Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

APRON
APRON 73
and for this reason the color has been preserved
in the apron of the Freemason.
2 . As to its material . A Mason's apron
must be made of lambskin . No other substance,
such as linen, silk, or satin, could be
substituted without entirely destroying the
emblematic character of the apron, for the
material of the Mason's apron constitutes one
of the most important symbols of his profession
. The lamb has always been considered
as an appropriate emblem of innocence . And
hence we are taught, in the ritual of the First
Degree, that, " by the lambskin, the Mason is
reminded of that purity of life and rectitude of
conduct which is so essentially necessary to
his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge
above, where the Supreme Architect of the
Universe forever presides ."
The true apron of a Mason must, then, be of
unspotted lambskin, from 14 to 16 nches
wide, from 12 to 14 deep, with a fall about 3 or
4 inches deep, square at the bottom, and without
device or ornament of any kind. The
usage of the Craft in the United States of America
has, for a few years past, allowed a narrow
edging of blue ribbon in the symbolic degrees,
to denote the universal friendship which constitutes
the bond of the society, and of which
virtue blue is the Masonic emblem . But this
undoubtedly is an innovation, for the ancient
apron was without any edging or ornament .
In the Royal Arch Degree the lambskin is, of
course, continued to be used, but, according
to the same modern custom, there is an edging
of red, to denote the zeal and fervency which
should distinguish the possessors of that degree
. All extraneous ornaments and devices
are in bad taste, and detract from the symbolic
character of the investiture . But the silk or
satin a rons, bespangled and painted and
embroidered, which have been gradually creeping
into our Lodges, have no sort of connection
with Ancient Craft Masonry . They are an
innovation of our French brethren, who are
never pleased with simplicity, and have, by
their love of tinsel in their various newly
invented ceremonies, effaced many of the most
beautiful and impressive symbols of our Institution
. A Mason who understands and
appreciates the true symbolic meaning of his
apron, would no more tolerate a painted or
embroidered satin one than an artist would a
gilded statue . By him, the lambskin, and the
lambskin alone, would be considered as the
badge " more ancient than the Golden Fleece,
or Roman Eagle, and more honorable than the
Star and Garter ."
The Grand Lodge of England is precise in
its regulations for the decorations of the apron
which are thus laid down in its Constitution :
"Entered Apprentices .-A plain white lambskin,
from fourteen to sixteen inches wide,
twelve to fourteen inches deep, square at bottom,
and without ornament ; white strings .
"Fellow Craft .-A plain white lambskin,
similar to that of the Entered Apprentices,
with the addition only of two sky-blue rosettes
at the bottom .
" Master Masons.-The same, with sky-
'blue lining and edging, not more than two
inches deep, and an additional rosette on the
fall or flap, and silver tassels. No other colour
or ornament shall be allowed except to
officers and past officers of Lodges who may
have the emblems of their offices in silver or
white in the centre of the apron ; and except
as to the members of the Prince of Wales'
Lodge, No . 259, who are allowed to wear the
internal half of the edging of garter-blue
three-fourths of an inch wide .
"Grand Stewards, present and past .-Aprons
of the same dimensions lined with crimson,
edging of the same colour three and a half
inches, and silver tassels. Provincial and
District Grand Stewards, present and past,
the same, except that the edging is only two
inches wide . The collars of the Grand Steward's
Lodge to be crimson ribbon, four inches
broad .
"Grand Officers of the United Grand Lodge,
present and past .-Aprons of the same dimensions,
lined with garter-blue, edging three and
a half inches, ornamented with gold, and blue
strings ; and they may have the emblems of
their offices, in gold or blue, in the centre .
" Provincial Grand Officers, present and past .
-Aprons of the same dimensions, lined with
garter-blue, and ornamented with gold and
with blue strings : they must have the emblems
of their offices in gold or blue in the centre
within a double circle, in the margin of
which must be inserted the name of the Province
. The garter-blue edging to the aprons
must not exceed two inches in width .
" The apron of the Deputy Grand Master
to have the emblem of his office in gold embroidery
in the centre, and the pomegranate
and lotus alternately embroidered in gold on
the edging .
"The apron of the Grand Master is ornamented
with the blazing sun embroidered in
gold in the centre ; on the edging the pomegranate
and lotus with the seven-eared wheat
at each corner, and also on the fall ; all in gold
embroidery ; the fringe of gold bullion .
"The apron of the pro Grand Master the
same.
" The Masters and Past Masters of Lodges
to wear, in the place of the three rosettes on
the Master Mason's apron, perpendicular
lines upon horizontal lines, thereby forming
three several sets of two right angles ; the
length of the horizontal lines to be two inches
and a half each, and of the perpendicular
lines one inch ; these emblems to be of silver
or of ribbon, half an inch broad, and of the
same colour as the lining and edging of the
apron . If Grand Officers, similar emblems of
garter-blue or gold ."
In the United States, although there is evidence
in some old aprons, still existing, that
rosettes were formerly worn, there are now no
distinctive decorations for the aprons of the
different symbolic degrees . The only mark of
distinction is in the mode of wearing ; and this
differs in the different jurisdictions, some
wearing the Master's apron turned up at the
corner, and others the Fellow-Craft's . The