Why do we wear an apron?, and what is its significance? Our Order is founded on Operative Masonry, and operative Masons in common with most other artisans, wear aprons for the protection of their clothing. Different trades used different types of aprons, each suitable for the purpose.
Originally the Entered Apprentice
wore an apron with a bib secured with a tape around his neck. The bib was to
protect the upper part of his clothing when clasping a heavy stone, such as a
pillar, with both arms. Later, as he became proficient in his trade, he became
an artisan and his job was then to smooth and prepare the stone for its place in
the building. He then had no use for the upper portion of the apron, so he let
it hang down over the lower part--thus we have our own badge with a triangular
piece overlapping the square portion. There are several explanations of this
triangular portion of the apron all or any of which may be correct, but the
following seems the most logical of them. The significance of the apron is
"servitude." Certain dignitaries of the Anglican Church wear an apron
as part of their clerical dress. Thus a person signifies the service that is
expected of a Freemason to his neighbor.
When investing the Entered Apprentice with the badge he is informed that it is more ancient than the Golden Fleece and more honorable than the Star and Garter. The main object of my talk is to tell you something of these orders. First, the wording of the investiture was compiled in about 1717 (in the Grand Lodge of England or its Lodges) and was revised in 1813.
The
Golden Fleece
According to Greek legend, King Pelias of Thessaly had ousted his brother Aeson and to rid himself of Aeson's son, Jason he persuaded the lad to fetch the Golden Fleece which hung on an oak tree at Ares in Colchis. It was guarded by a dragon. The adventures of Jason and his fifty companions, who sailed with him make one of the finest stories of Greek literature. (The fleece came from the mythical ram on which hrixus and Helle escaped from death and was hung in the Grove at Ares by Phrixus, who alone survived the flight from his native land.)
The
Order of the Golden Fleece
Was founded by Philip the Good,
duke of Burgundy, in January, 1429, on occasion of his marriage to Isabella,
daughter of King John I, of Portugal. The order was instituted for the
protection of the Catholic Church. The fleece was chosen as the emblem because
wool was the predominate product of the lower European countries in which the
order flourished. The number of knights of the order was twenty-four. In 1433
the number was raised to thirty-three, all gentlemen by birth. In 1477, on the
marriage of Mary of Burgundy with Duke Maximilian, the grand mastership of the
order passed to the House of Hapsburg. The last chapter of the original Order
was held by Philip II of Spain in
the cathedral of Ghent. Up to that time the knights had filled the vacancies by
their own votes, but Philip II obtained permission of Pope Gregory XIII to
nominate the knights himself.
After the Spanish Netherlands were ceded to Austria in 1713-14, the Austrians claimed the office. The resulting dispute split the order into two parts--one in Austria and one in Spain. The jewel of the order (which differs slightly in the two countries) is a golden ram hanging from a ring which is passed around its middle. This is suspended from a scroll in very elaborate design with the motto, (in Latin) The reward of labour is not trifling. The jewel, in turn, is attached to a golden collar made up of links. Each link is in the form of a capital "B" with rays issuing from it. The collar is usually worn with full dress. On ordinary occasions a broad red ribbon collar is worn in its place. Since its inception this order has been considered as the most important and highest of all civil orders on the European continent. The order has no standing in England, hence we hear little of it. No British subject is permitted to accept this, or any other foreign order, without special permission from the sovereign. At the time of the dispute over the order between Austria and Spain in 1714, speculative Masonry was gaining a firm footing and its ritual was then revised and prominence given to the Golden Fleece.
The Roman Eagle
The Roman Eagle also has an interesting history. The eagle was highly esteemed among the Romans. It was usually depicted with outstretched wings, sometimes of gold and silver, but most frequently of bronze. It was carried at the head of a staff in the same manner as a banner. The eagle borne upon a spear appears to have been used first by the Persians. The Romans took the idea from them, and used it as an emblem of honor, to be carried before the chief ruler. In 1804, Napoleon had metal eagles carried before his army. Austria and Russia both had double eagles as a symbol of their empires. The symbol of the United States of America is the bald eagle. In 1701, Frederick I of Prussia founded the Order of the Black Eagle. The number of knights was limited to thirty, exclusive of the princes of royal blood. The revisers of our rituals probably selected the reference to the Roman Eagle as it was the highest emblem of dignity, honor and power of that famous empire.
Order
of the Garter
The Order of the Garter is, of
course, something we know more about, being a British Order. It is the highest
order of knighthood in Great Britain, and is considered the most honorable and
exclusive in the world. Its full title is "The Most Noble Order of the
Garter." According to tradition, King Edward III, who was dancing with the
Countess of Salisbury at a ball held on January 18, 1343, picked up a blue
garter that had dropped from her leg and tied it around his own. Observing the
queen's uneasy glances, and the consternation of the countess, he returned it to
its owner with the remark, Evil be to him who evil thinks. At this time the king
had been successful in the French campaign and was contemplating a second
expedition. He resolved to institute an order of knighthood in honor of his
success, as well as a means of rewarding his army favorites. He placed the order
under the protection of St. George. For 179 years it remained practically as
instituted by Edward III but in 1522, Henry VIII revised the statutes. The color
of the emblem was blue, which at that time was the French national color. The
motto translated, Let him be dishonored who thinks ill of it, was appropriate
whether applied to the French expedition or to the order itself. Formerly, the
knights were elected by the members, but since the reign of
George III all appointments have been made by the reigning sovereign.
Originally it was called the Order of Saint George. It now consists of the
sovereign, who is the grand master, the Prince of Wales and twenty-five knights
companions. In addition it is open to all English princes (lineal descendants of
George I ) and foreign sovereigns as may be chosen by the king or queen. On
occasions, other companions are admitted for special reasons so that the whole
order usually numbers about fifty. The insignia consists of the garter, the
collar, and the great George; the star, the ribbon and badge, or lesser George.
The garter is of blue velvet ribbon--the particular tint being known as
"garter blue." The ribbon is edged with gold and fastened by a gold
buckle on the left leg below the knee. It bears the motto of the order in
letters of gold, or sometimes in diamonds. When the sovereign is a woman, it is
worn on the left arm above the elbow. The collar consists of twenty-five pieces
alternately gold love knots and buckled garters enameled in blue, enclosing
roses. From the center link of the collar hangs the badge of the great George.
It is a figure of St. George as a knight in gold enamel and set with jewels. He
is depicted on horseback, overthrowing the dragon with a spear.
A star was added by Charles I in 1692. It consists of eight silver rays
encrusted with diamonds, issuing from a buckled garter bearing the motto and
enclosing a white field of enamel with the red cross of St. George upon it. When
the collar and great George are not worn, the "lesser George" as it is
called, is used. It is similar to the great George but much smaller and hangs
from a broad blue ribbon which passes slantwise over the left shoulder.
The robes of the order are of equal magnificence. The order became prominent in
the 17th century after Charles I added the star to the insignia. On ordinary
occasions the star is worn on the breast and the garter below the knee. Full
regalia is only worn when grand chapter meets, or at a ceremony such as a
coronation. The order meets at Windsor Castle.
So, Brethren, we have our badge of white for purity--of lamb's skin for
innocence; more ancient than the Golden Fleece, which was founded in 1429, and
the Roman Eagle, which was instituted in 1701; and more honorable than
the Garter, which is the highest order of knighthood in the world.