[Jason]

What are your views on EA's and FC's wearing things such as Masonic rings, pins, or other such things? It our Lodge we tell them to wait until they are a MM until they can wear it.

[Ashlar2006]

Same as my lodge/jurisdiction .

[jimzdat]

Guess it depends on the jurisdiction - at my initiation, one of the PMs presented me with a small bluish/green pin in the shape of the state; said "Ohio F&AM", and had the S&C on it, in the EA layout.

Don't know if I can get a clear pic or not, but I'll try

[DonaldG]

IMHO, an EA is a member of the Masonic Fraternity the moment he takes the GSO. From that moment, he IS a Freemason.

On my Initiation in New Zealand, I was given a small S&C pin by my WM who charged me to "Always wear it with pride." From that day, I have.

I have been fortunate in as much as having 5 candidates during my term in the Chair. I presented each one with an S&C pin and exhorted them to "Wear it with pride" likewise.

I hasten to add, my thoughts and feelings are due to my constitutions (NZ & UGLE). That said, why should a newly made brother not have the privilege of wearing Masonic emblems as long as it is done in accordance with the ethos of Fraternity?

[Ashlar2006]

Well , Becuase an EA does not know enough to prove himself a Mason if the chance should arrise . When out and about in public , someone may walk up to an EA and because of the EA wearing a S & C , introduce himself as a Mason and begin chatting him up Masonicly . This may be a person who is a cowan or it may be one in whom my jurisdiction does not recognize . As a new EA he will more than likely be excited to talk about Masonry to anyone who will listen , no matter what we tell him , and by not wearing any Masonic insignias only lessen the chance .

Also , An EA does not yet rate to wear the S & C of a Master Mason , because it is just that , the S & C of a Master Mason . There may be places in the world that sale pins that are S & C 's of the EA and/or FC degrees , but we do not .

And lastly , I worked hard to put my lectures to memory and gave them back in open Lodge . I went through the degrees to earn the honor of being Raised to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason and with that earn all the rights and privileges . We have some who are Initiated and never move any farther through the degrees because they have to work for it , yet if they continue to pay dues they get to stay on our roles . So , with that said , why should an EA be Initiated , never take the time or put forth the effort to put these same lectures to memory and spend months and sometimes years as a EA get to wear the same Square and Compasses that I have earned ?

I have no problem with them wearing small lapel pins that have the letters EA or FC . But anything that has to do with the degree of a Master Mason such as the S & C with both points bare , NO , they do not rate .

[BroJim]

Our Grand Lodge does not allow EA or FC to wear any type of 'insignia's' until raised to a MM. I feel that it all depends upon the Grand Lodge By-Laws. Personally I feel, once your are initiated as a EA you are on the road to becoming a MM.

Bro.Jim

[Ashlar2006]

Originally Posted by BroJim

Our Grand Lodge does not allow EA or FC to wear any type of 'insignia's' until raised to a MM. I feel that it all depends upon the Grand Lodge By-Laws. Personally I feel, once your are initiated as a EA you are on the road to becoming a MM.

Bro.Jim

You should be "on the road to a MM" , but that is not always true . We have an EA who has been an EA since 1993 . He has no interest in putting the EA lecture to memory . Another lodge in my district has an EA that rates his 50 year service award if he chooses to return his EA lecture and be Passed to the degree of a FC and also return that lecture , then on to the Master Mason degree .

[rescue48]

I think it's one thing to wear a pin on your jacket lapel given you during initiation, passing etc; and a completely different matter when it comes to the ring. How often do we wear our "go to Sunday's" during the week? I would wager not often, if only for lodge meeting. However, a ring is something you can wear everyday. My jurisdiction frowns on wearing rings until raised. My uncle (MM) gave me my grandfather's ring (MM) to wear when I was raised. I think it's a very momentous occasion, and makes it much more memorable to wait until getting raised.

[DonaldG]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

Well , Becuase an EA does not know enough to prove himself a Mason if the chance should arrise . When out and about in public , someone may walk up to an EA and because of the EA wearing a S & C , introduce himself as a Mason and begin chatting him up Masonicly ..

I must disagree with this statement:

1) An EA does have enough to PROVE himself a Mason (Ss & Ts of that degree)

2) If the other person introduces himself as a Mason and starts to 'talk masonically' then that would be a GOOD thing. He will have met a fellow traveller, made another friend. However it is incumbent on ALL Masons to guard their secrets and the exhortation to 'prove' oneself is of paramount importance.

Besides, surely during the preliminary stages of the 'talk masonically' even if neither did 'prove' themselves, it would be obvious to the more mature (senior in rank) mason of the status of the younger.

Anecdote:
In 1978 I was made an EA. I had only ever been to that one Lodge meeting and just 4 weeks later, I had to return from New Zealand to England because of serious illness in the family.
I was sitting on a train when a gentleman approached me and introduced himself as a mason (He noticed my S&C pin) I explained that I had only just become an EA and was as keen as mustard to learn more. We had a great time during that train journey. I learnt a lot about masonry but not about anything beyond EA.

I would be more than happy to talk masonically to any EA, FC or MM. That is called being friendly; being a Mason and being a MENTOR.

Ask yourself: Would a Grand Master not 'talk masonically' to a newly made brother?

The ONLY reason for an EA not to wear the pin if he wishes is if it is written into the Book of Constitution of your jurisdiction than he may not do so. Is it so written in your BoC?

[Ashlar2006]

Well we do not allow our EAs to speak Masonicly with anyone unless they were present at his Initiation or if we vouch for them to be Masons . I am not talking about a "Grand Master" and it is silly to pose that question, of course he can but the only way the GM would no him to be an EA was if he was at is Initiation . I am talking about Joe Blow out on the street who may or may not be a true and lawful brother Mason . An EA does not know enough to prove himself a Mason or to satisfy himself that the person he is talking to is a Mason himself . Not everyone out there are recognized Masons , not everyone out there who claims to be Masons are Masons . I am also more than happy to talk to an EA , FC or anyone else for that matter , that is being a friendly PERSON , but not Masonicly unless he is an EA or FC from my own Lodge . So that ends that discussion . And it is written into our Constitution .


You have your opinions , I have mine . And an EA or a FC does not rate to wear the S & C of a Master Mason , I do not care if it is in the BoC or not , If both points of the Compasses are bare , then he has no business wearing it because he has not yet earned it .

Oh and by the way , my wife can prove herself an EA also . Those "S's and T's" you talk about have been shown on TV on the History Channel along with part of the EA OB and other secrets . Those same "S's and T's" are on YouTube also . It takes time and experience to know you are talking to a true Mason .