Universe

In Oklahoma DeMolay, we only wear robes at Installations (thats only if you being installed) but I've always wondered shouldn't we wear them at our stated meetings as well?

Brother,

Some chapters as yourself wear them like in those occasions. I can speek for my chapter we wear them to meetings and Installtaion and Initiation just depends apon the chapter I guess.

Bro Dirk

We wore our robes during Initiations, Installations (as Installees), and on ocassion during the meetings. It was always left up to our MC. Sometimes, as installees, only the MC was wearing his jacket, while everyone else was in robes. Or all three councilors wore jackets, while the others wore robes. But the decision lied solely with the MC (or MC to be during Installations).

It only depends on the decision of your chapter.

In our chapter we usaully ware robs if it is "stated meeting " or in installation.

It looks formal when we use the robe in times of meeting.

To go back to ancient times, the Chapter I was active in wore our Cape Robes for Initiatory Degrees, Installations, and occasions when doing ceremonial work for other Masonic Family bodies, such as the Flower Talk, by invitation, at a Masonic or Eastern Star or Rainbow Installation.

I remember one occasion where we supplied escorts for a Rainbow Installation, where they requested we wear Robes, and we did.

The Orator wore a Cape for the DeMolay Degree First and Third Sections.

I am aware that Chapters in more temperate climates typically wore robes at all Chapter Meetings, but we did not.

Considering the year round weather in Florida, (can you say Hot, can you say HUMID?) even inside the Lodge, they were so heavy, hot, and uncomfortable that we always removed our jackets and wore them over shirt, tie and slacks, when we did wear them.

Fraternally,

Dale

You mean people actually wear their robes over their jackets? That idea seems so absurd and wrong, not to mention completely uncomfortable.

Ive seen pictures, never saw anyone actually do it for any length of time in "Real Life".

Brothers,

I should mention that there has been times that my chapter has not used robes even in stated meetings due to coldness of the lodge hall. " Somebody forgot to turn the heat on in the lodge that day?" But we wore big coats one time. But mostly we wear our robes I know our first meeting here in September 6 we will due to INitation have 5 guys going in so.

Bro Dirk

here in philippines we always wore the robe.. its not to hot and not to cold...

We usaually wore it in degree...installaton and stated meeting...

We practice that in every stated meeting we ware our "BARONG " and robe... We look so formal and profesional..

It looks so nice...

If you want to picture it out you can visit my friendster accnts..

contact me via personal message for info how to do so.

I have loots of pictures there with our brothers...

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I think if we will really base it on DeMolay tradition, we wear the cape during/every stated meeting, installations, conferral of degrees, etc. We wear capes everytime we open the chapter following the ritual(opening ceremony, closing, conferral of degrees). Basing it on tradition, I think we wear capes everytime we meet inside the chapter room but no capes when we meet outside the chapter room or lobby.

quote:

I think if we will really base it on DeMolay tradition, we wear the cape during/every stated meeting, installations, conferral of degrees, etc.

Who's tradition? My Chapter's tradition? Your Chapter's tradition? Robes are expensive, and like anything they are subject to wear and tear. Not to mention the climate ordeals of different geographical areas, or even the material condition of some Lodges climate control systems may make it unadvisable, or even iladvised to don your robes. And its not like you can just throw them in the washing machine.

Back in the day (1970s) we would wear coat neck ties and robes. We eventually changed the by laws to make it either a coat or a tie over the summer months. Oh, and for the installations the three elected Councilors wore rented tuxedoes.

Yes, The good ole days.



PMC - 1970
East San Diego Chapter

As stated in the many posts, wearing robes during meetings is on a Chapter by Chapter basis. Our Chapter is one of those that make it mandatory to wear robes for all Stated meetings.

The decision was made, by the membership, because it keeps the guys focused on the business at hand and they tend to be a little less squirrelly during the meetings.

Here is a good one...If an advisor caught you twirling the tassle on your robe, you had to tear down the chapter...No kidding.

Because of the heat and the cost of running AC in the old building we meet in, my home Chapter in Tucson does not use Robes at all during the warmer months. We do wear them during most of the school year however, and some of us take pride in it almost to the point of being egotistical.

A few years back, one of our mothers made us a brand new set from scratch, and she made them in the old colored style; purple, red & blue for the councilors, gold for the deacons, green for the stewards, and white for the chaplain.

Robes certainly add to the impression of a candidate when conducting an initiation, and if your chapter does have them, be sure to take care of them, they are fragile as Shawn mentioned above.

Doesn't the ritual say to use them in every meetings?


Sir Jaimar PMC

Here in my Chapter, we have to use the Robes in every single meeting since the regular meeting, until flower talk, and everything. But here, just the Senior Demolay uses the Coats and Jackets, and the dress code do not varies from chapter to chapter, all the country have to follow the same dressing rule.
Hum... here in Brazil, my chapter has 20 years of fundation and we use the same robe since it was funded.

Ah memory lane. . .

We met upstairs in a small lodge room.
The empty North of the lodge room was actually the West wall of the building and was filled with windows facing the setting sun.

There was no operating AC except in the big lodge room downstairs and Jobs Daughters met in there on the same night we did. So, in the summer when our room had been closed up all day, and baking like a hot house, we would open all the windows and the back door down to the parking lot praying for a sea breeze.

It was quite hot and we didn't wear robes unless we were performing an initiation. On one occasion, while opening for an initiation in that summer heat, a brother became disoriented and collapsed. It created a bit of a stir, but his older brother was an EMT and after cooling him down and having him drink water he continued on with his part.

When the weather was cooperative in the other seasons we wore our robes in all meetings and all ceremonies where it was appropriate.

Thanks for letting me share.