Letter of the month: January 2000

From: Brian_Farquhar@transalta.com
To: dryfoo@MIT.EDU
Message-Id: <87256856.00704059.00@notes4-10.transalta.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 13:29:34 -0700
Subject: Father's Ring

Is there a problem with me wearing my late father's Knights Templer ring? It is one of the few memories left to me from him.

Please send your answer to romulus@telusplanet.net

Thank-you in advance

Brian

To: Brian_Farquhar@transalta.com
cc: romulus@telusplanet.net
Subject: Re: Father's Ring 
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 29 Dec 1999 13:29:34 MST."
             <87256856.00704059.00@notes4-10.transalta.com> 
--------

I think if you wanted to wear it, say, on a chain around your neck, as a token, that might be okay.

If you wore it as a ring, you would be essentially telling other members of the York Rite Commandery that you were a member too, and they might greet you as such and ask you about your lodge and your other Masonic affiliations -- which could lead to a confusing conversation at best.

In general, it's probably best not to wear insignia of an organization one doesn't belong to.

(Of course, you could always join Masonry and its York Rite, and so become a Templar yourself. That would be a real connection to your father, too, and would entitle you to wear the ring as well.)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Gary L. Dryfoos <dryfoo@mit.edu>| PM: Ocean Lodge AF&AM, Saugus, MA
| P.O.Box 425400, Camb, MA 02142  | PM: Mt. Scopus Lodge AF&AM, Malden, MA
| http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/  | Richard C. Maclaurin Lodge, MIT, MA
| w: 617.253-0184 f: 617.258-6875 | Internet Lodge #9659, E. Lancs UGLE
|                                 | 32~; MPS; B'hood o/t Blue Forget-Me-Not
|                                 | R.W. Grand Rep. GL Russia near GL Mass.
| "...one sacred band, or society of Friends and Brothers, among
|  whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention,
|  or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree."
+===========================================================================

Please note: This is just my opinion, based on some experience, but I have not consulted any Masonic constitutions or grand lodge laws. If you have a citation from any grand lodge law on this subject, please let me know.