THE MASONIC APRON th - Kamloops Freemasons

THE MASONIC APRON
From CANMAS May 19th, 2004

The first thing which usualy strikes the observant Freemason re: the
Apron is that, in all three Degrees, the Apron is conferred by the Senior
Warden, and not the Worshipful Master.

According to Mackey, this is because symbolically the W.M. represent the
spirit and the S.W. represents the soul of man. It is the soul which
regissters the spiritual advance of man, and is the link between Body and
Spirit.

Therefore, the outward sign of the spiritual progress, made by the
Initiate is conferred by that Officer which represents the soul, namely the
S.W.

The white lambskin Apron of the E.A is "more ancient that the Golden
Fleece and the Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Star and Garter.

The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded by Phillip, Duke of Burgundy
in 129 A.D.

The Roman Eagle was Rome's symbol of power and might, long before the
birth of Christ.

The Order of the Star was created by King John II of France in the
middle of the 14th century.

The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III of England in 1349
A.D. for himself and twenty-five of his Knights, and even today is
restricted to the reigning monarch and 25 of his, or her Knights.

Freemasonry having existed from time immemorial, the Apron as a Masonic
symbol can, theefore, lay just claim to greater antiquity than any other
Order, and it is proudly worn by Freemasons throughout the world, and
certainly not restricted to a carefully chosen few.

The Hebrew Prophets wore aprons, and the High Priests were so
clothed. In the ancient mysteries of Egypt and India aprons were worn as
symbols of priestly power. The earliest secret societies of China wore
aprons, the ancient Essenes wore them as did the Incas of Peru and the
Aztecs of Mexico.

At the building of King Solomon's Temple there were three classes of
Masons and each as a distictive badge wore his Apron in a peculiar manner.

E.A.'s being bearers of burdens were directed to wear their Apron with
the bib turned up, so as to protect their garments from spot or stain.
Another explanation is, that the apron is worn thus, the bib turned up, the
point towards the head, indicating that Divine Wisdom has not, as yet,
penetrated the gross matter of our bodies. (Mackey). Unfortunately this
custom of raising the bib, has died out in many Lodges.

The F.C.'s apron is worn with the flap turned down for several reasons,
but again, according to Mackey, "this is to indicate that Wisdom has begun
to enter and grow as further Masonic Light is received."

Also, the F.C. Apron is embellisehd with two rosettes.

They stress the dual nature of man, and have a clear reference to the
Two Great Pillars, B_ and J_, which are so much a part of the F.C.Degree.
They also show that the F.C. Mason is not as yet complete and united body,
although body and soul are in union, yet not in complete accord with the
Spirit. There is also a striking correspondence between the knocks of the
F.C.Degree and the two rosettes for they teach precisely the same lesson.

The triangle is incomplete, showing that the F.C. is not yet a
"complete" Mason, and thus corresponds to the position of the Compasses when
taking the Obligation in that Degree. "Superior to an E.A. yet inferior as
regards future knowledge.

On the other hand, the three rosettes on the M.M.Apron form a second
triangle and teach us of the union of Body, Soul and Spirit.

No Brother, be he an E.A., F.C. or M.M., may be admitted into a Lodge
unless he is properly clothed with the Apron, for it is the outward and
visible sign of what he is Masonically, and it should only be necessary to
look around and tell the rank of every Brother present.

However, it does not necessarily mean that the Apron is simply to
declare one's rank, it also possesses symbolism of such magnitude that it is
the same in force, and in service, all over the world. No part of the Apron
design is haphazard or formed at random, every part has a definite meaning.

The colour blue represents the Heavens, thus symbolizing the
universality of Freemasonry. The white lambskin means the E.A. Degree, any
addition to this means other Degrees and other secrets.

In the past, all aprons like the E.A. and F.C. aprons of today were
fastened round the body by cords. These cords were, in the course of time,
ornamented with tassels, but when the present form of apron was fixed, those
tassels were separated from the fastening bands and placed on the front of
the apron, eventually becoming strips of ribbon to which were attached seven
chains. The number seven was chosen deliberately and has a symbolic
meaning: three representing the Trinity, plus four representing matter,
therefore God, and likewise all creation, which is compounded of spirit and
matter.

At one time the two Great Pillars were depicted on many Masonic aprons,
therefore, it is indeed probable that these strips of ribbon are the last
trace of that decoration.

The modern method of fastening the apron is also of interest, that is,
by means of a hook and eye in the form of a snake. The snake is one of the
oldest and most venerated of symbols. It is perhaps the deadliest and most
feared of all the primitive enemies of man, and so stands for the power of
evil. Yet it is regarded as being amongst the wisest of all creatures, and
as such, represents divine wisdom.

Both aspects are depicted in the VOTSL.
The evil aspect is shown in the story of the Fall of Adam, in the Garden
of Eden, while divine wisdomis referred to in the hrase, "Be ye wise as
serpents."
The serpent biting its tail and thus forming a circle, which is a figure

without beginning or ending, and thus represents eternity, and the eternal
wisdom of the Most High, and an ever present reminder that "in all his
pursuits a F.M. should have eternity in view."

We are told in the Old Testament that Adam and Eve clothed themselves
with aprons of leaves and is thus testimony to this very earliest form of
clothing. Indeed the apron is the most ancient and most primitive form of
garment ever evolved.

The Masonic apron has been lauded in both poetry and prose. Robert
Burns, himself a Past Master, wrote:

"There's many a badge that's unco braw,
Wi' ribbon, tape and lace on,
Let kings and princes wear them a",
Gae me the Master's Apron,
Bide he at hame or roam afar,
Before his touch fa's bolt and bar,
The gates of fortune fly ajar,
Shoud he wear the Apron."
and the beautiful Apron Charge, delivered by one of the concordant bodies-
"It is yours to wear throughout an honourable life, and at your death to
be placed upon the coffin which shall contain your mortal remains, and with
them laid beneath the silent clods of the valley. Let its pure and spotless
surface be to you an ever present reminder of a purity of life and rectitude
of conduct, an ever ending argument for nobler deeds, for higher thoughts,
for greater achievements.
"And when at last your weary feet shall have come to the end of their
toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall drop the working tools
of life, may the record of your thoughts and actions be as pure and spotless
as this emblem."
Yes, the apron is the badge of a Freemason, the most important article
of Masonic clothing. May we ever wear it with pride and dignity. Thus, and
thus only will it be worn with pleasure to ourselves and honour to the
fraternity.

By R.W.Bro. W.R. "Bob" Taylor, Secretary, Whitehorse Lodge, No. 46,
Whitehorse, Y.T.; Published in MASONIC BULLETIN, March and
April, 1973; Grand Lodge of British Columbia.

Submitted by D. Roy Murray, PDDGM
King Solomon Lodge, No. 58, GRS
Victoria Ldoge, No. 13, GRA

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