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Aprons

RHS

Registered User
Looking at historical Masonic pictures of masons and their aprons it is clear that uniquely embroidered aprons with a variety of symbols of the craft and maybe personal to the brother were used on eachs a personal apron. Why today is this not as common? Is it discouraged and if so why?Examples, George Washington, Santa Anna, various other historical masons.
 

phulseapple

Premium Member
Generally, the aprons you see in photographs are ones worn by officers. I know the pictures I have seen of George Washington have all been of him in either is Master's or Past Master's apron. Once a man has been elected to be master of his lodge he wears the apron of that office. After serving in that office, he is entitled to and is usually presented with a past masters apron which he can wear to meetings in place of the "house" aprons provided by lodges for the members.
 

daddyrich

Registered User
As an artist, I really wish it were more accepted. It's true that P.M.'s get to wear wonderfully decorated aprons. But it seems, historically (at least according to pictures I've seen and stories I have read) that it wasn't always so. I even askef our W.M. a few years ago about this and he said of no known proscription against their use. Every time I take out and see that beaitifully clean white apron from my 3rd degree, that NEVER gets worn....I have to stop myself from thinking, "a square would look good right here, maybe surrounded by an acacia sprig as well as a field of stars...."
 

widows son

Premium Member
I wish it was too, I like art as a hobby, and I'd love to throw some designs on her. If its not to personal may i ask, why do you not get to wear your apron?
 

daddyrich

Registered User
It's allowed, of course. I would just be the only one who wears theirs. We have a box of aprons outside of Lodge (all quite worn) that everyone usually just grabs one from. I do like the clean look of it and imagine I'd find some way to dirty it up if I did. So I leave it in it's tube and only take it out to stare at once in a while.
 

widows son

Premium Member
Lol. Honestly i have never heard of a apron bin, we only provide aprons for EA and FC, we do have a few extra MM aprons in case of emergency or whatever, but I stare at my apron too, did Dominion Regalia make yours?
 

polmjonz

Registered User
Our Lodge and most in our area provide aprons as well with varying lengths of cord to tie them on
 
T

T.N. Sampson

Guest
Is it normal for Masons to not wear the apron they were presented with during the rituals? I can see the need for spares in the Lodge, but is there a symbolic reason for a man to keep the one he was originally presented stored away?

While on the topic, why the various designs? It would seem to me that the equality among Masons would be better highlighted by all having exactly the same apron, at least in a Blue Lodge. Cordially, Skip.
 

widows son

Premium Member
Not really, some symbols might have a deeper meaning to the mason than another, and may want to express it on his apron.
 

chrmc

Registered User
I think one reason we also may not see as many personalized aprons these days is simply because the times have changed. There are not as many people doing hand made crafts as there used to be. So while you in the past had a personalized tailor, wife etc. that was handy, we don't see that as much any more.
But I don't think that anyone in lodge would have a problem with someone showing up with a custom made one - as long as it didn't show PM symbols or similar if one hadn't earned them. It should also be noted that several jurisdictions do have different apron setups. Believe that they in the UK switch aprons per degree, and I know that the Swedish rite has a specific apron for each degree.

Should anyone want their own, this is a good link http://www.craftsmansapron.com/index.php or http://www.brotherhoodaprons.com/

On the topic of the aprons for public use, our lodge has it as well for anyone to use. I know many Masters use it as they don't want to get their own one to worn and it's easier just taking one in lodge.
 
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Traveling Man

Premium Member
Not really, some symbols might have a deeper meaning to the mason than another, and may want to express it on his apron.

And some may be the symbol of their office? But, most know this, correct?
 
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Thijs

Registered User
In Europe, anyway in the Netherlands, the apron is not meant to differ you from the rest. It is meant to take part in the labor that unites us. Therefor is a simple and not unique apron in our lodges more common.
 

Tony Uzzell

Registered User
It's been suggested that the lambskin/white leather apron was originally a plain garment worn that was only displayed among Masons and never decorated. The decoration of aprons came about only after the introduction of speculative Masons, many of them noble and/or having money, who wanted something a little prettier than the plain white apron. Hence, the fact that most Masons have gone back to wearing simple, white aprons is really a case of "forward to the past". Whether or not you think that's a good thing is really a matter of taste.

In most places I've been, officers and Past Masters have distinctive aprons which can be worn in lieu, marking their special status among members of the Craft, and this continues when dealing with Grand Lodge officers and Past Grand Masters, whose apron designs become even more elaborate.

Having said all of that, there is a Brother in my Lodge (our Junior Past Master) who has foregone this special display of status, even while serving as Master, wearing a plain white apron despite his official authority to wear a PM's apron. This has caused some grumbling from certain quarters, but it has been my position that it is his right to wear an officers/PM's apron, but also his right to wear what he will, so far as it conforms to the regular usages of the Craft, which merely requires that a Mason be clothed as such, which he is.

TU
 

daddyrich

Registered User
I agree completely, it should be up to the individual. So long as he is not violating any policy or claiming any office he is not serving pr have served.
 

Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
Part of the reason that Past Master aprons are decorated and Past Nothings are not is due to in American culture of Freemasonry Past Master is a sign of implied rank or stature. In a lot of European countries, it usually means the guy sat in the east, and isn't as much of a stature issue. I also think that the economy, style of the day and other factors played a large role in the designs becoming so rare.

S&F,
-Bro Vick
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
there is a Brother in my Lodge (our Junior Past Master) who has foregone this special display of status, even while serving as Master, wearing a plain white apron despite his official authority to wear a PM's apron. This has caused some grumbling from certain quarters, but it has been my position that it is his right to wear an officers/PM's apron, but also his right to wear what he will, so far as it conforms to the regular usages of the Craft, which merely requires that a Mason be clothed as such, which he is.

Bro. Tony, I know a Past Grand Master who prefers the plain white apron to that given to PGMs. He states that the plain white apron symbolizes the highest award ever presented to him, which is that of being raised a Master Mason. If it's good enough for him, I expect it's good enough for any of us.
 
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