This White Leather Lambskin
Pondering the Masonic Apron
The white leather apron is perhaps Freemasonry’s most important symbol. Certainly it is, as we tell our initiates, the Badge of a Mason. It harkens back to both the operative stone masons, but to the Knights Templar as well, who were required by their Rule to wear a girdle of sorts around their waist.
I wonder however about the embellishments made to our Aprons as we progress through officer positions within Freemasonry. We are told in our rituals that the Badge of a Mason is to be white lambskin, but then it seems that as a fraternity we do all that we can to add elements to those aprons, to the point that the white leather can become almost impossible to actually focus on, giving a feeling that it is almost an afterthought.
I’ve got to say that in Washington, the Grand Master’s apron is the penultimate example of all added design elements. It is largely purple, covered with gold thread embroidery, plus large gold metal weavings. Leaves, and chains, and fringe, and pillars, all in purple and gold, and that is before we even consider the Grand Master’s emblems of office embroidered on both the body and the flap.
It is beautiful, it is impressive, but is it in keeping with the spirit of the white lambskin apron that we are supposed to wear as the Badge of a Mason?
I don’t know. I’m a bit conflicted about it.
Yesterday I presided at the public laying of a cornerstone for a new High School. Given the occasion, and the formality of dress for it, I thought that it was appropriate to wear the ‘official’ Grand Master’s apron.
Today I was a sideliner for an Entered Apprentice Degree. As such, I wore a different Grand Master’s apron, the design of which was my own choosing. It is a plain white lambskin. The only embellishment it contains is a small Grand Master’s emblem, embroidered in gold and purple on the flap. Beyond that it is a field of white leather.
I’ve been wearing that apron for less formal, and non-public occasions, and I think that it feels correct to me. It is fully in keeping with the Apron Lecture that we deliver to every man moments after he becomes an Entered Apprentice Mason.
As the months have gone on, I notice that other Brothers seem to be doing something similar, so I think that at least some must think the same way that I do. A past District Deputy showed me his new Past DDGM apron recently, and it is white embroidery on white lambskin. Quite beautiful, but understated, and I must say that there is elegance in understatement. Likewise, today, a Past Grand Master showed up at the Degree with his new PGM apron. It contained all of the elements of Washington’s PGM apron, but all of those elements were embroidered in white. White on white.
These aprons look quite superb in my opinion, but beyond that, I think that they are much closer to what the spirit of the apron is supposed to be. A pure white surface that serves to remind us to live our lives so that they may be as pure and unspotted as our aprons.
I don’t know how I will ultimately decide to wear my aprons, but I think that I’m on the right track, for me. The crazy fancy golden apron for those very formal public occasions, and the plain white lambskin for those less formal, private occasions. That just feels right to me.
While I am at it though, I also need to touch upon the aprons that we give our new initiates. We tell them that we are giving them a white lambskin apron, and we need to be giving them a white lambskin apron.
Vinyl and plastic aprons that are given to Entered Apprentices in far too many Lodges are completely unacceptable in my view. They are a very poor adulteration of what is suppose to be the Badge of a Mason.
To be frank, I can’t fathom how we as a fraternity ever thought that it would be OK to tell a new Mason that we were giving him a lambskin, explain its importance, explain its religious significance, and then give him some cheap vinyl. Calling it ‘lambtex’ or some other fancy name doesn’t change the fact that it is plastic, made out of petroleum. Just about as far as one can get from what it is supposed to be.
If the fees we charge candidates for the Degrees are not high enough to provide him with a quality apron, then the solution isn’t to cheapen the apron beyond all recognition, the solution is to increase the fees high enough to cover the cost of the apron.
Just for fun, I did about five minutes of price checking. A genuine ‘lambtex’ plastic apron, some cousin of gasoline costs around $40.00. An actual lambskin apron can be had for about $85.00. The very highest quality lambskin apron made, an apron any Mason would be proud to wear is $114.00. I sincerely hope that we stop cheapening our Fraternity. That we relegate those old vinyl aprons to history, along with all the other ill-conceived innovations that have crept into our Fraternity in the name of saving money and keeping costs as low as possible.
A Mason’s apron is an extremely personal item, hopefully of tremendous significance to himself. Whatever apron you chose to wear, I hope that you wear it with tremendous pride for it truly is the Badge that sets us apart from the profane world around us.
As I’ve been doing a great many outdoor Degrees and other outdoor events the past couple of months, I’ve noticed that there is some bit of confusion over hats in an outdoor context.
In the Jurisdiction of Washington (your Jurisdiction could well be different) our rule that only the presiding officer can wear a hat only applies when Masons are meeting indoors. At outdoor Lodge meetings and Degrees, everyone is permitted to wear a hat.
I imagine that this is for practical purposes, both to keep the rain and the sun off one’s head.
I want to take a moment to give a hearty Thank You to everyone who is a part of this community called Emeth. From everyone who reads the posts, to those who join in the conversations, and to all of those who support this effort with a paid subscription, Thank You! Each and everyone of you.
As with every Sunday, we will have a gathering over Zoom this evening at 7:30 PM Pacific Time. I’m going to be on the road, and I don’t know if I will be back in time. I should make it, but W Glenn has agreed to host the meeting for us just in case I don’t. Those with a paid subscription to Emeth will receive login information for the call at 3:00 PM.
I hope to be back home in time, and I’m looking forward to seeing you!
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Thank you. I as well have wondered why we say what we do when presenting an apron, and immediately the Entered Apprentice can look around the room and see many aprons that are not plain white lambskins.
I suppose we inherited from our British Brethren the thought that if you have a title you must have some sort of fancy regalia to go along with it. I often wonder how the Royal Family knows what to wear because they seem to have a different "uniform" on for each different event.
As a leadership instructor, I subscribe to the thought that your title does not make you a leader. I have known Masons in leadership positions who led poorly and believed that men should follow them because they wore fancy jewels and a fancy apron.
Your white lambskin with the small emblem sounds perfect and in keeping with the lesson that we all are on the level. I appreciate your thoughts.
Grand Master, Your observation about the various adornments on so many aprons may also apply to Masonic "bling" in general. The essence of what we('re supposed to) do has no connection to fancier aprons or award pins scattered all over one's lapels. And the problem isn't that we have all kinds of Masonic finery, the problem is that some brothers ascribe them too much importance.
Like yourself I'm a bit conflicted. I tend to be a "less is more" person and yet I have a few awards and several fancy aprons on which I'm very proud. If we can ever determine the ideal balance I suggest we once and for all settle the dispute surrounding the designated hitter rule. Only then can we answer the question: tastes great or less filling?