On Wearing The Ring

[Ironhawg]

I got to see something really cool last week. I had an opportunity to play a small part in a MM degree. The brother was raised by his father who drove over 500 miles in a snow storm to raise his son. After the degree was over the father presented the new MM with the Blue Lodge ring that had belonged to his grandfather. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

 

[thebrianmo]

I got to see something really cool last week. I had an opportunity to play a small part in a MM degree. The brother was raised by his father who drove over 500 miles in a snow storm to raise his son. After the degree was over the father presented the new MM with the Blue Lodge ring that had belonged to his grandfather. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

That is incredibly awesome!

 

[PatrickWilliams]

I got to see something really cool last week. I had an opportunity to play a small part in a MM degree. The brother was raised by his father who drove over 500 miles in a snow storm to raise his son. After the degree was over the father presented the new MM with the Blue Lodge ring that had belonged to his grandfather. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

There may not be a dry eye on this forum!

 

[hawkeyedan]

I got to see something really cool last week. I had an opportunity to play a small part in a MM degree. The brother was raised by his father who drove over 500 miles in a snow storm to raise his son. After the degree was over the father presented the new MM with the Blue Lodge ring that had belonged to his grandfather. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

neat!
the ring i have i recieved from my my father-in-law, of whom recieved the ring from his father.

 

[Casey]

I got to see something really cool last week. I had an opportunity to play a small part in a MM degree. The brother was raised by his father who drove over 500 miles in a snow storm to raise his son. After the degree was over the father presented the new MM with the Blue Lodge ring that had belonged to his grandfather. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

Excellent!

My dress ring carries a similar history- base ring was my father's, and inset into the sides are lapel pins from my grandfather and great-grandfather.

I don't wear it every day out of fear of damage, but it's a great feeling to slide it on.

 

[NZ-Freemason]

i've heard several brothers say before that a brother should not wear a masonic ring until after he has gone through the 3rd degree ceremonies.
as far as which way to wear the ring, i think it's just a matter of preferance. i've been told that wearing the ring so the sqaure and compass is facing you, that tells you the you're a MM. having the square and compasss facing away from you tells every one else that you're a MM.

Some brethren here in New Zealand wear their rings right from when they are initiated with the S&C facing them. Then, once they are raised they turn the ring around so it is facing outward...a bit like college rings...

 

[Kevin C Livingston]

Some brethren here in New Zealand wear their rings right from when they are initiated with the S&C facing them. Then, once they are raised they turn the ring around so it is facing outward...a bit like college rings...

Rather unusual but to each thier own I suppose. I know that here in Delaware U.S.A., wearing any masonic regalia (rings pins et cetera) is strictly prohibbited until a brother has been raised to the degree of Master Mason!

 

[thebrianmo]

Rather unusual but to each thier own I suppose. I know that here in Delaware U.S.A., wearing any masonic regalia (rings pins et cetera) is strictly prohibbited until a brother has been raised to the degree of Master Mason!

I assumed the same for here in Ohio, but later was told I could have worn a ring after I was initiated if I had chosen to; but out of respect for our great institution, I chose to wait until I was raised before wearing the Masonic emblem at all. Now I wear a ring and lapel pins with pride.

 

[pnr]

Rather unusual but to each thier own I suppose. I know that here in Delaware U.S.A., wearing any masonic regalia (rings pins et cetera) is strictly prohibbited until a brother has been raised to the degree of Master Mason!

That's the same for my lodge (I'm not sure if it's a Maryland thing). It was like Christmas when I was raised. I got about 5 or 6 lapel pins, my own apron, and a Masonic Bible. I'm now in the market for a ring.

 

[NZ-Freemason]

That's the same for my lodge (I'm not sure if it's a Maryland thing). It was like Christmas when I was raised. I got about 5 or 6 lapel pins, my own apron, and a Masonic Bible. I'm now in the market for a ring.

Here in New Zealand you are given a S&C Lapel pin at your initiation by the District Grandmaster (he attends every Initiation). You are then told that you may now bear the signs of a Freemason so you are free to do so right from initiation. I wonder why there is such a stark difference between New Zealand and the Grand Lodges of the USA? I wonder what other differences wew have...

 

[thebrianmo]

That's the same for my lodge (I'm not sure if it's a Maryland thing). It was like Christmas when I was raised. I got about 5 or 6 lapel pins, my own apron, and a Masonic Bible. I'm now in the market for a ring.

I was given my Lambskin to wear at my initiation and allowed to keep it and bring it back to wear for my passing and raising. Here in OH, the Lambskin is put away and kept until such a time as the brother passes. I really wish we wore them at least for special events.

At my raising I was given the Masonic Bible, Freemasonry For Dummies, another couple of books and booklets. Later I was given a lapel pin and our Lodge's coin that was minted for our 150th anniversary.

Lots of good rings out there. I purchased my current two rings on ebay and am more than completely satisfied with them.

 

[Windrider]

Here in New Zealand you are given a S&C Lapel pin at your initiation by the District Grandmaster (he attends every Initiation). You are then told that you may now bear the signs of a Freemason so you are free to do so right from initiation. I wonder why there is such a stark difference between New Zealand and the Grand Lodges of the USA? I wonder what other differences wew have...

I assume you mean EA when you say "initiation". The main reason only MMs are allowed to wear the S&C is the position of the points.

 

[Bigman782]

i was told being a MM you wear your ring the same way a Master of the lodge see it because you are the Master of your ring ....Im sure there are many different in sites to this But it was the way i was told.

 

[NZ-Freemason]

I assume you mean EA when you say "initiation". The main reason only MMs are allowed to wear the S&C is the position of the points.

That's right, from initiation as an EA you are allowed to wear the S&C.

Here in New Zealand we also wear lambskin aprons at every meeting. Plain white for an EA, White with 2 Rosettes for a FC and an even more elaborate apron for a MM (I have posted pictures of our aprons in a different thread...that is me wearing my MM apron in my avatar.) I have always been interested as to the difference in aprons around the world...I realize however that this isn't the thread to discuss those differences...apologies to the OP.

 

[Guido]

There are probably a lot of answers to this question; but I am wondering at what point in time did you put your ring on after being raised to MM? Did you take it to Lodge with you when you were raised and put it on afterwards?

Also, do the points of the Compasses face you or face outward?


I received my ring from my step father at my raising on March 24, 2011. I wear it on my right hand with the compass facing away from me. I put it on after I was raised. Now I have been told that you can wear it on either hand. I have seen some brothers have rings that double as their wedding band as well.

Since being raised and putting the ring on. I have met several brothers from different lodges that saw my ring and identified themselves as brothers, some with just a phrase or a quick question followed always by a handshake.

 

[Bro.G.McNeill]

I petitioned the lodge a few moths after losing my father. He was a Mason and I inherited his ring that was passed on to him when my Grandfather died. I had the ring sized to fit me after my EA degree, but could not wear it until I was raised. After I was raised, I asked my mentor if I could wear my ring now. He exact words were," go ahead and put it on, you as much of a Mason as you'll ever be". I can't even beging to explain how proud I was to put it on. My only regret is that I didn't become a Mason sooner so my dad could have been there. But, something tells me that he was.

 

[BukeyeJackson]

12MM BLACK FREEMASON MASONIC TUNGSTEN RING BAND SIZE 9 | eBay The Mrs. got me a Father's Day present, yay no ties. This is the only picture that's decent and I didn't even take it.

 

[Steev]

There are probably a lot of answers to this question; but I am wondering at what point in time did you put your ring on after being raised to MM? Did you take it to Lodge with you when you were raised and put it on afterwards? Also, do the points of the Compasses face you or face outward?

I put it on immediately after being seated, with the points of the compasses pointed toward me, for two reasons:

1. The G being readable to me, reminds me that I am a mason and to behave accordingly (this includes in business activities and particularly in business transactions with my brethren).

2. The points pointed toward me that I am within them and therefore inisde, and not outside, that "certain point within a circle."

(I also have rings and other small items of jewelry without the G as used in classical Freemasonry, as I find value in keeping in mind that Freemasonry is neether an American invention nor exclusively Scottish, Irish, British, or (for you 4-33 types) French.)

 

[Ashlar2006]

A few in my lodge had Lodge rings made from Gordon's . They turned out beautiful , they have our lodge name and the dates of our beginning and this year .

The thing is , I did not use our date that we were Chartered , I used the date that we received our dispensation . The way I look at it , these Brothers 140 years ago asked our Grand Lodge to start up a lodge , worked hard for a year to make the lodge a success so they could receive our Charter . I can not see putting the dates of our lodge on our rings and completely disregard an entire year that our brothers worked so hard to get our lodge up and running as if it never happened .

Many count the age of their lodges by the date their charter was issued without taking into consideration the year the lodge was under dispensation . It is still the same lodge , performing the same work , they are just on probation to make sure it was going to work out .

 

[DavisB]

A few in my lodge had Lodge rings made from Gordon's . They turned out beautiful , they have our lodge name and the dates of our beginning and this year .

The thing is , I did not use our date that we were Chartered , I used the date that we received our dispensation . The way I look at it , these Brothers 140 years ago asked our Grand Lodge to start up a lodge , worked hard for a year to make the lodge a success so they could receive our Charter . I can not see putting the dates of our lodge on our rings and completely disregard an entire year that our brothers worked so hard to get our lodge up and running as if it never happened .

Many count the age of their lodges by the date their charter was issued without taking into consideration the year the lodge was under dispensation . It is still the same lodge , performing the same work , they are just on probation to make sure it was going to work out .

I guess my only question would be what if the lodge had never made it out of dispensation, then to the record of history, the lodge would not have existed right? Even in the lodges that do not get a charter (I have no idea how often that happens) the brothers worked hard, but they were never an official lodge right? Would the hypothetical lodge have no dates? Or would it have the dates of operation of one year?