jermy Bell
Registered User
I'm confused. So , are you or are you not allowed to wear your personal apron ? I wear mine, except when I hold a chair. I bought mine so I didn't have to wear those nasty lodge aprons. I do get a Lot of compliments on it.
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Apron Style variations across jurisdictions
- Thread starter bro.william
- Start date
Keith C
Registered User
You are ALLOWED as in no one will say anything. However, unless it is a PM's apron, it will be assumed that you think yourself "too good" to be on the level and wear the same apron as the rest of the Brethren. Right or wrong, that will be the reaction of the majority as I have overheard the mutterings in several Lodges where visitors or members wore their own, rather elaborate, aprons. I will note, these were not visitors from afar where individual aprons are the norm, but other Masons from the same jurisdiction.
Thomas Stright
Premium Member
Never understood apron envy...
I have no need to try to one up my Brothers by having a nicer apron. For me, as a Jew, it is honoring the concept of hiddur mitzvah. A ritual object that is beautifully crafted enhances the religious experience by pleasing the senses.
“In keeping with the principle of hiddur mitzvah,” Rabbi Zera taught [Bava Kama 9b], “one should be willing to pay even one third more [than the normal price].” Jewish folklore is replete with stories about Jews of modest circumstances paying more than they could afford for the most beautiful etrog to enhance their observance of Sukkot, or for the most delectable foods to enhance their observance of Shabbat."
We place such a high emphasis on the apron in our ritual as the badge of our Order and then come to Lodge and put on a ratty linen one from the pile. How does that make any sense?
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bro.william
Premium Member
On the one hand, I can see how the scenario Keith describes could happen, and why. It's never an issue in my own jurisdiction: here, there are lots of different aprons, but they all conform to a standard, and you wear the apron that befits your degree or your office (past or present). Given that there appears to be more room in at least some US States for customisation, I can see why a person might want to walk carefully.
On the other hand, my experience as a Christian priest echoes Bro. Winter's Jewish experience. Clergy who are into vestments tend to compare notes a lot, keep an eye peeled for a good thing, and look with admiration when a colleague acquires a particularly impressive bit of kit. I wouldn't suggest that lesser human qualities (jealously, vanity, etc.) don't ever rear their heads in these exchanges; of course they do. But, all in all, the driving instinct is "the beauty of holiness"; we wear expensive vestments because we value what we're doing in the holy spaces. In that respect, I agree with Winter: respect for the Masonic order and its values and for doing the work of the GAoTU should dictate that, even if we're going to use aprons from the lodge stock, the lodge stock ought not to be ratty and awful; it ought to be cared for and treasured.
Just my 2c but personally I think a brothers apron should be his own and it should fit a standard as the jurisdiction dictates, Obviously visiting brothers are exempt.
This is my opinion because during our EA and FC degrees we use lodge aprons and masters provide their own, the E.A. and F.C aprons where in various states of disrepair when I progressed through my degrees, thankfully we have remedied the situation now.
The above is my apron, given to me by a brother of my lodge, it belonged to his brother, it shows some age but it has been carefully maintained, the slightly plush suede still feels as luxurious as the lamb skin I bought my newborn to lay on.
That apron is among my most treasured possessions, it’s the representation of all the work I have put into the craft to date and will doubtlessly continue to compound as I progress, doubtless I will end up with other aprons due to rank or appendant body but this is MY apron.
This is my opinion because during our EA and FC degrees we use lodge aprons and masters provide their own, the E.A. and F.C aprons where in various states of disrepair when I progressed through my degrees, thankfully we have remedied the situation now.
The above is my apron, given to me by a brother of my lodge, it belonged to his brother, it shows some age but it has been carefully maintained, the slightly plush suede still feels as luxurious as the lamb skin I bought my newborn to lay on.
That apron is among my most treasured possessions, it’s the representation of all the work I have put into the craft to date and will doubtlessly continue to compound as I progress, doubtless I will end up with other aprons due to rank or appendant body but this is MY apron.
bro.william
Premium Member
Yeah, I get what you're saying. My lodge has loaners for the EAs and FCs, all of which have seen better days. (In fact, you can tell that one of our "EA" aprons is actually an FC apron with the rosettes removed.) I can't say I've ever lost much sleep about that, simply because at the end we do get presented with our own personal MM aprons which are meant for daily wear, and the typical length of time between initiation and raising is only about a year. That said, I chose to buy my own – they're only about £20 each – because I wanted something to mark each stage of the journey. (And, perhaps one day, I can pass them along to one of my boys.) These are, as you put it, MY aprons – to quote the USMC Rifleman's Creed, "there are many like it, but this one is mine" – and I treasure them for what they symbolise, both together and separately, and for the fact that I earned them.
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hanzosbm
Premium Member
I've encountered the same thing, and I was discouraged from purchasing my own apron after my raising by the WM for this reason. The typical comments are "we meet on the level" and "it might single out those brothers who can't afford the same" etc.
Funny, nobody seems to bat an eye at the brothers wearing solid gold, diamond encrusted rings and sporting more precious medal lapel pins than a boy scout has merit badges. But apparently that's different...somehow...
jermy Bell
Registered User
I have seen the same. We had a brother who lost everything after a accident, and no one could afford to help him out, but they make sure you see that gold square and compass ring with the diamond in it. I usually pay no attention to those who have to wear the jewelry store on them when they show up to degree work.
Keith C
Registered User
True to an extent on the jewelry, but that is not a required element of attending Lodge. Here in PA, there are Brothers who wear multiple lapel pins, and no one says anything, but the official policy is ONE lapel pin related to the body of the meeting you are attending, and officers are to wear no lapel pins.
Wonderful discussion Brethren All. I bring fraternal greetings from the East. I am a member of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal in India.
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Bloke
Premium Member
There are several (regular) Grand Lodges active in Australia;
- United Grand Lodge Victoria
- United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT
- Grand Lodge of South Australia and Northern Territory
- Grand Lodge of Tasmania
- Grand Lodge of Western Australia,
- Grand Lodge of Queensland (with its District Grand Lodge of Northern Queensland)
There are two District Grand Lodges in WA - working under Grand Lodge of Scotland
I think that's it, but also in Victoria, we have an English Const Lodge working under UGLE which never joined UGLV.
Regalia is basically what you described as "Emulation" - but let's call it UGLE based aprons, as you have pictured.
You will find a lot of tartan in Queensland (and probably WA - but not sure about WA lodges - but the District GL working under Scotland - I would expect to see a lack of uniformity between lodges..). This is because the lodges are Scottish based and there are other ones in NSW which wears their own personalised regalia with Tartan. Indeed we have a single Lodge here (Victoria) working a Scottish Ritual under UGLV which has its own tartan regalia ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/cate...arl-of-Dunmore-Lodge-No-1686-282884645576471/ & https://fmv.org.au/the-earl-of-dunmore-lodge-consecration/ )
EVG Yumul
Registered User
https://www.freemasonsaustralia.org/freemasonry/foreign-lodges
There are 19 Lodges in Australia working under Non-Australian Grand Lodges, Brother Bloke.
Only 1 Lodge is Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ireland, Duke of Leinster Lodge No. 363.
4 Lodges are under the United Grand Lodge of England and the other 14 Lodges are under the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
And adding to the Scottish Lodges, there are also AASR Craft Lodges that wear Red Aprons and Light Blue Sashes.
Brother_Steve
Premium Member
New Jersey.
We use White for EA, FC and MM. The way the apron is worn denotes the current degree of the Brother.
Officer Apron:
PM Apron has a 1 inch purple border:
This is now my apron when I travel to other Lodges as I'm still an Officer in my Lodge.
A RW apron is the same as above, but with a two inch border.
The Grand Master Apron is a bit more ornate:
We use White for EA, FC and MM. The way the apron is worn denotes the current degree of the Brother.
Officer Apron:
PM Apron has a 1 inch purple border:
A RW apron is the same as above, but with a two inch border.
The Grand Master Apron is a bit more ornate:
Bloke
Premium Member
Good point ! I stand corrected, I'd completely forgotten about that Irish Lodge and never checked out UGLE Lodges in other states - but makes sense there are others..
Where does AASR work the first three degrees in Australia that allows you to become a Freemason ?
Bloke
Premium Member
I think I have the Answer from another page at the link you gave ( https://www.freemasonsaustralia.org/masonic-orders/scottish-rite )
"But there are two Lodges in Australia that practice the first three degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: Lodge Zetland of Australia No. 9 and Lodge France No. 1021.... Both Lodge Zetland and Lodge France meet in Sydney, New South Wales. I've heard there are other Lodges that exemplify the Scottish Rite Craft degrees in other states but Zetland and France are the only Lodges in Australia that are licenced by a Grand Lodge to work the craft AASR ritual for their stated meetings and degree work."
So, it is not the AASR which makes you a Freemason in Australia, it is UGLNSW&ACT which allows two of its lodges to work AASR Ritual... (?)
Correct ?
EVG Yumul
Registered User
Bloke
Premium Member
Many thanks !You got it, dear Brother.