The Apron and the Right of Investiture

The Apron and the Rite of Investiture: The Highest Honor a Mason Can Receive

BY BRO. LUKE YOUNG, SENIOR WARDEN, LODGE OF THE NINE MUSES, NO. 1776

During the 16 years that I have thus-far been a Mason, I have, like many brethren, accumulated a wealth of titles and honors, each more ultra-superlative and grandiose sounding than the last. is extravagance of titles in Masonry has been the result of an interwoven history of Freemasonry over the centuries with various other fraternities, each that carry their own complex hierarchy, heraldry, and symbolism. Brother Daniel Sickel, in his 1868 Genguished Orders of Knighthood in

Brother Mackey devotes Chapter 19 of his Symbolism of Freemasonry to the subject of the Rite of Investiture, and I encourage all of the brethren to read it in its entirety. Mackey notes that all of the brethren to read it in its entirety. Mackey notes that “this rite of investiture, or the placing upon the aspirant “this rite of investiture, or the placing upon the aspirant some garment, as an indication of his appropriate some garment, as an indication of his appropriate preparation for the ceremonies in which he was preparation for the ceremonies in which he was about to engage, prevailed in all the ancient about to engage, prevailed in all the ancient initiations.” initiations.”

During the initiation of an Entered Brother Mackey compares the Apron to Brother Mackey compares the Apron to Apprentice, the new brother is prothe Abnet. e Abnet was the “band or the Abnet. e Abnet was the “band or vided by the Master with a white apron, made of ne linen, variously apron, made of ne linen, variously lambskin or leather apron, and lambskin or leather apron, and wrought, and worn by the Jewish wrought, and worn by the Jewish is told that it is “an emblem of is told that it is “an emblem of priesthood” which was received “as a priesthood” which was received “as a innocence and the badge of a part of the investiture of the priest part of the investiture of the priest Mason; more ancient than the hood.” In Freemasonry, which is hood.” In Freemasonry, which is Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; so replete with symbols, this white more honorable than the Star apron, “is the rst gi which the and Garter, or any other order aspirant receives — the rst symbol that can be conferred upon you in which he is instructed.” e Lecat this or any future period...” ture of the First Degree says that the e ceremony of giving the apron white apron is of lambskin because to the new brother is traditionally “the lamb has in all ages been deemed known as the “Rite of Investiture” or an emblem of innocence.” “ough thy the “Clothing.” sins be as scarlet,” says Isaiah, “they shall eral Ahiman Rezon, notes that the orders While there was not a standard form of apron referred to in the ritual were among the most august and ancient in Europe. e Star and Garter Brother Albert Mackey during the times of our Ancient brethren, by the 19th century the form of the apron came to be stanwas instituted by King Edward III of England in 1344 as dardized as composed of a rectangular body and a triangular the highest order of chivalry. “e Order of the Golden Fleece ap. is clearly recommends to the mind a reference to the has ever been ranked among the most illustrious and distinnumbers 3, 4, and 7. be white as snow.” Europe.” Brother Robert Hanson In the Entered Apprentice notes on the Grand Lodge of Degree, the lodge has 7 o- England website that “in 1701, cers, and the ritual statement of Frederick I of Prussia founded their duties and positions in the the Order of the Black Eagle. e lodge is what formally opens and number of knights was limited to closes the meeting of the lodge. thirty, exclusive of the princes of e new brother is informed royal blood.” that the 3 principal tenets of our institution are Brotherly Love, erefore, the ritual is statRelief, and Truth — also that ing that the investiture of the our lodge is supported by the 3 Masonic Apron is of a more propillars of Wisdom, Strength, and found nature than the highest Beauty. e First Degree also ranking profane Orders. Turning to Brother Mackey’s Symbolism presents the brother with the 4 virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, of Freemasonry, we see that this is because the investiture of the Prudence, and Justice. e Apron can be seen as a hieroglyph of Apron is that of a spiritual, rather than a worldly honor. these virtues.

Brother Wilmshurst in e Meaning of Masonry says, “It rst.” It is the outer badge of an inner quest; the outer sign is absurd to think that a vast organization like Masonry of an inner change. was ordained merely to teach to grown-up men white lambskin; an emblem of that While much symbolism and learning is to follow the new Mason through his exploration of the cra, this primary symbol of the apron will never lose its importance, no matter how many ceremonies he may partake. Indeed, as the Great Teacher Yeheshua stated, “the rst shall be as the last, and the last shall be made of the world the symbolical meaning of a few Take for example, a Masonic ceremony of the simple builders’ tools, or to impress upon us Scottish Rite, which is performed publicly such elementary virtues as temperance every two years, the Investiture of the Rank and justice: — the children in every of Knight Commander of the Court of village school are taught such things; Honor. is ceremony is similar to a or to enforce such simple prinMasonic degree, but is specically ciples of morals as brotherly love, referred to as an Honor rather than which every church and every religion a Degree, and the ceremony is thereteaches; or as relief, which is practiced fore public — family, non-masons, and quite as much by non-Masons as by us; or masons alike can attend. Masonic secrets of truth, which every infant learns upon its are alluded to, but are not revealed. e recipimother’s knee.” ents of the Honor are “32nd Degree” members of the Scottish Rite. e Honor, designated by a red cap, Wilmshurst goes on to say that the meaning of the is given to those brethren recognized by the Supreme Apron is far more profound; the Rite of Investiture Council for their service to Masonry. It is from the ranks is itself a symbol of Birth. “e physical form with which we have all been invested by the Creator upon our entrance into this world… is the real ‘badge of e Order of the Star and Garter of the KCCH that brethren are later chosen to receive the 33rd Degree — designated by a white cap. innocence’ the common ‘bond of Further on in this ritual, upon friendship,’ with which the Great presenting the honoree with a gold Architect has been pleased to rectangular badge encrusted with invest us all… the badge which is three diamonds, the ritual of the ‘older and nobler than that of any Investiture of the Masonic Apron other Order in existence.’” is referred to, and the honoree is Wilmshurst also gives an impasthe scene in the lodge of apprensioned charge to all brethren: “… tices, when you were invested with to regard your apron as one of the lamb skin, an emblem of innothe most precious and speaking cence and the badge of a mason, or symbols our Order has to give of the Zenar or sacred thread, or you. Remember that when you the aprons of our ancient brethren rst wore it, it was a piece of pure of Egypt.” purity and innocence which we Here, near the end of a journey full always associate with the lamb and of titles and honors, upon receivwith the newborn child. Rememing one of the highest honors ber that you rst wore it with the e Order of the conferred by a Supreme Council ap raised, it being thus a veGolden Fleece of Illustrious Brethren, the Mason cornered badge, indicating the ve is told to recall one of the most senses… but indicating also by pivotal moments in his life. As he the triangular portion above, in has so many times on this jourconjunction with the quadrangular ney, he is asked to remember that portion below, that man’s nature is a combination of soul and moment when he was born into that Order more honorable than body; the three-sided emblem at the top added to the four-sided any — that of Brother Mason — and to further remember, and emblem beneath making seven, the perfect number.” never forget, the Badge of a Mason, the White Lambskin Apron.

told: “It may well remind you of So, even in Masonry’s most glorious and exclusive honors, the humble apron remains the highest and most revered honor bestowed on a man. In fact, the apron perfectly represents the idea of Freemasonry in its elegant outer simplicity which perfectly encases a deep and resonant meaning hidden inside, available only to those that actively seek to know its true signicance. 