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beyond the northeast corner
Masonic
Clothing And Other Symbols Not Mentioned In The Work
CHAPTER XIV
Richard h. sands
The
Apron
THE
FREEMASON'S APRON is a curtailed survival of the apron worn by operative masons
to protect their clothing and their bodies from the abrasive surface of the
stones (see above, page X-11). The triangular flap is all that remains of the
bib, or upper portion. Instead of reaching upwards, it has been folded forward
over the rope girdle. For the speculative Mason the apron has a twofold
significance, it marks his rank, and also illustrates certain fundamental
principles and basic symbols of the order.
The white
lambskin apron, which is the emblem of a Mason, is completely undecorated, and
serves as a reminder of the blameless purity which should be his constant aim.
In shape it is an oblong square, an emblem of morality which represents the
"good man, four-square, fashioned without reproach" who is mentioned by the
ancient poet. As a Mason continues to progress in the noble art, he may be
called upon to wear many other aprons; but they are all merely elaborations of
this one simple eloquent form.
The
various degrees are distinguished by the manner in which they wear their
aprons. The Entered Apprentice
wears his apron with the flap turned up.
The Fellowcraft wears his apron with the right corner turned up
(ostensibly as a container for his tools) and the flap turned down. The Master Mason wears his apron with
the right corner and flap turned down.
(In
Ontario, for example, the aprons of the Fellowcraft and Master Mason are more
ornate. The Fellowcraft apron has two rosettes to distinguish it as that of the
second degree. The apron of the Master Mason is even more ornate. It is bordered
by a ribbon of sky blue, in five separate segments—three on the apron and two on
the flap. The color reminds us of the heavens, which declare the glory of God
and show His handiwork. The triangular flap, with its border, reminds us of the
mason's square, that other emblem of morality. The three rosettes indicate the
Third Degree. The two free-hanging vertical ribbons, one on each side, depict
the two great pillars which stood at the Porch of King Solomon’s Temple. To each
ribbon are attached metallic tassels, of seven separate chains. We note that
even on the apron the recurrent Masonic numbers are found: three (the rosettes),
five (the segments of the border; the total of the applied decorations, that is,
rosettes plus ribbons), and seven (the tassels). The rope girdle or cord which
binds the apron to the Master Mason is like the fundamental principles of
Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, which bind together all Masons throughout the
world.)
The Worshipful Master and the
officers of the Lodge and Grand Lodge have aprons which bear other distinctive
emblems. Those of the latter have gold fringes and trim of purple, as a reminder
of the particular respect that is their just due. The Lodge officers have aprons
bordered in blue.
Emblems and
Jewels of Office
In addition
to the apron, each officer of the Lodge and of Grand Lodge wears the jewel of
his office. The emblems and the jewels of the various offices are set forth in
the Book of Constitutions (Our Blue
Book). In some instances the suitability of the symbol is immediately
visible; in others it may require considerable thought to see the connection.
Let us look at some of the more familiar badges.
The square
and compasses are the well-known symbols of Masonry. They are counted among the
three Great Lights, and as part of the furniture of the lodge. They serve as
Working Tools of the Fellowcraft and the Master Mason, respectively. They are
also the jewels worn by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge and the Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge, respectively. The Worshipful Master, who rules the lodge,
appropriately wears the jewel which belongs to the whole Craft; in a special
sense he is obligated to act on the square, and to regulate the Masonic lives
and actions of his brethren. The Grand Master, as the chief head and ruler of
the Craft, wears the compasses, the chief instrument made use of in the
formation of all architectural plans and designs. On his jewel is also a level,
a trowel and an all-seeing eye plus a diamond set in the adjustment screw of the
compasses. This pendant hangs below the emblem of the State of Michigan, which
is two stags facing one another with the words “Tuebor” and “Si Quaeris
Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice.” The translation of the latter is “If you want
to see a beautiful peninsula, look around you.” Above the emblem of the State of
Michigan is a bar inscribed “GRAND” and below the emblem is a bar enscribed
“MASTER.” All of this in solid gold. The square is the particular emblem of the
Deputy Grand Master.
On his apron
the Worshipful Master wears a square. It serves to remind him that in dealing
with his brethren of the three degrees he is to be scrupulously fair and to hold
the scales of justice with an equal poise. The Grand Master's apron bears a
representation of the blazing sun because he is, beyond all others, the source
of light to the Masons under his jurisdiction.
The Past
Master's jewel of office consists of the square and compasses enclosing a
blazing sun to which is appended an engraved quadrant. This emblem also appears
on his apron.
The Senior
Warden and the Grand Senior Warden are both marked by the level. As the emblem
of equality it marks the equal measures they are bound to pursue in conjunction
with the Worshipful Master and the Grand Master in the well ruling and governing
of the Craft. The plumb on the other hand is the emblem of the Junior Warden and
the Grand Junior Warden. It, being the emblem of uprightness, points out the
integrity of the measures they are bound to pursue in conjunction with the
senior rulers in the well ruling and governing of the Craft.The Chaplain
and the Grand Chaplain are distinguished by an open Book. The Book is of course
the Volume of the Sacred Law. The Treasurer and the Grand Treasurer have the
crossed keys which emblematically secure the coffer or strong-box in which the
resources of the Order are kept. The Secretary and the Grand Secretary wear the
crossed goose quills (pens) with which in earlier days their predecessors would
transcribe the proceedings.
The Lodge
Education Officer is new to Freemasonry in Michigan, and his jewel will probably
be the “Lamp of Knowledge,” although as of this writing the Bluebook does not
recognize his office. Legislation is being drafted to correct this.
The duty of
the Deacons and of the Grand Deacons is to carry the messages and commands of
the chief officer to the other officers. Before 1813 only the Grand Lodge of the
"Antients" regularly had deacons; at that time their emblem was Mercury, the
ancient messenger of the gods. The emblem of our Senior Deacon is the square and
compasses containing a blazing sun; that of the Junior Deacon is the square and
compasses enclosing a half-moon.
The crossed
batons of the Marshal (Director of Ceremonies) and the Grand Marshal (Director
of Ceremonies) reflect the mediaeval marshal's baton. The marshal was originally
the officer in charge of the well-being of the king's horses (as the steward was
of his pigs), but he came to have certain ceremonial functions in the marshaling
of processions. The rod, staff, verge, or scepter has always been the sign of
authority; the wands now borne by the Deacons and Stewards of the lodge preserve
vestiges of this function. In like manner the marshal always carried an
abbreviated staff, or baton, as the badge of his office.
The
cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is the sign of the Stewards. The emblem has
allusion to the ancient Greek legend of Amalthea, a she-goat who nursed the god
Zeus when he was a baby. Her horns were miraculous; from one of them flowed
nectar, and from the other ambrosia. On one occasion she broke her horn off on a
tree. Some one picked it up, filled it with fruit, and brought it to the baby
god. According to some versions of the story it continued to replenish itself
miraculously. The cornucopia is appropriated to the Steward as his emblem
because of his function in ministering to the brethren at the hours of
refreshment.
The Tyler
and the Grand Tyler both have as their implement (and sometimes jewel) the
sword, in evident allusion to the instruments of their office. In particular the
sword of the Tyler, who is charged to keep off all cowans and intruders from
Masonry, recalls the flaming sword placed after Adam's fall at the entrance to
the Garden of Eden, to keep all intruders away from the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).
Most of the
emblems of Grand Lodge Officers are enclosed within a wreath of wheat and
acacia. Certain older rituals describe the plants as "corn and olive"; in
formalized representations the olive is very similar to the acacia. The true
acacia is the Egyptian thorn, a plant which grows abundantly in the near east,
even in deserts where no other tree is able to find subsistence. From it the
ancient Jews made the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10). From it, according to
tradition, was made the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus of Nazareth.
It is very tenacious of life; for it is said that when planted as a door-post it
will sometimes take root and shoot out budding boughs over the threshold. It is
therefore recognized as an emblem of immortality, and it is worn at times of
mourning in testimony to our faith in the survival of the soul. In this part of
the world, where the true acacia does not grow, a sprig of evergreen is usually
worn as a substitute. The spray of wheat in the wreath of Grand Lodge refers, as
always, to the staff of life. Perhaps one might say that the wreath as a whole
symbolizes the constancy of Masonic principles, both in this world and the
next.
The
Master’s Hat
Our Book of
Constitutions (Blue Book) requires that the Worshipful Master (and the Grand
Master) wear a hat appropriate to his dress. The Master is the only officer
entitled to wear a hat while in Lodge. It is a privilege extended to him as a
“badge of honor.” The custom derives from the courts of kings, where the only
one entitled to a head covering or a crown was the king. Since the Worshipful
Master is truly the master of the Lodge, it is also a convenience to the
other officers and members in locating him quickly.
The Charter
or Warrant of Constitution
Every
constituent lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction has a Charter, or Warrant of
Constitution, issued by Grand Lodge. It authorizes and empowers the lodge to
meet in a specified community at a stated time, in order to discharge the duties
of Masonry in a constitutional manner, according to the forms of the Order and
the laws of Grand Lodge. It is thus the attestation of the lodge's legitimacy;
and all members and visitors have the right to inspect the Warrant at a proper
time, to assure themselves that the lodge is a legal body. At installation the
Warrant is symbolically entrusted to the care of the Worshipful Master of the
Lodge. It must always be present when the Lodge is open, as without it the
meeting would be illegal. The Warrant may however be removed or declared forfeit
by Grand Lodge, for reasons which are set forth in the Book of Constitution. If it is lost or
destroyed, communications of the lodge must be suspended until it is recovered
or replaced.
The Grand
Honors
The Grand
Honors are in essence a form of applause, given as a gesture of respect,
appreciation, or congratulation. The noise caused by striking the hands together
was a natural discovery of early man, but it has had different meanings in
different places. In ancient Egypt clapping was done at religious processions,
perhaps merely to keep time to the music. Among the Hebrew prophets of the Old
Testament, it was a regular sign of derision; thus, for example, Lamentations 2:15: "All that pass by
clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head...." The classical Greeks
used the gesture to signify approval, in both spontaneous joy and public
applause. Soon afterwards organized applause became usual in theaters, games,
and political assemblies.
The Romans
at the height of their power and culture had developed the clap into an almost
exact science, with the most precise rules and regulations governing its use.
They specified the form of the hands in clapping (whether flat or cupped), the
force of the blow, the length of the applause, and the occasions on which it was
to be used. To applaud in public except in conformity to the custom was deemed
the mark of an ignorant and uncouth person.
We may also
see a connection between the Grand Honors and the military and naval custom of
discharging cannon and small arms on suitable occasions as a salute to the
Monarch and the Royal Family. In bygone times regiments or ships were frequently
granted travelling warrants by the Grand Lodge of England and other Grand
Jurisdictions, so that Masons in the service could hold lodges even when abroad.
During the great days of the British Empire they would be abroad most of the
time, and their warrants were carried all over the face of the globe. In due
course some of these military and naval lodges were transformed into civilian
ones. It seems likely that the old tradition of the royal salute persisted, but
with the reports of the gunfire now replaced by the clapping of
hands.
When the
Grand Master visits a lodge, or when a Worshipful Master is installed, they are
hailed with the Grand Honors, which are given as follows: First is a group with
right hand over the left, the palms facing each other and the right palm strikes
the left palm three times, then a second group with left hand over the right,
and a third group, right hand over left. The hands are then dropped to the
sides.
The Seal of
the Grand Lodge
The Seal of
Grand Lodge, which is reproduced on the title page of this book, is enclosed
within a circular band bearing the words, "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons Michigan." In the center is the sun at the top with “justice” blindfolded
and holding the scales (of justice) in equal poise above a square and compasses
enclosing a trowel above the open Volume of the Sacred Law. All of this is on the three steps in the
East above a checkered floor. Beside the three steps is an acacia tree crossed
with a setting maul and a spade.
Once again
we see, as we have seen so often before, that Masonry provides boundless scope
for the imagination. Its symbols, some of them centuries old, are a stirring
link with the past, and continue to provide moral instruction.
Selected
References
Harry Carr,
"The Royal Arch Banners. Their sources, designs, and variations' A.Q.C., volume 77, 1964, pages
290‑296.
The
Book of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
Michigan, 1998. (Available from the Grand Lodge Office).
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