Why the Dinner Suit?

We are often asked: Why do Freemasons attend meetings in a Dinner Suit?

Lodge is a formal occasion; thus Masons everywhere dress in a respectful manner when attending their lodges, the most realistic respectful manner is the Dinner suit.

Black Tie.
Rather than Goth & Emo total black, jeans Tee Shirt & boots, we like the look of the Black tie and the dinner suit, in single OR double breasted cut (we don't mind which style of dinner jacket is worn to lodge...)
 
Meaning: A Tux if you are North American. Being Black Tie (bow tie), Black Jacket, Black Waistcoat, Black Pants, White Shirt

Otherwise known as: A Bag o' Fruit, Monkey Suit, or (my Favourite) The Penguin Suit

Black Tie... on a contrasting yellow background to show the blackness of the tie!

A piccie can be stolen from here if you need to see a Dinner Suit...

But, Specifically, we (Canoblas Lewis) are asked; How come you have a Dinner Suit requirement, when others do not? If you look at the internet, many lodges have differing dress standards, some lodges are in the "Business Casual" dress category, others are in Near Bikie level of dress...

BUT not Canoblas Lewis!

We are kind of formal; meaning we wear a black dinner suit. Which leads us to the original question about why do we wear a dinner suit to a meeting?

Well, I am glad you asked:

Because it makes life easy!
That is you have a uniform. on a lodge night, put on your Dinner Suit, grab your apron & go! In the past, a dinner suit was the one piece of formal clothing that everyone had; thus a Dinner Suit was a formal piece of attire, but it was an inclusive piece of attire. Today, the dinner suit is relegated to school formals & such, but, by having a nice suit, Lodge is still recognized as a formal occasion.

Because it looks good!
How many times have you heard the ladies say: "Gee, you look nice in that suit"? How good does it feel to wear a suit, in a room full of blokes that are wearing the same style

And , Importantly, because James Bond wears one!
Hey, No matter which James Bond actor you prefer, they all looked great in a dinner suit & therefore we think we do too. No matter how badly it fits, not matter how expensive or cheap it was, we all are James Bond Cool in ours! Just we don't have the Martini's to match.

Mainly Because it is traditional!
As many lodges were formed in a time when things were far more formal times, Lodge Canoblas Lewis likes the way that we are upholding a tradition that would otherwise be fading away.

So that is the flippant reply; but, as with all good stories, their is a bit more to it.

The Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT's guidelines, suggest that evening lodges wear dinner suits, whereas day lodges should wear Lounge suits. As Canoblas Lewis is an Evening Lodge, the Dinner Suit guideline applies; but be aware, we take the guideline as just that, a guideline!

There are other rules that apply, but let's not go there at the moment, as it is just a little too boring for us to re-print!

So Mote It Be!