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Non officer and non pm aprons

Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
Do you have a decorated apron or an apron that is not the apron you received when you were raised, that you wear to lodge. This question is more for the texas bretheren and whether or not it is texas sized? Non texas bretheren feel free to chime in as well.
 
rhitland

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
If Iam not mistaken in Texas, decorated aprons are not in accordance with GL law. I believe only officers and PM can have anything on their aprons and they are limited to the insigna of their office or position.
That is not to say some Texas Brothers do not have one.
 
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chrmc

Registered User
I think Rhitland is correct with regards to the GL law on Texas aprons.
For myself I'll be buying a chapter/council apron soon, and I also intend to get a 32nd degree one, once I'm done with the Scottish rite.

I'm a little sad that Texas doesn't change the aprons as people progress through the degrees. There is a lot of meaning to the additions you see in the aprons in different degrees, so would love for us to also have that.
 
Bro. Stewart P.M.

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Without quoting the actual Grand Lodge of Texas law (I'm sure Bro. Lins will be along shortly), it is not an accepted practice in Texas to wear decorated aprons unless an current appointed or elected Officer of the Lodge, or a Past Master.
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
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.
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
As to the regulation size:
Art 273. The regulation apron shall be of white lambskin of the following dimensions: the apron shall be 16 inches square with a drop
in the bib of 6 inches to the triangular point.
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
Texas Grand Lodge Law

Art 201: 10. The Research Lodge may adopt and use a distinctive form of apron or jewels approved by the Grand Lodge; which may be
worn by Full Members on all proper occasions.

Art 201a: Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 shall at all times be under control of the Grand Master and the Trustees of the Grand Lodge
of Texas. It shall be subject to all provisions of the Constitution and the Statutes of the Grand Lodge, and operate under the same
provisions as specified for the operation of the Research Lodge, in Article 201, which pertain only to officers, dues, dues cards,
fees, and assessments of Grand Lodge, jurisdiction over degrees, Masonic charges, trials, funerals, aprons and granting of dimits,
certificates of good standing, suspension for non- payment of dues and reinstatement, except as modified by this Article.

 
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chrmc

Registered User
Any idea why we have these rules? The difference in aprons seems to be a very important part in most other jurisdictions, why does Texas only allow the plain ones? Is it old custom and history, a newer change or?
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
Personally, I think its an important part of our jurisdiction to maintain some standardization. There is no competition to see who can procure the more elaborate apron. I believe we derive a large amount of strength from being equal with the two exceptions.

Try not to look at it as a limitation but a standard just like the ritual and the landmarks.
 
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chrmc

Registered User
ess1113 said:
Personally, I think its an important part of our jurisdiction to maintain some standardization. There is no competition to see who can procure the more elaborate apron. I believe we derive a large amount of strength from being equal with the two exceptions.

Try not to look at it as a limitation but a standard just like the ritual and the landmarks.
Click to expand...

I'm not disagreeing with that, but if you look at masonry historically, and across most of the world there is a change in the aprons as a candidate goes through the degrees. The first one is all white, the next get two roses I believe, and the 3rd degree has 3 roses and the tassels.
Why is this not the case in Texas? If we base our ritual on Smith-Webb and he came from England there must have been an actual change somewhere down the line.
Not that I mind it at all, I just find it historically interesting.

What is done in the rest of the US?
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
Oklahoma doesnt have differing colors and neither does Kentucky or North Carolina.
I cant answer your question but I can only tell you that Texas derived its Masonic heritage from Lousiana so maybe thats the way its done there.
I recommend that you author a paper on the topic and submit it to the TLR for publications.
 
C

chrmc

Registered User
ess1113 said:
I recommend that you author a paper on the topic and submit it to the TLR for publications.
Click to expand...

Gotta finish the one I'm writing right now, before I can do the next one. But it is in interesting topic.
However it's hard to research how changes in ritual have come about. Only historical texts to go from is basically the monitors and they rarely touch on esoteric things. If you could compare the ritual Smith Webb brought across the Atlantic and the first monitor he published or ritual he tough it would be very enlightening.
 
ess1113

ess1113

Premium Member
Ive only been a Mason for 12 years but I have travelled alot and visited other states so I can say that the states I have visited the apron remains unchanged throught the three degrees.
I look forward to hearing about other lodges and their colors but I havent even seen pictures of that before so I am unaware of how wide spread that it really is.
 
otherstar

otherstar

Registered User
There are differences in the EA and FC aprons, you would have to consult the Texas Monitor to see them and the explanation is esoteric. I've always liked the plain MM members aprons because I see it as a very tangible reminder that we are all equally brother Masons and that PMs are accorded the honor they deserve by being allowed to wear a decorated apron if they so choose.
 
widows son

widows son

Premium Member
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