The Lambskin

“The lambskin or white leather apron is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason.”

When the Junior Deacon informs the Master that someone seeks admittance he is told by the Master, “Admit him properly clothed.” To be properly clothed is to wear your Apron. The white leather apron is the most distinctive garment worn by a Mason. In some lodges a sport coat and tie is the uniform of the day. Other lodges require more formal dress, the tuxedo or in some cases morning dress. I know one lodge which used to require that officers wear white tie and tails to the meetings. All require that the brethren wear aprons.

When a man is made a Mason in a Masonic Lodge the first presentation made to him is that of his Lambskin. He is taught how to wear it as an Entered Apprentice and later in each degree the wearing of the Apron changes slightly. But he is to wear the Apron, that “badge” of a Mason.

Operative Masons wore their aprons to protect their garments. They were larger and rougher than the aprons that we wear as Masons and there was no way that they would be considered white. Yet we as Freemasons are taught to keep ours unspotted by the world. I have even heard a new Brother told to take his Apron and put it away somewhere safe and never wear it again so that it will be spotless when he dies and the apron is trotted out to be buried with him.

Masonic Scholar Albert Mackey says of the Apron:

"There is no one of the symbols of Speculative Masonry more important in its teaching, or more interesting in its history, than the lambskin, or white leather apron. Commencing its lessons at an early period in the Mason's progress, it is impressed upon his memory as the first gift which he receives, the first symbol which is explained to him, and the first tangible evidence which he possesses of his admission into the Fraternity.

Whatever may be his advancement in the "royal art", into whatsoever deeper arcana his devotion to the mystic Institution or his thirst for knowledge may subsequently lead him, with the lambskin apron - his first investiture - he never parts. Changing, perhaps, its form and its decorations, and conveying, at each step, some new but still beautiful allusion, its substance is still there, and it continues to claim the honored title by which it was first made known to him, on the night of his initiation, as the badge of a Mason."

Elsewhere we read of the apron:

"The lamb has always been regarded as an appropriate emblem of innocence. Hence in the ritual of the First Degree the initiate is presented with the pure white lambskin apron as a reminder of "That purity of life and rectitude of conduct which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe forever presides". This apron becomes his permanent property as "the badge of a Mason". As he advances in Masonry he will receive other aprons of varying types, but never one that equals this first one in emblematic significance and Masonic value."

Aprons have changed over the years. You may view some of them here.

Decorating Masonic aprons began in the 1730’s and between 1740 – 1790 this became a widespread practice. Some decorated Aprons are illustrated with this article. Perhaps the most famous is the apron which the Marquis de Lafeyette presented to President George Washington. This apron is in the posession of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and I saw it a few years ago when I visited Philadelphia. A real thrill.

Rylands sums up the matter thus: —

". . . by 1784 the apron was greatly reduced in size . . . for a long time there had been considerable laxity . . . and no definition laid down as to uniformity. So long as the material was white the face might be decorated with any number of Masonic symbols or other symbols without infringing the law, provided always that it did not interfere with the privileges of the Grand Officers, who used a purple edging to their aprons . . . The size had grown smaller and smaller.

More than a symbol the Apron is a badge. It marks our membership in the oldest brotherhood in the world and it reminds us of our obligations to the craft and to our Order.

“The apron is the badge; it marks his membership of the Fraternity; he must always wear it in Lodge.
That it is the "bond of friendship". This may reveal the apron as a symbol (if one be desired) of the fraternal virtues.
That it is the "badge of innocence". This is difficult ; the conception probably arises from the white color of the lamb-skin ; but there are aprons which have a different colour.
That it testifies or witnesses the honourable age of the Craft. The historical claims made at an initiate’s investment must often astonish him ; but they are uncompromisingly made, and must be accepted. That the apron is a symbol of age cannot be argued, except in the general sense that Masons have always worn aprons. At the least it seems that the apron is an emblem of historical institutional age.
That, in the Third Degree, it is a badge of preceptorial authority, which justifies the M.M. in instructing masons who have not reached his rank in the Craft.

In Lodges in my state the Lodge provides a quantity of white aprons (cloth) for the members to wear. One of my lodges provides a number of Past Master’s Aprons edged in blue with the Past Masters emblem on it. Officers Aprons are more elaborate and have the officers emblem embroidered on it. The other lodge to which I belong purchases a Past Master’s Apron for the brother which he then wears to the meetings.

In some places (particularly England) the brother carries his regalia with him including Apron, gloves and cuffs. These denote his rank. Other Masonic bodies have slightly different Aprons. The Royal Arch apron is edged in red and the Council aprons have purple edging. In the Scottish Rite there are different aprons for each degree. But they are not worn. I believe that he is told that his cap represents his apron but I may be misremembering that.

Grand Officers have elaborate aprons edged in purple and have embroidery upon them. Knight Masons have rosettes on theirs and Allied Masonic Degrees are edged in green. All identify the wearer as a Mason as well as identifying other organizations to which he may belong.

I have a Past Grand High Priest Apron that I wear when asked. Usually when I take part in a degree in Des Moines or when I go to Grand Chapter and have to be presented. (They could do away with than and it would not bother me a bit.) Then I take it off and wear the regular Chapter Apron. I do wear a Past Master’s Apron because of all the things I have done in Masonry being Master of my Lodge means the most to me. I just got a new one and it is a little pretentious but it is beautiful and I love to wear it. But it doesn’t bother me to wear a white apron. Because it reminds me that I am a Mason and that I should “be not satisfied to merely avoid wrong doing”, but I should “strive to make the world a better place because of my [your} life. I hope I have done so.

The apron is, therefore, in its final value not only an official badge of membership of the antient and honourable Society ", but a monition that a brother must ever understand and conform to the ethic of the Craft, so that in the Lodge, at least, a righteous, enjoyable and fruitful peace shall prevail.

So mote it be!