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BROTHER GEORGE WASHINGTON
From the Website Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
INTRODUCTION
The records of the Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia, show that George
Washington was initiated into that Lodge as an Entered Apprentice on Nov. 4th,
1752; that later he was duly passed and the Degree of Fellow-Craft was conferred
upon him on March 3rd, 1753; and that on the 4th of August 1753 he was Raised to
the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.
While the Continental Army for independence was encamped at winter quarters
(1779) in Morristown, New Jersey, George Washington was unanimously elected the
Grand Master of Masons of the American Colonies, but due to the war, and the
upset conditions of the time, he never did serve. Yet in the hearts of American
Masons he is considered the first and only Grand Master of American Freemasons,
and was at that time considered the most eminent Mason of his time as evidenced
by the unanimous vote cast for him to become Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
American Freemasons.
In 1788, the Lodge at Alexandria, Virginia, No. 39, elected him Worshipful
Master, where he continued to serve most honorably until his death eleven years
later.
Brother George Washington's
Masonic Apron
When the young Marquis de Lafayette came to America at the age of 20 and
joined George Washington's army for the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, the
American cause had become his cause.
The affection each man held for the other is legendary. So too is the legacy
of Masonic history developed through that affection, The Lafayette Apron, of
white satin and embroidered by Madame Lafayette, was presented to Bro.
Washington by Bro. Lafayette in August of 1784. The apron was presented to the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania by the Washington Benevolent Society on July 3, 1829
and is now on display in the Grand Lodge Museum at the Masonic Temple in
Philadelphia. It is a study in symbolism. For example, the apron border colors
of red, white and blue are the national colors of both the United States and
France. Symbols are silent emblems having meaning only when interpreted. Given
the unique character of the interpretation process, it can be understood that no
symbol has absolute meaning.
In preparing the following, the late Bro. Frank W. Bobb, Grand Lodge
librarian and curator Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, has used those meanings most
widely accepted by Masonic scholars in interpreting the symbolism of the
Washington Apron.
Reprinted 1185
Washington's
Apron
Presented By Bro. Lafayette
Click on a Number above to take you to the
explanation below
1. RED symbolizes courage,
zeal, the blood of life, and fire. It is the color of Royal Arch Masonry.
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2. WHITE has throughout the
ages represented purity and innocence. Return to apron
3. BLUE has been esteemed
since antiquity as a beneficent color, denoting immortality, eternity, chastity
and fidelity. It is the color of Symbolic Masonry, "the Blue Lodge."
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4. ALL-SEEING EYE, a symbol
of watchfulness and of the Supreme Being. Return to apron
5. RAYS or Glory, symbolic
of the power of the Supreme Being to penetrate the innermost reaches of the
human heart. Return to apron
6. RAINBOW is sometimes
associated with the Royal Arch. It is also part of the architectural arch, being
the 9th arch under Solomon's Temple. It is supported by two Pillars (see
No.8). Another interpretation calls it the Arch of Heaven supported by
pillars (Job 26:11). The pillars which support the arch are emblematical of
Wisdom and Strength. Return to apron
7. MOON, one of the Lesser
Lights in Freemasonry. The Moon governs and rules the night. Return to apron
8. PILLARS OF ENOCH. Enoch,
fearing that the principles of the arts and sciences might be lost, erected two
pillars. the one of marble to withstand fire, the other of brass to resist
water. On each he engraved that which he feared would be lost. The Globes are
symbols of Unity and Peace and Plenty. Return to apron
9. PILLARS B. and J. were
within the porch of King Solomon's Temple. Boaz the name of the left pillar
means "in strength"; the right pillar, Jachin, means "God will
establish" (see also No.38). The globe on the left pillar represents earth;
that on the right, heaven. These brazen pillars with their globes are today the
columns of the Senior and Junior Wardens. Return to apron
10. DOVE in early Masonry
is a symbol of Noah's messenger. In ancient symbolism, the dove
represented purity and innocence. Return to apron
11. FORTY-SEVENTH PROBLEM OF EUCLID'S
first book of geometry. It is said that when Pythagoras solved the
problem he exclaimed, "Eureka!," which signifies "I have found
it." It is, however, not a problem, but a theorem. It has
been adopted as the symbol on the Past Master Mason's Jewel in Pennsylvania (The
Ahiman Rezon, Art. XVI, Sec, 3 & 4).Return to apron
12. HOPE is sometimes
shown as a female with an anchor, also as an anchor near the
ark. ANCHOR, an emblem of a well-grounded hope and a well-spent
life. With hope, an Anchor holds the soul both sure and steadfast.
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13. PLUMB, the proper
Masonic Jewel of the Junior Warden, admonishes us to walk uprightly before God
and man. It is one of the working tools of operative Masons, used to try
perpendiculars. Return to apron
14. JACOB'S LADDER without
a clouded canopy or star-decked heaven, which he saw in a
vision ascending from earth to heaven. The three principal rounds are
denominated FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. Return to apron
15. SQUARE WITHIN BOUNDS is
a symbol formed by four stonemason's squares of equal arms superimposed one on
the other to form a central square. This symbol has not been found in American
or English books of Masonic symbolism and therefore may well be of French
origin. There has been no interpretation found for it to date. Return to apron
16. LIGHTS or BURNING TAPERS, like
the three principal Lodge officers, refer undoubtedly to the three stations of
the sun: its rising in the East (Worshipful Master), its meridian in the South
(Junior Warden), and its setting in the West (Senior Warden).
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17. TROWEL, a working
tool of the operative mason, is used symbolically for spreading the cement of
Brotherly love and affection. Return to apron
18. FIVE-POINTED STAR represents
the five points of fellowship. Within the star is the letter "G," a
well-known symbol of Freemasonry representing both God and geometry.
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19. MOSAIC PAVEMENT, a
representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's
Temple. The Masonic Pavement is emblematical of human life, checked with good
and evil. Return to apron
20. STEPS are usually
three in number. The six steps are said to represent degrees Washington
received. Return to apron
21. HOLY BIBLE, the great
light of Freemasonry. Return to apron
22. COFFIN has always
symbolized death. It is found on tracing boards of the 18th century and, in that
time, constituted a part of the esoteric symbolism. Return to apron
23. SKULL AND CROSS-BONES are
symbols of mortality and death and are so used in French degrees. Return to apron
24. SPRIG OF ACACIA. The
acacia tree is supposedly the shittah wood of the Old Testament. The name is
sometimes spelled Cassia. It has long been used as a symbol of immortality.
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25. SQUARE is the proper
Masonic Jewel of the Master of the Lodge. It is one of the Great Lights in
Freemasonry. It is the stonemason's square of two equal arms. Return to apron
26. COMPASSES, the proper
Masonic emblem of the Craft, and one of the Great Lights in Freemasonry.
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27. BRICK WALL appears to
represent the place in the Lodge occupied by the Altar. The Holy Bible, Square,
and Compasses rest upon it, as do the three Lesser Lights. It composes nine rows
of bricks, one upon the other. To give the symbolic meaning of the wall would be
mere speculation. Return to apron
28. ARK is emblematical of
that Divine Ark which safely carries us over this tempest-tossed life. It is
often shown with the Anchor. Return to apron
29. SETTING MAUL, in
operative Masonry, is used for setting stones, that is, tapping them to a firm
seat in the mortar or urging them sidewise into place. It is considered by some
to be a symbol of untimely death. Return to apron
30. LIGHTS or BURNING TAPERS like the three
principal Lodge officers, refer undoubtedly to the three stations of the sun:
its rising in the East (Worshipful Master), its meridian in the South (Junior
Warden), and its setting in the West (Senior Warden). Return to apron
31. LIGHTS or BURNING TAPERS
like the three principal Lodge officers, refer undoubtedly to the three stations
of the sun: its rising in the East (Worshipful Master), its meridian in the
South (Junior Warden), and its setting in the West (Senior Warden).
Return apron
32. TREASURER of the Lodge
wearing the Apron of his office and holding the emblem of his office, Crossed
Keys. Return to apron
33. TWENTY-FOUR INCH GAUGE symbolizes
the twenty-four hours of day divided into three equal parts devoted to God,
usual vocations, and rest. Return to apron
34. SWORD POINTING TO A NAKED HEART
demonstrates that justice will sooner or later overtake us; and that
although our thoughts, words and actions may be hidden from the eyes of man,
they are not hidden from the All-Seeing Eye. Return to apron
35. TASSEL consists of a
cord with tassels on the ends. It alludes to the Care of Providence
which surrounds and keeps us within its protection while we govern our lives by
the four cardinal virtues: temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice. The
tassel may also represent the Mystic Tie, that sacred bond which unites men of
diverse opinions into one band of Brothers. Return to apron
36. LEVEL, the proper
Masonic Jewel of the Senior Warden, symbolizes equality and reminds us that we
are traveling upon the level of time, It is one of the working tools of an
operative mason. Return to apron
37. PILLARS OF ENOCH Enoch, fearing
that the principles of the arts and sciences might be lost, erected two pillars.
the one of marble to withstand fire, the other of brass to resist water. On each
he engraved that which he feared would be lost. The Globes are symbols of Unity
and Peace and Plenty. Return to apron
38. PILLARS B. and J. were within
the porch of King Solomon's Temple. Boaz the name of the left pillar means
"in strength"; the right pillar, Jachin, means "God will
establish" (see also No.38). The globe on the left pillar represents earth;
that on the right, heaven. These brazen pillars with their globes are today the
columns of the Senior and Junior Wardens. Return to apron
39. SUN, one of the Lesser
Lights, As a source of light, it reminds the Mason of that intellectual light of
which he is in constant search. Return to apron
40. SEVEN SIX-POINTED STARS. The
number SEVEN represents the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences: Grammar, Rhetoric,
Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy. The SIX-POINTED STAR symbolizes
Divine Providence, the star of David or Shield of David. It comprises two
interlaced triangles, which have a number of Masonic interpretations.
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41. LETTERS used
symbolically in the Mark Master Mason's degree, Chapter of Royal Arch Mason.
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42. BEEHIVE is the emblem
of industry. It teaches us that as we came into this world rational and
intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones. Return to apron
43. APRON. The Masonic
Apron, which derives from the working apron of the stonemason, is in itself a
symbol. It is an emblem of innocence, and the badge of a Freemason.
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