

What will a wise man do?
He will diligently seek knowledge.

What will a Mason do?
He will do more, he will travel to find it.

Entered Apprentice Lecture
"Illustrations of Masonry" by William Preston (1772 edition)

The twelfth edition of Preston's book is available online - http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/preston_illustrations_masonry.html

Grand Stewards in England

The History of Freemasonry in England is clouded in the mists of time but there is some positive evidence of the existence of speculative as distinct from operative Masonry in the 17th Century. Lodges of Freemasons at this period were largely occasional in the sense that they were summoned at irregular intervals and according to circumstances. Nevertheless the making of Masons continued in London and the Provinces with sufficient regularity so as to preserve knowledge of the procedures and tenets of the Craft. The upsurge in speculative masonry, giving rise to the as yet unidentified events which led to the formation of a Grand Lodge, took place in London. It is accepted that four Lodges, then meeting in taverns in London, came together and agreed to establish a Grand Lodge. The process by which agreement was reached is unknown but it is known that the premier Grand Lodge was established on 24 June 1717, St John’s Day, when a feast was held at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House in St Paul’s Churchyard.

The four Lodges involved met at the Goose and Gridiron, the Crown Ale House in Parkers Lane (near the present building in Great Queen Street), The Apple Tree Tavern in Charles Street, Covent Garden and the Runner and Grapes Tavern in Channel Row, Westminster. Three still survive and are now known as Lodge of Antiquity No 2, Fortitude and Old Cumberland Lodge No 12 (originally No 3) and Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge No IV. These are known as “time immemorial lodges”. They, together with Grand Stewards’ Lodge, have the ability to operate without a warrant.

The feast held every year on St John’s Day was initially based at the Goose and Gridiron but in 1721, when the first noble Grand Master John, the second Duke of Montagu was elected, the numbers attending meant that Grand Lodge met at Kings Arms Tavern and the Brethren afterwards marched in procession to the Stationers Hall in order to dine.

Management of the Feast at the Goose and Gridiron was in the hands of the Wardens and the staff of the Inn. Now that the meeting was much larger it was suggested that stewards be appointed. The first known Steward was a Mr Josiah Villeneau who organised the feast with the assistance of some waiters. In 1728 a motion was moved “That a certain number of Stewards should be chosen, who should have the entire care and direction of the said feast (together with the Grand Wardens), pursuant to the printed regulations”. This motion was carried when the Deputy Grand Master invited all those willing to accept the said office of Steward, to advance to the Table sign their names before the Chair. In the event, 12 Stewards were appointed. In the early years stewards were individuals who had volunteered for the position and who personally nominated their successors. It was not until the union of the two Grand Lodges that the position was regularised. The nominations were made by specific Lodges, rather than from one individual to another.

In March 1735, Grand Lodge proposed to re-print the Book of Constitutions. It was decided to print the names of all the Grand Masters together with those of all Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Wardens and Brethren who had served the craft in the capacity of Stewards. All future Grand Officers were to be selected from that list. This resolution was of extreme importance since it rendered the office of Steward not only desirable, but also essential to those seeking preferment in the Craft.

In June 1735, at the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge, an Address was presented by the body of Gentlemen who had served as Stewards seeking certain privileges in consideration of their services.

These were as follows:

1. That they might meet monthly or otherwise as a Lodge of Master Masons (under the denomination of the Stewards’ Lodge) and be enrolled among the number of the lodges as usual with the times of their meeting.
2. That they might be so far distinguished (since all the Grand Officers are for the future appointed to be chosen out of their number and in order to qualify themselves to the right discharge of those offices, when called to the same) send a deputation of twelve from the whole body of Stewards to each Quarterly Communication, all twelve to have voices and all that come to pay half a crown a piece towards the expense of that occasion.
3. That no person, who had not served the Society as a Steward might be permitted at a Quarterly Communication or elsewhere to wear their coloured ribbons or aprons but that such as had been stewards might be indulged with wearing a particular jewel by way of distinction, suspended in their proper ribbon wherever they appear as Masons.

So began the history of Grand Stewards’ Lodge which celebrates its 275th Anniversary in 2009.
In April 1792, it was ordered to be placed at the head of the List of Lodges without number and to be known as The Grand Stewards’ Lodge and this position of honour continues to the present day.

Constituted as a Master Masons lodge, the membership is restricted to those who have served the office of Grand Steward subject to proposal and election. The Lodge has no power to initiate, pass or raise masons. The Lodge meets before each Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge.

Today Grand Stewards’ Lodge has more than four hundred members. Each year there are up to nineteen new joining members these being Grand Stewards from the nineteen lodges with the privilege of nominating a Grand Steward.

Garter Blue is the colour specified for Grand Rank regalia, except that of Grand Stewards which is crimson. It is generally considered that crimson follows the usage of the Order of the Bath, revived in 1725. The earliest surviving reference to the stewards’ crimson appears in the Minutes of Grand Lodge of 17 March 1731. There, it was proposed that those Brethren that are Stewards should wear their aprons lined with red silk and proper jewels pendant to red ribbons and that all those, who have served the Office of Steward, be able to wear aprons lined with red silk.

A Grand Steward is invested at the Annual Investiture, after nomination to Grand Lodge and acceptance by the Grand Master.



from "The Grand Stewards and Red Apron Lodges", an original text written by Michael Green, edited by Brian Parkins, sourced from http://grandstewards.org/