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Aprons

widows son

Premium Member
I think it has to do with the style of dress. Most tuxedos with coattails have a broader jacket, and its usually with this attire that I see aprons under the jacket, with it unbuttoned.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
According to logic and common sense, a man wears an apron outside his cloths, why is it then in some lodges the apron is worn inside your jacket??


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Because some Brothers are ignorant to the proper protocol as to how to wear their aprons.
 

JJones

Moderator
I find that when I button my jacket it kind of bunches up above my apron when I sit and I need to tug it down when I stand up. :1:

I was always taught that you unbutton your jacket when you sit down and button it when you stand back up so, when in lodge, it seemed to make the most since to just leave my jacket unbuttoned and wear my apron under it. I was correct on this very quickly.

You still see brothers wearing aprons under their jackets. I could correct them but, to be honest, I'm usually just glad to see people wearing jackets to lodge and I don't want to embarrass or discourage them from wearing one.
 

Godfrey Daniel

Registered User
Because some Brothers are ignorant to the proper protocol as to how to wear their aprons.

Do tell.

George-Washington-mason.jpg
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I'm not certain I understand the difference. Then it follows that certain types of jacket/coat are exempt from the proper protocol of which you say some Brothers are ignorant? How about double-breasted?

One difference between the tails configuration and a standard suit jacket is the length of the coat at the front. Sorry, I assumed that you knew the difference. A tails configuration nominally does not extend below the waist line in the front, as to the full length (to finger tips, arms fully down and fingers extended) of the standard suit coat.

Brother Washington (as pictured) was from a different era. There are a lot of protocol differences between the 1700's and the 2000's, of course I am sure that you are well aware of that.


As to "ignorant"; Ignorant in this usage is defined as: {lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact}. In this case, in Texas it is standard protocol that the apron be worn above or outside all other garments. Rest assured that if you choose to enter a Texas Lodge room with your apron under your coat, you will (as my Brother JJones mentioned) be quickly corrected by the Brethren of the Lodge.


I sincerely hope that I have now satisfied your interest in my commentary.
 
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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
In Texas, grand lodge law used to allow for the apron to be worn under the coat. Look at the old pictures in your lodges.

Different jurisdictions have different rules. I always recommend caution when people say "well common sense dictates..."

After all, we are masons. ;)


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Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Is wearing the apron over all clothing a sign of respect for the accessory or are there more esoteric aspects being considered?

Wearing of the apron "above" all other clothing is out of respect for the apron itself and it's meaning to the craft.


I suppose another way to view the practice would be to ask ourselves, "how would our ancient Brethren wear their aprons?" We do not know for certain how the workmen of the great temple wore their aprons, but it is hard to imagine them wearing their aprons "under" an other attire of the day. Especially the Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts, who wore their aprons in such a manner to suit purpose, of which all Masons are aware.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Imagine been an inner guard. Where you had a provincial lodge meeting with guests, and your job is to see that they are proper clothed, it be a nightmare, innies to the left outies to the right


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For me, it is the Junior Warden's duty to insure that all of the Brethren in attendance are to his "satisfaction". For the JW to be satisfied, it would include items such as aprons and how worn, as well as regalia and other appropriate attire.

There have been instances where Brethren have been asked to correct their attire/dress before beginning a meeting. Around this part of the country, such correction is not that big of an ordeal and most already know the "drill".
 

widows son

Premium Member
As Bro Anthony Mongelli wrote in his book the craftsman symbology, the wearing of the apron symbolizes androgyny, especially where we are in the lodge when we receive the apron. I recommend his book to all Masons.
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
Regardless, play by house rules.
Exactly. It's possible to find justification for wearing it either way, and Texas has done so in the past. Other jurisdictions have different rules. They wear different aprons for each degree, or wear the same apron in a different way depending on the wearer's degree.

I personally don't see any issue with it being worn either way, the way being dictated by the coat the person was wearing. He's still a mason. I don't think he's any less pure or less symbolic.
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
Okay. Any Grand Lodge of Ireland brethren out there?

I am told by a regular visitor of my home lodge that members of that jurisdiction wear their aprons across the trousers with the coat open outside the apron. I am told that this means an Irish mason is always prepared to take off his coat and do honest work for the brotherhood.

Any verifications on this information?

Down here in Houston, as is everywhere in Texas, the custom is to wear the apron above one's clothing. Brother Stewart's post above seems most logical to me. But, then, I tend to find most everything Brother Stewart says to be most logical and weigh heavily his opinion as a learned brother among us.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Down here in Houston, as is everywhere in Texas, the custom is to wear the apron above one's clothing.

I wear a medal of religious devotion inside my shirt so it is on my heart visible to only me. I wear an apron of Masonry outside my clothing but inside a tiled lodge so it is visible to my brothers. I rather like how that is both a contrast of visible to me versus visible to others but also both invisible to outsiders.
 
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