…presented at Ozias Lodge No.508, Burford, November 19, 2005.

The Masonic Apron - The true Mark of a Mason

As Masonry allows all of us to apply it's symbolism in our own way, I would like to share with you some thoughts on the apron that we all wear as a sign of our being a Mason. As you all know, virtually any man who is of the full age of 21 years and believes in the existence of a supreme being can become a Mason. However, there are many things that we would recognize as a Masonic symbol but we must remember that anyone can buy a Masonic ring to wear, a tie tack or cuff links. My wife bought this ring for me when I took on the responsibilities as District Deputy, but certainly she is not a mason, sometimes a Mason's widow perhaps. Anyone can have the license plate cover or the sticker on the window, but only those of us who are members can say we have the true mark of a Mason, the Apron. Sure, sometimes an apron will show up at a garage sale or some other place but will be of no value except to a true Mason.

The square and compasses is the most widely recognized universally known symbol in the World. It has never been patented and cannot be used in any logo that can be patented. The patent companies around the world will not allow it to be used in any company's logo when applying for a patent to designate their company. It is widely accepted as the symbol of Free Masonry around the world but men who are not Masons can still wear it. Therefore lets take a closer look at the apron, as we know it. (Lay the apron on the altar.)

The apron charge in the first degree tells us it is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or the Roman Eagle and more honourable than the Star or Garter or any other order in existence. You will notice the apron is of the same form as the lodge, a parallelepipedon. It covers from East to West and from North to South on the Mason who wears it. The apron is 406 mm wide and 356 mm deep with a triangular flap 165 mm deep in the centre, as laid out in the book of the constitution in section 389. The flap of the apron has three sides and could represent the three Grand Masters S. K. I., H. K. T. and H. A. The three points of the triangle could also represent the W. Master and the Senior Warden and Junior Warden of the lodge. The sides of the triangle join them all together in the ruling and governing of the lodge. The clasp is serpentine and is on the left side of the apron. The apron placed on the altar in this position would indicate that the corner of the triangle where the clasp is located would indicate the W. Master, thereby letting us know that the W. Master will be the one who joins us together in the work of the lodge.

The rectangular portion of the apron has four sides with one of those sides shared with the triangle. The sides of the apron are embossed with silver or gold ribbon depending on the age of the lodge. Both silver and gold are regarded as precious metals and indicates the precious value of Free Masonry. There are three rosettes on the apron. Rosettes are indicative of achievement or placing high in a competition. In the centre of each is a silver or gold button with the letter G in the centre. The rosettes on a Mason's apron are representative of the high standards we have set for ourselves, and reinforce our belief in the existence of a supreme being, God.

There are two tassels attached to the apron beneath the flap to each of which is attached a bar with seven separate chains and the ribbon is extended to the bottom of the chains. These two tassels are representative of the two great pillars at the entrance of King Solomon's Temple , that on the left is called B--- and that of the right is called J-----. The Mason who wears the apron forms the bond between the two pillars and consequently the stability when conjoined. The seven separate chains represent the seven liberal arts and sciences or as many regularly made Masons without which no lodge is perfect and no member can be legally initiated there in. They are there to remind us to make the liberal arts and sciences our further study so we are able to make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge.

We learn from the Senior Warden's lecture that these pillars are adorned with two chapiters that are enriched with net-work, lily-work and pomegranates. The Mason who wears the apron is representative of the chapiters. The net-work indicates the intricate winding of this our mortal existence on this earth. It leads us down many winding roads and over many hills and down into the valleys with numerous challenges along the way. The lily-work indicates the challenge presented to us to keep our life on the straight and narrow path of virtue to enable us to be unspotted by sin and unstained by vice when we are summoned to the Grand Lodge above. The pomegranates are indicative of our ability to solve the many problems of this life, from our initiation to the completion of the construction of our Masonic temple each of us are building. We wear this apron over our garment as the entrance to our Masonic temple that will take much longer to build than King Solomon's and it will require large portions of the three divine attributes, Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.

The apron is the true mark of a Mason reserved for those who join the Fraternity. These are some of my ideas of the symbolism surrounding the apron. I would like to make this more interactive with you and now invite you to share some of your ideas on the symbolism of the apron.