THE MASTER'S HAT
by Harold Meij
 We know that the Master's Hat is worn in every
meeting by the WM, but what significance does it have?
Why is it that the Master wears a hat? It is said that
being ‘covered’ has a meaning of authority. Some decorations were
added to make objects such as crowns, which are a visual reminder of
certain authority. To the Romans, hats was a sign of freedom, which was
especially worn after the death of the dreaded Emperor Nero, and it was
therefore that in the past all Masons attending Lodge wore hats, as a
symbol of that freedom and brotherly equality.
The head is also widely seen as a direct link to God
by many beliefs. For example in Corinthian 11:3 it mentions “......and I wish you to know that of every man the
head is the Christ....” and further
states that “...every man praying or
prophesying, having the head covered, doth dishonors his head...” In other words one dishonors God by praying
while “covered.” It is for this reason that the Master removes his
hat while praying. In French Masonry a new Master of a Lodge receives a
hat with the words “with this hat you
may cover yourself in the future.” It is
also interesting to note that in the old days the speaker of the British
House of Commons had to wear a hat.
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