The Masonic Ring: When You Can Wear One and Which Way It Should Face

Of all the questions a curious man asks before he ever knocks on a lodge door, few are as common as this one: can I buy a Masonic ring? The answer is that you can buy almost anything online, but buying a ring and having the right to wear one are two very different matters. In more than twenty years of mentoring candidates I have watched a good number of eager men put the ring on too early, and I have watched the quiet, kindly correction that followed. This guide is meant to spare you that moment.

The Masonic ring is not a badge of office, nor a membership card. It is a personal ornament, chosen and paid for by the brother himself, and it carries no official standing in any Grand Lodge. Yet it is one of the most visible signs of the fraternity in public life, and for that reason it is surrounded by a fair amount of custom and etiquette.

§Who may wear a Masonic ring

By near universal custom, the ring bearing the square and compasses is worn only by a Master Mason, that is, a man who has completed all three degrees of Craft Freemasonry. If you are unfamiliar with that journey, The Three Degrees of Freemasonry explains each step in plain language. An Entered Apprentice or a Fellowcraft is a Mason in every meaningful sense, but the tradition holds that he waits until he has been raised before he wears the ring.

There is no rule written into most Grand Lodge constitutions forbidding a candidate from wearing one. The restraint is a matter of honour rather than law, which in Freemasonry often counts for rather more. A man who wears the emblem before he has earned it is signalling something untrue about himself, and lodges notice.

A man who is not a Mason at all should not wear a Masonic ring. Doing so is, at best, confusing to the brethren he meets and, at worst, a deliberate misrepresentation. Some men inherit a ring from a father or grandfather and wonder what to do with it. The honest answer is to keep it safely, perhaps on a chain or in a case, until you have the right to wear it yourself. Many men tell me that inherited ring was the very thing that first sent them looking for a lodge.

§Which way should the compasses point?

This is the question that fills forums and starts friendly arguments over dinner. There are two schools of thought, and neither is official.

• Points facing the wearer: the emblem reads correctly to the man wearing it, reminding him of his own obligations each time he looks down at his hand. Those who prefer this say the ring is for the Mason, not for the world.
• Points facing outward: the emblem reads correctly to anyone looking at the hand, so the square and compasses appear the right way up to others. Those who prefer this say the ring is a public declaration of the values he has chosen.

Both are perfectly acceptable. I wear mine facing myself, as my own mentor did, and I have never once been corrected. If your lodge has a strong local preference, follow it. Otherwise choose the reasoning that speaks to you and move on. A man who spends more time on the orientation of his ring than on the meaning of the square and compasses has rather missed the point. For that meaning, What the Square and Compasses Actually Mean is a good starting place.

§Which hand and which finger

There is no fixed rule. Most brethren wear the ring on the right hand, often on the ring finger or the little finger, because the left ring finger is usually reserved for a wedding band. Some prefer the left hand. Choose what is comfortable and what does not catch on your work tools.

§Styles of Masonic ring

The classic design is a gold or silver signet with the square and compasses set on a blue or black stone, often with the letter G in the centre. Beyond that, the variety is enormous.

• The traditional signet with blue enamel or lapis, the colour of Craft Masonry.
• Past Master rings, showing the compasses on a quadrant with a sun, worn by men who have served as Master of their lodge.
• Scottish Rite rings, including the plain band worn by 14th degree members and the triple band of the 33rd.
• York Rite and Knights Templar rings combining several emblems.
• Simple bands with discreet engraving for men who prefer something understated at work.

The Scottish Rite and York Rite are known as appendant bodies, open to a Master Mason who wishes to keep learning. What Is an Appendant Body in Freemasonry? explains how they work, and The 33rd Degree Explained clears up the most common misunderstanding about Scottish Rite rings.

Before you think about rings, find out whether you are ready to petition at all. The free Readiness Quiz takes five minutes and shows you exactly where you stand.

§Is it acceptable to buy your own ring?

Yes, and most brethren do. There is no official supplier. Some lodges present a ring to a newly raised Master Mason, and some families make a gift of one, but the majority of rings are bought by the brother himself after he is raised. Spend what you can comfortably afford. A modest silver ring worn by a man who lives his obligations is worth far more in any lodge room than an expensive gold one worn by a man who does not.

Be wary of very cheap rings sold with garbled symbols or incorrect emblems. A reputable regalia supplier, or a recommendation from your lodge, is the safer route. Your lodge secretary or mentor will happily point you towards one.

§Wearing the ring in public

The ring is a quiet signal. Masons who notice it may greet you warmly, and you will occasionally be asked by strangers what it means. Answer simply and honestly: it is the emblem of Freemasonry, a fraternity that encourages men to be better husbands, fathers, neighbours and citizens. You do not need to explain more than you are comfortable with, and nothing about the ring obliges you to discuss lodge business.

There is one point of etiquette worth remembering. Because the ring declares your membership, it also attaches your behaviour to the fraternity in the eyes of others. A man wearing the square and compasses who is rude to a waiter is, fairly or not, representing every Mason in the room. Many brethren find this a useful daily reminder, and it is one reason the ring is taken seriously.

The ring does not make the Mason. It reminds him of what he promised to become.

§Rings, aprons and other regalia

Unlike the apron, which is the badge of a Mason and worn in every lodge meeting, the ring has no ceremonial role at all. It is worn outside the lodge as much as inside. If you would like to understand the apron, the most important piece of Masonic dress, read The Masonic Apron: What It Means. Rings sit alongside lapel pins, cufflinks and tie bars as personal items a brother may choose to wear or not.

Some brethren wonder whether a tattoo is a more permanent version of the ring. That raises a different set of considerations, covered in Masonic Tattoos: Are Freemasons Allowed to Get Inked?. And if you have heard of the Masonic Bible presented at the third degree, The Masonic Bible: What Is It? explains that tradition too.

§The patient path to your own ring

If you are reading this before you have even petitioned, take heart. Most men are raised to the degree of Master Mason within a year of their initiation, sometimes sooner. The ring is not far away. What matters now is finding the right lodge, getting to know its members and preparing honestly for the process. How to Join a Masonic Lodge is the clearest place to begin, and Your First Year in Freemasonry shows you what lies between the knock and the ring.

When the day comes and you slide the ring onto your finger for the first time, you will understand why older brethren smile when a candidate asks about it. It is a small thing, but it marks the end of one journey and the beginning of a much longer one.