The worlds oldest Masonic web-site is A Page About Freemasonry. It was established in October 1994, by Bro. Gary L.Dryfoos, from Massachusetts.
It's a perfect place for a non-member to learn the basics about The Craft, but also an extensive source of information and contacts for members and researchers.
One of my favorite features on this web-site is the Letters page, where very curious questions are answered every month.
Also, make sure to visit the Guest Book, and check the Correspondence Requests, as well as the Essays, Articles and Questions page for more in-depth information.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Interesting facts
Although we share the same ideas world wide, there are some differences from lodge to lodge.
One of the most interesting ones is the dress code. While in Canada and US we are used to wearing dark business suits (except for the officers who wear tuxedos), with a tie and no gloves - in other parts of the world, the rules are different.
Here are some interesting facts that I've learned from Brothers from abroad:
Belgium
The suit should be black (preferably a tuxedo), with a black cylinder hat and white gloves.
Germany
Depending on the Grand Lodge (The United Grand Lodges of Germany are consisted of five Grand Lodges), the dress code is different. Most of them wear black suits, and some of the lodges have a rule that all the members or at least the master of the lodge wears a cylinder hat. White gloves are mandatory.
England
Morning coat, a black tie, white gloves. (I heard that the black tie was introduced as a mourning sign for the brethren that lost their lives in the First World War).
South Africa & Namibia
Some of the lodges in these countries have a very interesting dress code - white tuxedo!
If any of you can give us comments on this topic, or even send pictures of a proper Masonic Attire in his Lodge, please do so!
One of the most interesting ones is the dress code. While in Canada and US we are used to wearing dark business suits (except for the officers who wear tuxedos), with a tie and no gloves - in other parts of the world, the rules are different.
Here are some interesting facts that I've learned from Brothers from abroad:
Belgium
The suit should be black (preferably a tuxedo), with a black cylinder hat and white gloves.
Germany
Depending on the Grand Lodge (The United Grand Lodges of Germany are consisted of five Grand Lodges), the dress code is different. Most of them wear black suits, and some of the lodges have a rule that all the members or at least the master of the lodge wears a cylinder hat. White gloves are mandatory.
England
Morning coat, a black tie, white gloves. (I heard that the black tie was introduced as a mourning sign for the brethren that lost their lives in the First World War).
South Africa & Namibia
Some of the lodges in these countries have a very interesting dress code - white tuxedo!
If any of you can give us comments on this topic, or even send pictures of a proper Masonic Attire in his Lodge, please do so!
Featured Lodge
Victoria Lodge #474
is over 100 years old. It's home is one of the most beautiful Temples in the Greater Toronto Area - the Annette Street Temple (or West Toronto Temple).
With over 200 members, some of which are masons for over 60 years, it's an amazing place to learn and work. The fact that there is also a great number of fellows who are under 35, makes this Lodge unique and vibrant.
If you wish to get in touch with them, please use the contact form on their web-site.
is over 100 years old. It's home is one of the most beautiful Temples in the Greater Toronto Area - the Annette Street Temple (or West Toronto Temple).
With over 200 members, some of which are masons for over 60 years, it's an amazing place to learn and work. The fact that there is also a great number of fellows who are under 35, makes this Lodge unique and vibrant.
If you wish to get in touch with them, please use the contact form on their web-site.
Featured Grand Lodge
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario
has over 60.000 members belonging to 595 lodges. It was formed in 1855, in Hamilton. If you want to learn more about it’s history – click here.
The mail address is:
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario
363 King Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
L8P 1B4
And the e-mail is: office@grandlodge.on.ca
has over 60.000 members belonging to 595 lodges. It was formed in 1855, in Hamilton. If you want to learn more about it’s history – click here.
The mail address is:
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario
363 King Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
L8P 1B4
And the e-mail is: office@grandlodge.on.ca
Famous Masons
Robert Burns
(January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796)
Robert Burns was a poet and lyricist. National poet of Scotland and celebrated worldwide. He was the pioneer of the Romantic Movement and after his death became inspiration to the founders of liberalism.
Burns’ youth was passed in poverty, hardship and labor. He had little regular schooling and got much of what education he had from his father and a tutor who taught him Latin, French and mathematics.
In 1783 he started composing poetry in a traditional style, using Ayrshire dialect. Also, collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. One of the most famous and popular poems in history were written by him – “Auld Lang Syne”, often sung at New Year’s Eve, “A Red, Red Rose”, “A Man’s A Man for A’ That”, “To a Louse” and so on… “Scots Wha Hae” served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of Scotland.
Robert Burns was initiated into Lodge St.David Tarbolton on 4 July 1781, when he was 22. He was passed and raised on 1 October 1781. Later, his lodge became dormant and he joined St.James Tarbolton Kilwinning #135.
He was very active as a mason. On 27 July 1784, Burns became Depute Master, a position he held until 1788, often honoured with supreme command. He had a real passion for freemasonry and believed that true Masonic friendship cannot be disassociated from the Lodge room. He must have been a very popular and well-respected Deputy Master, since there were more lodge meetings and more attendance during the Burns period, then at any other time.
In early 1787, he joined lodges in Edinburgh, where he was also very respected and in the books was recorded as a “poet”. Edinburgh Freemasons sponsored the publishing of his poems and spread his name and fame across Scotland, England and abroad.
He spent months touring Scotland, first the south and then the High Lands, visiting Lodges and becoming an honorary member of a number of them. His works in this period are strongly influenced by the Craft. Many of them can be considered Masonic Hymns. In every single one of his works there is a call for brotherly love, relief, truth. Here is a perfect example for that:
A Man’s A Man For All That
Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, and all that?
The coward slave, we pass him by -
We dare be poor for all that!
For all that, and all that,
Our toils obscure, and all that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gold for all that.
What though on homely fare we dine,
Wear course grey woolen, and all that?
Give fools their silks, and knaves their wine -
A man is a man for all that.
For all that, and all that,
Their tinsel show, and all that,
The honest man, though ever so poor,
Is king of men for all that.
You see yonder fellow called 'a lord,'
Who struts, and stares, and all that?
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He is but a dolt for all that.
For all that, and all that,
His ribboned, star, and all that,
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at all that.
A prince can make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and all that!
But an honest man is above his might -
Good faith, he must not fault that
For all that, and all that,
Their dignities, and all that,
The pith of sense and pride of worth
Are higher rank than all that.
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that)
That Sense and Worth over all the earth
Shall have the first place and all that!
For all that, and all that,
It is coming yet for all that,
That man to man the world over
Shall brothers be for all that.
(January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796)
Robert Burns was a poet and lyricist. National poet of Scotland and celebrated worldwide. He was the pioneer of the Romantic Movement and after his death became inspiration to the founders of liberalism.
Burns’ youth was passed in poverty, hardship and labor. He had little regular schooling and got much of what education he had from his father and a tutor who taught him Latin, French and mathematics.
In 1783 he started composing poetry in a traditional style, using Ayrshire dialect. Also, collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. One of the most famous and popular poems in history were written by him – “Auld Lang Syne”, often sung at New Year’s Eve, “A Red, Red Rose”, “A Man’s A Man for A’ That”, “To a Louse” and so on… “Scots Wha Hae” served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of Scotland.
Robert Burns was initiated into Lodge St.David Tarbolton on 4 July 1781, when he was 22. He was passed and raised on 1 October 1781. Later, his lodge became dormant and he joined St.James Tarbolton Kilwinning #135.
He was very active as a mason. On 27 July 1784, Burns became Depute Master, a position he held until 1788, often honoured with supreme command. He had a real passion for freemasonry and believed that true Masonic friendship cannot be disassociated from the Lodge room. He must have been a very popular and well-respected Deputy Master, since there were more lodge meetings and more attendance during the Burns period, then at any other time.
In early 1787, he joined lodges in Edinburgh, where he was also very respected and in the books was recorded as a “poet”. Edinburgh Freemasons sponsored the publishing of his poems and spread his name and fame across Scotland, England and abroad.
He spent months touring Scotland, first the south and then the High Lands, visiting Lodges and becoming an honorary member of a number of them. His works in this period are strongly influenced by the Craft. Many of them can be considered Masonic Hymns. In every single one of his works there is a call for brotherly love, relief, truth. Here is a perfect example for that:
A Man’s A Man For All That
Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, and all that?
The coward slave, we pass him by -
We dare be poor for all that!
For all that, and all that,
Our toils obscure, and all that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gold for all that.
What though on homely fare we dine,
Wear course grey woolen, and all that?
Give fools their silks, and knaves their wine -
A man is a man for all that.
For all that, and all that,
Their tinsel show, and all that,
The honest man, though ever so poor,
Is king of men for all that.
You see yonder fellow called 'a lord,'
Who struts, and stares, and all that?
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He is but a dolt for all that.
For all that, and all that,
His ribboned, star, and all that,
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at all that.
A prince can make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and all that!
But an honest man is above his might -
Good faith, he must not fault that
For all that, and all that,
Their dignities, and all that,
The pith of sense and pride of worth
Are higher rank than all that.
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that)
That Sense and Worth over all the earth
Shall have the first place and all that!
For all that, and all that,
It is coming yet for all that,
That man to man the world over
Shall brothers be for all that.
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