The Apron Charge

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[ The most memorable part of the initiation is the investiture of the distinguishing
badge of a Freemason. by the S.W, by the command of the W.M. The Senior
Warden delivers a short address followed by some further observations by the
W.M. These addresses, also known as the Apron Charge have a profound and
everlasting influence on the candidates. Particularly the portion that the Apron will
never disgrace the brother, if he does not disgrace it, leaves an indelible
impression on all the brethren. This portion of the ritual has now been
standardized in all the Constitutions. It was noticed from some of the old books
that these addresses differed and we have collected some of those addresses,
which make a very interesting study. With the view to facilitate a comparative
study, the relevant portions from the Emulation, Scottish and Irish Rituals, besides
the old addresses are posted hereunder. Most of these addresses point out that this
badge of purity and innocence is pure and spotless. Millions of Freemasons
throughout the world have been and are even now striving their utmost to preserve
that pure and spotless surface as pure and spotless, without creating any stains
thereon, as they have received it first time in their Masonic career. Please read on
….]
Emulation Ritual
S.W :- Brother … by the Worshipful Master's command, I invest you with the
distinguishing badge of a Mason. It is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or
Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Garter or any other Order in existence,
being the badge of innocence and the bond of friendship. I strongly exhort you
ever to wear and consider it as such and further inform you, that if you never
disgrace that badge, it will never disgrace you.
W.M:- Let me add to the observations of the Senior Warden, that you are never to
put on that badge should you be about to visit a Lodge in which there is a Brother
with whom you are at variance, or against whom you entertain animosity. In such
cases it is expected that you will invite him to withdraw in order amicably to settle
your differences, which being happily effected, you may then clothe yourselves,
enter the Lodge and work with that love and harmony which should at all times
characterise Freemasons. But if, unfortunately, your differences be of such a
nature as not to be so easily adjusted, it were better that one or both of you retire
than that the harmony of the Lodge should be disturbed by your presence.
Irish Ritual is as follows
W.M , while investing the candidate with the Apron of an E.A addresses him as
follows:
Bro…..I now invest you with the badge of an E.A.F.M. It has been worn by Kings,
Princes and Potentates of the earth, who have never been ashamed to wear it. It is
more valuable than diadems of kings or the pearls of princes or the Roman Eagle;
more honourable than the Garter or any other noble order, which has ever existed,
being the badge of innocence and the bond of friendship and I earnestly exhort
you ever to wear and consider it as such.
You will observe that the badge is made of Lambskin and as the lamb has been
from time immemorial been the acknowledged emblem of innocence and purity, it
will serve to remind you of that purity of life and action, which should at all times,
characterise a Fremason.
We trust that you will live many years to wear this badge with pleasure to
yourself, of usefulness to the craft and honour to the Lodge in which you have this
day been initiated and let me further exhort you, never to disgrace it, for be
assured it will never disgrace you.
I must further inform you that you are never to put on that badge should there be a
brother present in the Lodge with whom you entertain animosity. In such a case it
is expected that you will invite him to withdraw with you, in order that and if
possible, amicable settle your differences, which being happily effected, you may
then clothe, enter the Lodge and work together, with that love and harmony ,
which ought particularly, to distinguish Freemasons. If unfortunately, your
differences are of such a nature, as not to be so easily adjusted, it is better that one
or both of you should retire together, rather than the peace and harmony of the
Lodge be disturbed by your presence.
Scottish Ritual contains the following.
W.S.W: - Worthy Brother, in the name of the G.A.O.T.U and by command of the
R.W.M, I invest you with the distinguishing Badge of an E.A.F.M. It is more
ancient than the Golden Fleece or the Roman Eagle, more honourable than the
Order of the Garter or any other Order in existence. It being the Badge of
Innocence and the Bond of Friendship and I strongly exhort you ever to wear and
consider it as such. You will observe that this apron is made from lambskin and as
the lamb has been in all ages the acknowledged emblem of innocence and purity,
it will remind you of that purity of life and actions which should at all times
characterise a Freemason. I trust that you will live for many years to wear it with
pleasure to yourself, usefulness to the Craft, and honour to this Lodge in which
you have been initiated; and let me further exhort you never to disgrace this
Badge, for you may be assured that it will never disgrace you.
W.M: - I must add to the observations of the W.S.W, in that you are never to put
on that Badge, should you be about to enter a Lodge, where there is a Brother,
with whom you are at variance or against whom you bear any animosity. In such
cases, it is expected that you will invite him to withdraw in order that you may
settle your differences amicably and if that be happily effected, you may then
clothe yourselves, enter the Lodge and work together with that love and harmony
which should at all times characterise Freemasonry. But, if your differences are of
such a nature as not to be so easily adjusted, it were better that one or both of you
retire, rather than cause the harmony of the Lodge to be disturbed by your
presence.
Lodge Dundee St.Mary ( No.1149. Scottish Constitution) published in 1924, the
book “The Treasury of Masonic Thought”, the sale proceeds of which were
devoted to the construction of the Masonic Temple in Dundee. Page 304 contains
“Apron Charge, Ist Degree, as given in Lodge Dundee.St.Mary”. It is a beautiful
address, which would have made a lasting impression on all those, who had heard
it. The same is reproduced hereunder.
“Brother…., In the name of the Great Architect of the Universe and by the
command of the Right Worshipful Master, I present and will invest you with the
distinguishing badge of a Mason. It is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or
Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Order of the Thistle or any other Order in
existence, it being the badge of Innocence and the bond of Friendship and I would
exhort you, ever to wear and consider it as such. It may be that in the coming
years, upon your brow may rest the laurel leaves of victory, upon your breast may
hang jewels fit to grace the diadem of an Eastern Potentate; nay, more than these,
with light added to the coming light, your ambitious feet may tread round after
round of the ladder, that leads to fame in our mystic circles and even the purple of
our fraternity may rest upon your honoured shoulders. But never again from
mortal hands, never again, until your enfranchised spirit shall have passed
upwards and inwards through the pearly gates, shall any honour, so distinguished,
so emblematical of purity and innocence and all perfection be bestowed upon you.
It is yours to wear throughout an honoured life and at your death placed upon the
coffin which shall contain your earthly remains and with them laid beneath the
silent clods of the valley. May its pure and spotless surface be an ever present
reminder of a purity of life and rectitude of conduct, a never ending argument for
nobler deeds, higher thoughts and greater achievements and when at last your
weary feet shall have reached the end of life’s toilsome journey and from your
nerveless grasp shall drop forever the working tools of life, may the record of your
life and actions be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem with which, I am about
to invest you. And at last when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone
before the Great White Throne, may it be your portion to hear from Him, who
sitteth as Judge Supreme, the welcome words,“ Well done good and faithful
servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”.
You will observe that this badge is made of lambskin and as the lamb has been in
all ages the acknowledged emblem of innocence and purity, it will remind you of
that purity of life and action, which should at all times characterise Freemasons. I
trust you will live many years to wear this badge (invests candidate) with credit to
yourself, usefulness to mankind and an honour to the Lodge of which this night
you have become a member and I would further exhort you never to disgrace that
badge for you can rest assured, it will never disgrace you. So Mote It Be.”
Almost similar is the Apron Charge in the New Kentucky Monitor (1918) and the
last paragraph is as follows:-
“Let its pure and spotless surface be to you as ever present reminder of ‘purity of
life, of rectitude of conduct’, a never ending argument for higher thoughts, for
nobler deeds, for greater achievements and when at last your weary feet shall have
reached the end of their toilsome journey and from your nerveless grasp forever
drop the working tools of a busy life, may the record of your life and conduct be
as pure and spotless as this fair emblem, which I place in your hands this night.
And, when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone before the Great
White Throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds done, while here in the
body,.may it be your portion to hear from Him, who sitteth as Judge Supreme
these welcome words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter Thou into
the joy of the Lord”.—I charge you, take it, wear it with pleasure to yourself and
honour to the Fraternity”.
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The Apron Charge or lecture had also been given in the form of a poem in Webb’s
Lodge (No.166) Augusta in Georgia. The same was composed by Captain Jack
Crawford.
“ The coming years may bring to you success,
The victory laurel wreath may deck your brow,
And you may feel Love’s hallowed caress,
And have withal domestic tenderness,
And fortune’s God may smile on you as now,
And jewels fit for Eastern Potentate
Hang over your ambitious heart and Fate,
May call thee “Prince of Men”, or “King of Hearts”,
While Cupid strives to pierce you with the darts.
Nay, even more than these, with coming light
Your feet may press fame’s loftiest dazzling height,
And looking down upon the world below
You may exclaim, “ I can not greater grow!”
But, nevermore, O worthy Brother mine,
Can innocence and purity combine
With all that’s sweet and tender here below
As in this emblem which I now bestow,
‘Tis yours to wear throughout the life of love,
And when your spirit wings to realms above
‘Twill with your cold clay rest beneath the sod,
While breeze-kissed flowers whisper of your God.
O, may it be your portion there to hear
“Well done”, and find a host of brothers near
To join the Angel choir in glad refrain
Till Northeast corner echoes come again.
Then while the hosts in silent grandeur stand
The Supreme Builder smiling in command
Shall say to you to whom this emblem’s given,
“Welcome art thou to all the joys of heaven”.
And then shall dawn within your ’lightened soul
The purpose divine that held control-
The full fruition of the Builder’s plan-
The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.”
Portions of such poems have been incorporated in some of the rituals. An example
is found in the relevant portion in the ritual of the Kansas Grand Lodge.
M.W.Bro.William Shaver, Past Grand Master had compiled a Monitor and the
same contains the Apron Charge with a portion of the Poem “Thanatopsis” by
William Cullen Bryant. The same is as follows.
“…This emblem is now yours to wear, we hope with equal pleasure to yourself
and honour to the Fraternity. If you disgrace it, the disgrace will be augmented by
the consciousness that you have been taught, in this Lodge, the principles of a
correct and manly life. It is yours to wear as a Mason so long as the vital spark
shall animate your mortal frame and at last, whether at youth, manhood or age,
your spirit having winged its flight to that “ House not made with hands”, when
amid the tears and sorrows of surviving relatives and friends and by the hands of
sympathizing Brother Masons, your body shall be lowered to the confines of that
narrow house appointed for all living, it will still be yours, yours to be placed with
the evergreen upon the coffin that shall enclose your remains and to be buried with
them.”
“ My brother, may you so wear this emblem of spotless white that no act of yours
shall ever stain its purity or cast a reflection upon this ancient and honourable
institution, that has outlived the fortunes of Kings and the mutations of Empires.
May you so wear it and
“So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
They go not, like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who raps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams”.