Masonic Aprons

06 May 24

Someone once asked a question regarding the history of why our aprons look like they do. This answer was given by Bill Richards, OAM.

The earliest aprons had no decoration of any kind, not even ribbons (thongs or tapes answered their purpose), and certainly NO tassels, rosettes or levels. It was the replacement of the strings by ribbons which is supposed to have suggested, more or less accidentally, the addition of the tassels in the relatively late period 1827–41. The ribbons passed under the bib, or flap went around the body, and were tied in front where their decorated ends hung down, and in course of time led to the idea of PERMANENT tassels.

It is not known how rosettes came to be added, but a likely suggestion is that they were adopted as a means of distinguishing the grades of brethren. The love of ornamentation was possibly another factor. Contrary to what has been freely written on the subject, it is difficult to see how any symbolical meaning could originally have attached to them.

Perhaps the earliest reference to apron levels is in an order of the United Grand Lodge, 1814, describing how the levels are to be placed on the aprons. The levels were to be of half-inch ribbon, disposed in ‘perpendicular lines upon horizontal lines, thereby forming three several sets of two right angles’.

THIS WORDING IS STILL RETAINED.

These levels were each two and a half inches wide by one inch high. The earliest aprons with rosettes in the Museum at Freemason’s Hall are of about the period 1815, and the levels about 1800.

Ref: Compendium, B.E.JONES, p455. Read p449 for a detailed paragraph concerning the original leather apron which was adopted by the speculatives. In the YORK RITE SYSTEM English in the MARK DEGREE a lengthy leather apron is worn in the first part by the deacons. A great example of how it began.

Freemason v56 n2 Apr–Jun 2024