THE LAMBSKIN APRON
In Masonic symbolism the Lambskin Apron holds precedence. It is the initial
gift of Freemasonry to a candidate, and at the end of life's pilgrimage it is
reverently placed on his mortal remains and buried with his body in the grave.
Above all other symbols, the Lambskin Apron is the distinguishing badge of a
Mason. It is celebrated in poetry and prose and has been the subject of much
fanciful speculation. Some Masonic writers have contended that initiation is
analogous to birth, or our advent from prenatal darkness into the light of human
fellowship, moral truth and spiritual faith. Much ancient lore has been adduced
in an effort to show that the Lambskin Apron typifies regeneration, or a new
life, and this thought of resurrection may be the cause of its internment with
the body of a deceased brother. At least it will serve until a better reason is
advanced for this peculiar custom in the Masonic burial service. The association
of the lamb with redemption and being born again is expressed by John, the
Apocalyptic Seer, who had a vision on the Isle of Patmos, and beheld the
purified and redeemed "Of All Nations, Kindreds, People and Tongues." Of them it
was said, "These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
By many it has been regarded as a great religious symbol. In our present
conception there are three parts of man; body, soul and spirit; what the body is
to the soul, the soul to the spirit; namely, a house or habitation, but in
oriental thought there are seven parts of man; four earthly and three heavenly;
four physical and three spiritual. The four sides of the square symbolize the
four physical and the three sides of the flap, or triangle, symbolize the three
spiritual parts of man. The apex of the triangle, or point of the flap, stood
for the Atma, and which means the eternal spark, the Divine Flame, the
indestructible spirit of the living God in every human being. In this aspect it
means that:
God is not a looker on At the Life of anyone; God is under every man, God is
part of every man. A badge is either good or bad by reason of that for which it
stands. Aside from mysticism, I believe there are five distinct things of which
the Lambskin Apron is a badge.
Firstly, in its use, it is a badge of service. In his recent book on
"Symbolical Masonry," Brother H.L. Haywood has an interesting chapter on "The
Apron wherein the Builder Builds," and says it "was so conspicuous a portion of
the costume of an operative Mason that it became associated with him in the
public mind and thus gradually evolved into his badge." By it Speculative
Freemasonry seeks to distinguish the builder and place upon the brow of labor
the laurel wreath of dignity and honor.
Secondly, made of lambskin, it is in its fabric a badge of sacrifice. The
lamb in all ages has been not only an emblem of innocence, but also a symbol of
sacrifice, and he who wears this Apron with understanding must be prepared for
the time when hard things are to be done, when trials are to be endured, and
fortitude glorified. Thirdly, in its color it is a badge of purity. White is the
clean color that reflects most light.
In Masonry there are three great religious rites. One is discalceation, that
is, entering a holy place or standing in the presence of God barefooted as a
symbol of humility. It comes from a time whereof the memory of man runneth not
to the contrary. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he said, "Put
off thy shoes from thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
Another is the rite of circumambulation, that it, going around an Altar from
east to west by way of the south. Dr. Joseph Fort Newton said: "When man emerged
from the night of barbarism his religion was a worship of light; to him light
was life and love, darkness was evil and death; to him light was the mother of
beauty, the unveiler of color, the radiant, illusive mystery of the world; his
Temple was hung with stars, his Altar a glowing flame, his ritual a woven hymn
of night and day." To him the sun was the greatest of God's creations, it
inspired his adoration and in all his religious ceremonies he followed its
apparent course through the heavens, as though he were walking in the footsteps
of the Most High. Through this rite, memories of that religion of the dawn
linger with us in Masonry today.
The third is the rite of investure or purification; that is, the presentation
of the Apron. In a qualified way it bears the relationship to the Lodge that
baptism does to some Churches, it is the external symbol of an inner
purification. The Psalmist asked: "Who shall ascend into the Hill of The Lord?"
and answering his own question said, "He that hath clean hands and a pure
heart." The Apron when correctly understood is the pledge of a clean life, the
testimony that a candidate means to live pure, speak true, right wrong and
reverence conscience as king.
When we turn to the Ritual for its interpretation, we find the Apron to be an
inheritance from the past, it is a badge of antiquity, "more ancient than the
Golden Fleece and Roman Eagle." A ministerial Brother once said that the Masonic
Ritual was couched in stilted phrases and extravagant language, and, as an
illustration referred to the ritualistic speech used in the presentation of the
Apron. Let us see if he was right. The most specific way of conveying thought
and expressing truth is by comparison, It is difficult to comprehend an idea
unless we can correlate or compare it with something already known. The Order of
the Golden Fleece here referred to was founded in the year 1429, by Phillip,
Duke of Burgandy; the Roman Eagle became Rome's Ensign of Imperial Power about
one century before the Christian era, while the Apron had come down to us from
the very sunrise of time. "Herbrew Prophets often wore Aprons," they were used
in the ancient mysteries of India and Egypt, they were used by early Chinese
secret societies, by the Jewish religious sect called Essenes, they were
employed as emblems by the Incas of Peru, the Aztecs of Mexico, and the
prehistoric races of the American continent.
As a badge of antiquity, it emphasizes the value of the past. Blackstone, in
his commentaries on the English Law, said that in the making of a new law three
things must be considered; namely, the old law, the mischief and the remedy. No
man can apply an intelligent remedy to a existing mischief without regard to the
antecedent conditions out of which it grew. Present progress must be based on
the accumulated experience and wisdom of the ages. Albert Pike said, "It is the
dead who govern, the living only obey." "Every ship that comes to America got
its chart from Columbus, every novel is debtor to Homer, every carpenter who
shaves with a foreplane borrows the genius of some forgotten inventor."
As a badge of antiquity the Apron exalts the greatness and glory of the past
in its present contribution to human good and happiness. In the fifth place, the
Apron is a badge of honor. It is declared to be "More honorable than the Star
and Garter." Here we have another comparison. The Order of the Star and Garter
was created by John II of France at the beginning of his reign in the middle of
the 14th century. It was a Royal plaything and at the time of its formation its
founder was engaged in acts of despotism and destruction.
The Order of the Garter was formed by Edward III of England in 1349. It was
composed of the King and Twenty-five knights, and originated in the false pride
and fantastic pomp of medieval manners. Edward A. Freeman, an English historian
says: "The spirit of knighthood is above all things a class spirit. The good
knight is bound to endless courtesies toward men and women of a certain rank;
and he may treat all below that rank with any degree of scorn and cruelty."
"Chivalry is in morals what feudalism is in law. Each substitutes personal
obligations devised in the interest of an exclusive class, for the more homey
duties of an honest man and a good citizen."
Freemasonry is in striking contrast to such conceptions. It stands for the
dissipation of discord and dissension, for the promotion of peace, the pursuit
of knowledge and the practice of brotherhood, for untrammeled conscience,
equality of opportunity and the Divine right of liberty in man, for devotion to
duty, the building of character and rectitude of life and conduct. Its
symbolical supports are wisdom, strength and beauty; the principal rounds of its
theological ladder are faith, hope and charity. Its primary tenets are brotherly
love, relief and truth; its cardinal virtues are fortitude, prudence and
justice. Its Temple is erected to the Master Builder, its Great Light is the
Word of Revelation and at its center is an Altar of high and Holy purpose. Like
the shadow of a rock in a weary land, like a shining light in a window of a
home, like a mother's kiss on a trouble brow and the breath of her prayer in the
hour of despair, is the spirit of Freemasonry, calling men from the
circumference of life to find God at the center of the individual soul.
When we consider the messages delivered by these Orders and the Lambskin
Apron - one speaking the language of class distinction, special privilege and
the Divine right of Kings; the other telling the story of exact justice,
equality of opportunity, and the brotherhood of man - it is not a stilted phrase
and an exaggeration of speech, to say that the badge of a Mason is more
honorable than the Star and Garter.
As a badge of honor, the Lambskin Apron spells out integrity, honesty of
purpose, probity of character, and soundness of moral principle.
"SO MOTE IT BE"
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