My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Proposed Resolutions for 2013!

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
Brethren,

This thread can be considered an early solicitation for ideas for resolutions for next year's Grand Communication!

One idea that just occurred to me (again) after reading this forum:

Amending the articles on what can be worn on an apron in Texas. Our forefathers wore beautiful custom aprons, many of which would not be allowed by current Grand Lodge law. Perhaps we could be more lenient on what could designs could be on the apron? I personally would leave apron size alone. I figure that's a whole other battle. ;)
 

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
Yes, size should stay the same. But we is Texas Mason should be able to decorate them at least a little. It is a good way of showing your pride .
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
A quick sidebar on that note:
Would a visiting Freemason from another jurisdiction be required to wear a Texas apron to attend Lodge?


I like that we have latitude here, and some day hope to have one of Brother Patrick Craddock's works of art. I have to admit, I've seen some PM aprons that are over-the-top. Remind me of my great-grandmother's prized throw pillow...
 

bjdeverell

Premium Member
I would love to be able to have a custom apron. It's not like I would have it tricked out to make the Grand Master's look cheap or anything. But having some blue lining and eye would be nice. Plus, my name is B.J. so I would kinda like to have Boaz-Jachin standing on there somewhere just to make it more personal for me.
 

Raymond Walters

Premium Member
May I ask this question? As it has been awhile since I held membership in the Grand Lodge of Texas, what progression has been made regarding candidate education?

Has any progress been made on a "coded" ritual or even study pamphlets while learning the work?

I notice the comments about aprons. When I hailed from Valley Hi #1407 in San Antonio I noticed many an apron with blue trim on it. Is that now not permitted?
 

Raymond Walters

Premium Member
May I ask this question? As it has been awhile since I held membership in the Grand Lodge of Texas, what progression has been made regarding candidate education?

Has any progress been made on a "coded" ritual or even study pamphlets while learning the work?

I notice the comments about aprons. When I hailed from Valley Hi #1407 in San Antonio I noticed many an apron with blue trim on it. Is that now not permitted?
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Has any progress been made on a "coded" ritual or even study pamphlets while learning the work?

Art. 505. Certain Other Masonic Disciplinary Violations
20. Possess, or use a cipher/code book anywhere on a Lodge premises, and to use a cipher/code book in the presence of a candidate when instructing the candidate in the esoteric work of a Masonic Degree. (Revised 2007)

Prior to enactment of this section, possession of a "code book" by a Texas Mason was strictly prohibited. One may now possess a "code book" subject to the above conditions.

I notice the comments about aprons. When I hailed from Valley Hi #1407 in San Antonio I noticed many an apron with blue trim on it. Is that now not permitted?

Art. 274. (313). Members: Apron.
The regulation apron for members of the Lodge shall be of the same dimensions provided for the aprons of officers of the Lodge and shall be made of white lambskin without border or decoration; provided, it shall not be mandatory upon any Lodge to provide regulation regalia and aprons until such time as it may be able to do so, and such aprons may be made of white cloth.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
Not that I believe that it is a "hot" issue, or anything, but I do believe that I would support a new regulation on aprons. I have been wanting to get one from Brother Craddock as well, but I planned to display it. Would be a lot cooler if I could end up wearing it to lodge, now that I think about it.

So, hereisa question for it... If the idea for the aprons gets pushed through, what do you think that the regulations on them should be? Should the symbols of the officers been left only for the officers to wear on their aprons, or let the jewels around the neck and where they sit show who they are? How lenient should the regs be?
 

scialytic

Premium Member
Well the blue trim would take care of identifying officers. Degree work should be plain white aprons, but any othe called meeting or stated meeting would be appropriate for the craziest Masonic designs you want. But if the law is silent on limiting designs and is strict on the blue borders for officers, and 1/2" or less white borders for members, I think it would be effective and not too restricting (reason and peer pressure will control Brothers from going overboard).
 

tomasball

Premium Member
The other day I compared the regulations on officers aprons to my lodge's set, and found that we didn't comply. Somebody needs to tell Macoy Supply that they have a problem there.
Tom Ball
pm Llano Grande 1173
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
If I was the W.M. and a Brother from another Jurisdiction came in with a custom apron, I'd have no problem.
 

widows son

Premium Member
Our aprons up in canada look nothing like yours
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    150.7 KB · Views: 266

Raymond Walters

Premium Member
The other day I compared the regulations on officers aprons to my lodge's set, and found that we didn't comply. Somebody needs to tell Macoy Supply that they have a problem there.
Tom Ball
pm Llano Grande 1173


I will commend you if you can get Macoy Publishing to do anything in a correct manner witout a fight over it.

Allow me to share this; my experience in having my apron designs created has been positive, yet with some negative sides attached to it. Though Macoy is legally prohibited from selling my specific design, they will encroach as closely as possible to that design to make a sale.

What has greatly disturbed me about this business concept, is that a Freemason owns/controls the company. So the Master Mason obligation "wrong, cheat & defraud" has always come to mind with this transaction.

On another ocassion in 2005 I presented material for a book that I researched, cross-referenced and re-wrote/ re-worked the OES degrees, giving a clearer explanation of the Queen of the South degree. This book was prepared primarily for PHA OES sisters that emphasized a need for such an educational resource.

I went in person to Richmond, Virginia to Macoy Publishing first due to Robert Macoy having written the original ritual for OES. I discussed breaking down the degrees into individual pamphlets for sale in MY format that I wrote. I was told it would be discussed and that I would be contacted.

I was never contacted, and my idea, my INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, was stolen by another MM and used for someone else's financial gain.

Today Macoy Publishing sells the OES degrees in individual pamphlets (my idea) without my original work I discussed with them as they weren't interested in compensating me for my additional research but didn't mind taking my ideas --- ALL OF MY IDEAS I DISCUSSED.

A copy of my original work/ manuscript [and my other writings] now sits in a manila envelope in a file cabinet here at my home, with the original writings & notes locked in a safe deposit box, along with the notes from my meeting with Macoy Publishing in 2005.

This same work will be published after my death by my estate with 50% of the proceeds being placed into a trust for scholarships to students attending HBCU's and the other 50% going into a family trust for my descendants. all publishing rights and royalties will go to my family trust [The Walters Foundation] who will have specific guidelines to operate under as per my instructions in my last will & testament directing what should be done regarding those publishing rights and the renewal thereof.

I will call it a lesson learned that I wanted to share. Protect your rights & your intellectual property, a lesson taught me by the Ill. Br. S. Brent Morris, 33*, Grand Cross [a published author in his own right].


Parting for now on the square,
 

Raymond Walters

Premium Member
apron 05 - 2 full view.jpgapron 05.jpgapron 95- 2 full view.jpgapron 95.jpgMWGM Mansel- PM Walters 11-1-2012.jpg

i have uploaded 2 designs i have had aprons made of. Both are white lambskin with white embroidery.

Apron 95 was made in 1995, size 13x15

apron 05 texas reg. 16x16 with square compass [no letter g] and wreath around s&c on body
 

widows son

Premium Member
I like the American style aprons, they have this simplicity thats really nice, it reminds me of pictures of I've seen of Washington in his regalia.
 

widows son

Premium Member
Our officers wear the same apron, only the jewel of office is what distinguishes him. The WM has the same apron that is shown in the picture i posted, except of three blue rosettes, there are 3 metallic T squares. Our grand lodge officer aprons look similar to those I've seen in America but one difference I've noticed is different symbols on the aprons and the colors are a bit darker on American ones.
 

scialytic

Premium Member
I bought an apron from Brother Ellis from the included link. It took a few weeks, but the quality is good. I bought a white cloth apron with thin white bordering and an S&C embroidered in white on the body of the apron. It is pretty nice and only cost me like $30. I'd recommend them if you're in the market for something casual and not super flashy and overly customized (can't vouch for anything elaborate, but the stitching work on mine is pretty good).

http://www.brotherhoodaprons.com/allaprons1.html
 
Top