Masonic collars and sashes: origin, evolution, and contemporary use

Masonic collars and sashes occupy a distinctive place in Masonic regalia. While the apron remains the primary emblem, Masonic collars and sashes become essential from the Master Mason degree onwards, signifying dignity, office, and membership. Through their colour, form, and manner of wear, Masonic collars and sashes express a visible hierarchy and a symbolism inherited from the ancient Orders of Chivalry. To understand them is to enter the language of Masonic regalia and the living memory of the lodges.

Defining Masonic Collars and Sashes

What is the difference between Masonic collars and sashes

In current Masonic terminology, a collar is a wide ribbon worn around the neck, falling to a point on the chest, used to suspend the jewel of a Lodge Officer or dignitary. A sash, on the other hand, is worn diagonally across the body, from shoulder to hip, typically by Master Masons.

This distinction may seem obvious today, but it was not self-evident in eighteenth-century French rituals. At that time, only the word "cordon" was used, with the clarification that it was “worn as a necklace” or “worn as a baldric.”

Why is this terminological nuance important? Because it reflects the evolution of Masonic language itself. The vocabulary shows how lodges gradually codified their dress, distinguishing between function (collars for officers) and degree (sashes for Master Masons). The distinction between collars and sashes is therefore not just practical: it is part of the history of an institution that defines itself through visible symbols.

The Origins of Masonic Collars and Sashes

Early use in England

The use of Masonic collars and sashes dates back to the beginnings of speculative Freemasonry. The earliest English illustrations show Lodge Officers wearing a simple, narrow ribbon of undefined colour. This accessory was primarily used to support the jewel of office and carried no symbolic significance.

Masonic ceremony in the 18th century: only the Worshipful Master and the Brother Introducer wear a simple ribbon with the jewel of their office.

Over time, a standard colour was established: dark blue, probably inspired by the ribbon of the Order of the Garter. This choice explicitly aligned the Grand Lodge with the monarchy and its royal orders. Later, a lighter shade of blue was adopted to distinguish Grand Officers from the ordinary lodges.

In this tradition, only Officers wore a collar; Master Masons did not wear a sash.

Why did France develop Masonic collars and sashes?

It was in France that Masonic collars and sashes became widespread. The influence of the Order of the Holy Spirit is clear: the most prestigious order of chivalry under the Ancien Régime, whose sky-blue ribbon was worn as a necklace or as a baldric. French lodges adopted this colour and form, transposing a symbol of nobility into the Masonic sphere.

From then on, Officers wore the collar, while Master Masons received the sash. This gesture carried strong symbolic weight: allowing bourgeois members to wear a blue sash affirmed that all were equal in the lodge.

As with the sword—another noble privilege adopted within the lodge—wearing the sash marked that Freemasonry was not merely a workers’ guild but presented itself as a true chivalric Order.

The Rise of Decorations: Collars, Sashes, and Scarves

How did the higher degrees increase the number of decorations?

The development of higher degrees in the eighteenth century led to a proliferation of decorations. Each degree sought to distinguish itself with specific insignia, resulting in a greater diversity of collars and sashes. Alongside the traditional blue of the lodges, new colours emerged, soon associated with particular offices or ritual themes.

Knight Rose Croix Collar, 18th degree of the AASR

At the same time, a new accessory appeared in certain French degrees: the scarf, also known as sash in English. Unlike the ordinary sash, which ends in a point, the scarf has two separate ends, often finished with gold or silver fringes. Worn over the shoulder or around the waist, the scarf added to the visual richness and solemnity of Masonic ceremonies.

What do the colours of Masonic collars and sashes signify?

The variety of colours was not just a decorative choice; it reflected a desire for symbolic codification. Light blue, inherited from the Order of the Holy Spirit, remained the colour of the Craft Lodges and of Master Masons. Red was linked to strength and the memory of bloodshed, particularly in the Knight degrees. Black characterised the Elect degrees, associated with vengeance and stern justice. Green, a rarer colour, symbolised hope and renewal, while white referred to innocence.

Thus, Masonic collars and sashes became a true visual language, each colour serving as an immediately recognisable sign for initiates.

Contemporary Uses of Masonic Collars and Sashes

Continental versus Anglo-Saxon traditions

Even today, differences in usage reflect two distinct Masonic cultures. In the continental tradition, Master Masons wear a sash, while Officers are distinguished by their collars. This practice is widespread in Europe and in Obediences shaped by the French model.

In the English tradition, however, only Officers wear collars, while Master Masons do not receive any sash. Added to this distinction is a unique accessory: the Collar Chain, still worn at the grand meetings of the United Grand Lodge of England and in several regular Obediences. A direct descendant of the medieval Orders of Chivalry, the Collar Chain replaces the ribbon collar and signifies the prestige of office.

Why are sashes still an essential part of modern Freemasonry?

Despite differences between rites, sashes remain an important element of Masonic regalia in many continental traditions, including the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the French Rite, and the Rite of Memphis-Misraïm. Wearing a sash serves as a visible reminder of belonging to the degree of Master Mason and of participation in a tradition more than three centuries old.

There are, however, a few exceptions, such as the Rectified Scottish Rite, the Schroeder Rite, and the Swedish Rite, where the sash is absent or replaced by a more discreet Collarette. Yet in most lodges, Masonic collars and sashes continue to form a shared symbolic language and a sign of recognition, representing fraternal equality.

Legacies and Continuations

Collar Chains as Civic Symbols

The history of Masonic collars and sashes cannot be understood without reference to their secular counterparts. In particular, Collar Chains continue the tradition of medieval Orders of Chivalry, such as the Order of the Golden Fleece. They remained prestigious throughout the Renaissance, but later gave way to ribbon collars.

Chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

In Great Britain, however, this heritage has endured in the form of Collar Chains, which remain the distinctive insignia of mayors in England, Wales, and Ireland, as well as provosts in Scotland. This survival attests to the continuity of a language of signs representing authority, public office, and service to the community — references that Freemasonry also embraces.

The Compagnonnage and Their Scarves

In the nineteenth century, the French Compagnonnage movement, which was undergoing a revival, also adopted coloured scarves. This was no coincidence: it was a deliberate imitation of Freemasonry, whose rich and codified regalia had made a strong impression.

Worn during ceremonies, these scarves served as a reminder that manual labour could also be part of a symbolism of honour, brotherhood, and tradition. This demonstrates the powerful influence of Masonic collars, sashes, and scarves, which spread beyond the lodges to inspire other forms of initiatory sociability.

Conclusion: What can Masonic collars and sashes reveal?

Masonic collars and sashes reflect a dual movement. On the one hand, they recall the influence of the nobility and the Orders of Chivalry on early Freemasonry, which adopted their ribbons to signify office, dignity, and recognition. On the other hand, they symbolise the internal evolution of the lodges, distinguishing Officers, marking Master Masons, and diversifying degrees through new colours and forms.

Today, these decorations are not mere ornaments: they remain a shared language that connects contemporary lodges to a tradition spanning three centuries. Their presence in continental rites, and their absence in more restrained ones, remind us that each Obedience adapts the sign to its own culture.

Ultimately, Masonic collars and sashes embody the memory and identity of the Order. To wear one is to join a chain linking past, present, and future — to make visible the mark of brotherhood.

By Ion Rajolescu, Editor-in-Chief of Nos Colonnes — committed to a Masonic voice that is just, rigorous, and alive.

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FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Masonic Collars and Sashes

1. What is a Masonic collar?

A Masonic collar is a wide ribbon worn around the neck, used to suspend the jewel of office of a Lodge or Grand Lodge Officer.

2. What is the difference between a collar and a sash in Freemasonry?

The collar is worn around the neck, while the sash (or baldric) is worn diagonally across the body, from shoulder to hip. Each marks a different role or degree.

3. Why are collars and sashes important in Freemasonry?

They are not just ornaments: they identify office or degree and reflect the chivalric heritage and symbolism of the Craft.

4. Since when have collars been used in Freemasonry?

Their use dates back to the eighteenth century in England and France, where they were inspired by the insignia of noble Orders.

5. What do the colours of Masonic collars and sashes mean?

Light blue symbolises fraternity and Mastery, red stands for strength and sacrifice, black for justice, green for hope, and white for innocence.

6. Do all Freemasons wear a sash?

No. In blue lodges, only Masters wear the sash and Officers the collar. Some rites, such as the Rectified Scottish Rite, do not use sashes at all.

7. What is a chain collar in Freemasonry?

A chain collar is a medieval heritage regalia, still worn today in the United Grand Lodge of England by dignitaries during major ceremonies.

8. Are there Masonic scarves?

Yes. Scarves appear in some higher degrees and specific rites. Unlike the sash, they end in two separate fringed panels.

9. Why is the light blue sash so widespread?

It was inspired by the ribbon of the Order of the Holy Spirit, the most prestigious French chivalric order, adopted by Freemasonry in the eighteenth century.

10. Where can I find quality Masonic collars and sashes?

Nos Colonnes offers a full collection of collars, sashes, and scarves for all rites and degrees, crafted with meticulous detail.

Read the full transcript of the episode here for those who prefer reading or want more detail.

Podcast – Collars and Sashes: When a Simple Ribbon Becomes a Symbol

Collars and sashes. These ribbons, worn around the neck or across the chest, are among the most visible Masonic regalia. One might think they are mere ornaments, secondary accessories. But they are not. They tell us much about the history, the influences, and the evolution of the Craft.

In today’s vocabulary, a collar is the wide ribbon worn around the neck, and a sash the one worn diagonally across the body, from shoulder to hip. But in eighteenth-century French rituals, a single word was used: cordon, with the clarification that it was worn as a necklace or worn as a baldric. This distinction, simple in appearance, reveals the path by which Masonry aligned itself with the insignia of nobility.

In the blue lodges, only Officers wear a collar. It is the sign of their office. Masters, by contrast, receive the sash as the mark of their degree. Later, with the higher degrees, this distribution was no longer strict: in some grades, all members wear a collar, whether or not they hold an office.

What is the purpose of these ribbons? At first, they served a practical use: to suspend the jewel of office. But soon, symbolism prevailed. In England, dark blue was adopted, echoing the ribbon of the Order of the Garter, for the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge. Ordinary lodges later adopted a lighter shade of blue. In France, the reference was the Order of the Holy Spirit, the most prestigious order of the monarchy. By adopting the same sky blue ribbon, French Freemasonry declared its allegiance to the noble tradition of chivalric orders. It was a way of showing that the lodge was not a simple society of craftsmen, but an Order of dignity.

The rise of higher degrees in the eighteenth century expanded this trend. Each degree sought its own distinctive sign. Red, black, green, white, and crimson ribbons appeared. A new accessory was also introduced: the scarf. Unlike the pointed sash, it has two separate ends, often fringed, and is worn across the body or around the waist. This multiplication of regalia reflected the vitality of a Freemasonry in full growth.

Beyond the shapes, the colours spoke for themselves. Light blue remained linked to blue lodges and to Master Masons. Red evoked strength and sacrifice. Black characterised the Elect degrees, associated with stern justice. Green symbolised hope, white innocence. Thus, collars and sash es became a visual language: each colour carried a meaning, a value, an engagement.

Today, practices differ between traditions. In the continental model, Masters wear a sash, and Officers a collar. In the English model, only Officers wear a collar, and Masters have no sash at all. Alongside these, a singular regalia survives: the chain collar. Directly descended from medieval chivalric orders, it is still worn in the great assemblies of the United Grand Lodge of England. And its use is not limited to Masonry: in Britain, chain collars are also the insignia of mayors and provosts, proof that this language of signs has crossed centuries into civic life.

In most continental rites—Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, French Rite, Memphis-Misraïm—the sash remains essential. It visibly marks the rank of Master and connects each one to three centuries of tradition. Some rites stand apart, such as the Rectified Scottish Rite, the Schroeder Rite or the Swedish Rite, where it is absent or replaced by a smaller collar. But almost everywhere else, collars and sashes continue to function as visible signs of fraternity and equality.

Their influence has even reached beyond the lodges. In the nineteenth century, the French Compagnonnage adopted coloured scarves in its ceremonies, consciously imitating Masonic regalia. In this gesture, one can see the power of these ribbons, capable of inspiring other initiatory brotherhoods.

So what do collars and sashes reveal? They express Freemasonry’s double fidelity: to its origins, borrowing from the insignia of nobility and chivalry, and to its own project, which transforms these ribbons into a shared language, a sign of equality and fraternity. Wearing a collar or a sash is not merely adding a ribbon to one’s attire. It is stepping into a long history, where each ribbon links past, present, and future.