when did grand lodge first make rules about wearing jewels and regalia

The Grand Lodge of England first formally regulated the wearing of aprons, ribbons, and jewels on March 17, 1731, following a unanimous motion submitted by Dr. Desaguliers 1. This resolution permitted Masters and Wardens of individual lodges to line their white leather aprons with white silk and suspend their jewels from white ribbons around their necks 1. It also established that Grand Officers wear gold jewels suspended from blue ribbons, while Stewards were permitted silver jewels on red ribbons with red silk apron linings 1.

Other Grand Lodges adopted regulations on regalia at later dates. The Grand Lodge of Scotland enacted its first rule regarding officers' regalia in 1736, ordering that the jewels of the Grand Master and Wardens be worn on green ribbon 1. By contrast, the Grand Lodge of Ireland refrained from placing clothing regulations in its Constitutions, relying instead on a standalone guide, Clothing and Insignia, first issued in 1860 1.

Full standardization of regalia in English lodges was not achieved until the Union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813, at which point detailed rules governing clothing were established for the United Grand Lodge of England 1.

Dr. Desaguliers submitted the motion covering regalia and apron uniformity to the Grand Lodge of England on March 17, 1731, which was passed unanimously 1.