The Badge of a Mason

 

Red Wing Lodge LEO Program January 6, 2025 

The lambskin or white leather apron is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. More ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; more honorable than the Star and Garter... 

These words echo in my mind as I recall three recent Masonic Services in the past 3 months, for three great men, who I respected and loved. These men were past Grandmasters and a District Representative.

 

At all the services, their photo was displayed on an altar along with a vase of flowers, an urn of ashes and the lambskin apron they were presented with at their Entered Apprentice Degree. The Masonic apron is a powerful symbol that represents the work that begins as an Entered Apprentice and lasts until the apron is placed on his mortal remains.

 

Each Brother had received many accolades in their life, but when asked what they were most proud of, they all told me it was being a Mason.

Their white lambskin apron was their first gift from the lodge, given to them during their Entered Apprentice Degree, for them many decades ago.  This is called the “Rite of Investiture” or sometimes called “the clothing”.  Now that apron sat next to their mortal remains.

So tonight, I thought would be a good time to review the lessons, and take a deeper look into the meanings, of the Badge of a Mason.

 

The apron that we are wearing tonight is made of cotton, and is approximately 12 to 14 inches in length, and about the same in width. It’s a Loin Cloth in size but symbolic of a Stone Masons apron. In contrast, if you look at members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, their symbolic apron goes to just above the knee.

 

Let’s review the aprons origins and the aprons symbolism.  

 

For Operative Masons, the apprentice was a bearer of burdens, carrying ashlars and timbers against his body. He needed a large apron, usually made of a tough animal hide, to protect him from physical injury and his clothes from damage and soiling.  The Fellowcraft was a hewer in the mountains and quarries and required the apron to deflect lime chips and stone dust.   The master, as overseer of the work, wore his apron with the corner turned up, as a mark of his special authority.

 

When you see people today who wear aprons for their work, as the operative stone masons did, generally those jobs involve manual or heavy labor such as welders, carpenters, dishwashers or stone masons of today. 

 

During the Middle Ages the different trade guilds wore different types of clothing which served as their uniform. Bakers wore white aprons with tall white hats, while printers wore paper hats. Stone Masons wore an apron with white cotton gloves (gloves because of the lime in the mortar) and the Mason’s apron became his specific trademark!

 

It was in the 17th century, when the building of massive edifices slowed and membership in the guilds declined, that the seeds of modern Speculative Masonry were sown. Our founding fathers recognized the importance of incorporating the wisdom and experience of both the historical and operative perspectives into a new moral system that would attract the interest of men whose vocations were not in the operative craft.

 

The labor that the Freemason isn’t of physical toil but of spiritual and intellectual labor.  Hmm…Though I recall some very heavy labor moving a 1,000-pound kitchen stove, and a grand piano out of Cataract Lodge on a 100-degree day…

 

The Entered Apprentice is the foundation of the Masonic System and the beginning of the journey as a Mason.   It sets the stage for further Masonic work and is the beginning of our spiritual journey as a Mason.  Thus, the Entered Apprentice degree is to be taken seriously.

 

The apron that is presented becomes a badge of the inner change for the Mason. Ideally, every individual takes the teachings of Freemasonry, the pursuit of knowledge of the liberal arts and his volume of the sacred law and collaborates with his Supreme Architect to gradually transform who he is, how he perceives his place in the world and how he treats others. Not only to improve himself and become a better man, but to also improve the world around him. The lambskin apron is a visual representation of the inner qualities that every Mason should strive to embody.

 

The lambskin apron is a soft white leather, which is symbolic of purity and innocence. The white color of the apron is an important element, as it signifies a state of moral cleanliness and a commitment to living a virtuous life. It is a color that reflects the lightest, speculatively the Light of understanding.  In many ways, it acts as a metaphor for the Freemason’s journey toward spiritual enlightenment and personal transformation.

 

Alternately, it shows stains most plainly. This should be an ever-present reminder to us to live and act according to the ideals of our fraternity. It is important to remember that each of us represent the fraternity in our daily lives, and the bad actions of one member not only stain his personal apron but can stain the fraternity.  

The apron’s simplicity is also noteworthy. Unlike many other items of regalia in Freemasonry, it is unadorned or has minimal decoration. This design highlights the idea that true virtue lies in simplicity and that the greatest honors in life are often those that are unpretentious.

The apron is a symbol of the unspoken word expectation that the Lodge believes the candidate will cheerfully conform to its ways, and that he is worthy and qualified to receive the teachings of Freemasonry.

The moment the candidate is handed that lambskin, is the first step of his lifelong transformative journey as a Freemason. As he progresses thru the degrees, and spends time in the Craft, he works towards personal growth, ethical conduct, and spiritual enlightenment. The goal is to construct a symbolic temple within themself, reflecting the virtues of personal integrity, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

The Freemason acknowledges that the material word that we live in is temporary. One day we will all laydown our working tools and exit the West Gate. We will hope to go to the House not made with Human hands.  All of this is to inspire us toward a life of moral excellence, and spiritual fulfillment.  

Returning to my opening statement, during the initiation of an Entered Apprentice, as he is presented with the white lambskin apron, he is informed that the white leather apron is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. More ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; more honorable than the Star and Garter or any order that could be conferred on me at any time or at any future period by king, prince, potentate …

But what do those words really mean?  I know history is not exciting, but please stay with me as I review the classical Greek, Roman and English history, as I take a few minutes to go a little deeper to explain the statement above.

The Roman eagle, or Aquila in Latin, was one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the Roman Empire, embodying the might, spirit, and unity of Rome. More than just a military standard, the eagle played a crucial role in the Roman army and culture, representing the very essence of Roman identity and authority.

Introduced by Gaius Marius, a prominent Roman general and reformer, in 104 BC, the eagle became the standard of the Roman legions. In the Roman army, the Aquila was carried by an Aquilifer, a soldier of great valor and prestige. Losing the Aquila in battle was considered the highest dishonor, as it symbolized the legion’s spirit and unity and importance. Historical accounts record significant efforts to retrieve eagles captured by enemy forces.

Beyond its military implications, the Roman eagle held considerable cultural and political significance, and the Roman Eagle or Aquila remains a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of the Roman Empire and its impact on subsequent cultures and nations.

Masonic historians and writers differ on the reference to The Golden Fleece. I will summarize both versions and let you decide which you prefer.

The Golden Fleece is one of the most famous and immortal myths in Greek mythology. A side note here, I was probably the last generation to have to study Greek mythology in elementary school, and I despised it.

The myth is centered around the mythical hero Jason and his band of Argonauts, otherwise known as 50 hero’s or men of valor.  They undertake a journey filled with hazards and dangers to retrieve the golden fleece that was believed to possess magical properties.

In Greek mythology the Golden Fleece is the ultimate quest for glory and adventure. The story symbolizes the pursuit of seemingly unattainable goals and the virtues of courage, ingenuity, and perseverance.

The other reference is the Order of the Golden Fleece, which was established by Phillip the Good of Burgundy in France in 1430, for the purpose of upholding the Roman Catholic faith, its principals along with chivalric ideals. It’s supposed to be one of the most prestigious and historic orders of chivalry in the world.

It still is in existence and membership is limited to men who are of noble birth and of the Catholic faith…BUT in 2007 King Juan Carlos of Spain caused an uproar when he conferred the honor of the Golden Fleece to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia who is not catholic.

The Star and Garter

In 1348 in medieval England, King Edward III was so inspired by the tales of King Authur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table, that he organized his own group of honorable knights called the Order of the Garter.

Today, nearly 700 years later, the Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britian. The Knights now both male and female used to be limited to nobility but today are chosen from a variety of backgrounds in recognition of their public service.

Membership is limited to the Sovereign (the sitting King or Queen of England) The prince of Wales and 24 other selected persons.

One of the symbols of Order is a star. Upon it is the Cross of St George and made with diamonds, rubies, enamel, silver and gold.

“More ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle”

Is that statement bombastic or a little exaggerated? I guess it depends on your view of when Freemasonry started.

The Regus Manuscript in 1390?

The Shaw Statues in 1598?

The Premier Grand Lodge in 1717?

If you read James Andersons Constitutions of 1723, he writes that the first Mason was Adam in the Garden of Eden. I guess it was because Adam made and wore the first Apron…made of fig leaves of course.

But any way you look at it, Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternity that is practiced across the globe. Our modern Speculative version that is practiced is over 300 years old.

More honorable than the Star and Garter…

Admission into the Star and Garter is at the sole discretion of the Sovereign of England, where the King or Queen exercises their Divine Right of Kings to bestow this honor.

Most of the members are of the nobility or royal birth, and a few members who had distinguished careers in civil service like the Prime Minster. Thus, the Star and Garter promotes class distinction and favors special privilege.

So generally, the cronies, besties of the King meet once a year for lunch, put on a hat and cape, and walk past people who bought a ticket to watch them parade to the chapel in Windsor Castle for a meeting.

In contrast, Freemasonry accepts all good men regardless of who or where they were born, regardless of their economic status, regardless of race or religious beliefs.

Being a Freemason is considered more honorable by many because of our organization’s values, traditions and goals.

Here are just a few.

·        Freemasonry encourages tolerance and respect.

·        Charity and Community Service. We are big believers in the act of giving back to society without expecting anything in return.

·        Brotherhood. We are bound by a shared commitment to mutual respect and support. We help each other through difficult times, offering emotional support, and financial support.

·        Respect for tradition. Our rituals and traditions are designed to remind us of moral lessons and keep us focused on living honorable lives.

·        Commitment to personal improvement. We are dedicated to the moral and ethical development of our members. We stress the importance of self-improvement, integrity, and personal growth. Our fraternity encourages its members to strive for excellence in their actions to be honest, and cultivate virtues like kindness, and humility.

·        Focus on integrity. All Freemasons are expected to adhere to high standards of integrity in every aspect of our lives. Freemasonry is seen by many in society as a noble endeavor in a world where moral values are occasionally overlooked."

Hundreds of years ago, our Masonic forefathers established an honorable place for good men to come together and be fostered to become better men that lasts a life time. I think you will agree with me that they established a craft befitting of the statement made to the Entered Apprentice.

I have mentioned before that I keep my lambskin apron in my sock drawer, so I see it every day. My family also knows where I keep in for that day of my Masonic Service.

I encourage you to find your apron and take a moment to reflect on when it was presented to you. Be sure to tell a loved one where you keep it so it can be found when it is needed and be Proud to be a Mason.

Additionally, the lambskin apron is the beginning connection to the teachings of Freemasonry. During the initiation ceremony, the candidate is presented with the apron as a sign of their new status within the fraternity. It signifies the beginning of their journey toward moral and spiritual enlightenment.

The white apron that we wear in lodge is a loaner apron that represents the apron we received as an Entered Apprentice. To be a constant reminder of the lessons learned and the obligations taken upon entering the brotherhood.

The Lambskin Apron holds immense value and importance in Freemasonry, serving as a symbol of purity, innocence, and the moral rectitude expected of Freemasons. Its significance is deeply rooted in Masonic tradition and ritual, making it a potent emblem of a Mason's journey and commitment to the values of the fraternity.

The apron excites such emotions because it is a constant, tangible reminder of the initiate's vows and the virtues they are encouraged to embody. When a Mason receives the apron, it marks the beginning of their journey, a new chapter filled with self-improvement, ethical conduct, and service to others.

When the lambskin rest upon our earthly remains. It becomes a symbol of a job well done, and the lifelong commitment to the ideals of Freemasonry.

Brother D. L. Clements captures the profound significance of the Lambskin Apron in his poem, written in 1917. Here's a brief excerpt to give you a sense of its tone and emotion:

The Lambskin Apron, pure and white,

A symbol of our craft's delight,

It speaks of honor, truth, and love,

Guided by the stars above.

 

Its leather soft, yet firm in hold,

A story of the ages told,

Of Masons true, who strive to be,

Upholders of morality.

 

This apron, worn with pride and grace,

Reflects the light in every place,

A beacon bright, in darkness clear,

A Mason's guide, both far and near.

 

 

Thank you

 

 

 

 

To Wait with Patience

Photo from Red Wing Lodge by Tom Hendrickson

 

To Wait with Patience

Tom Hendrickson

Past Grand Master Grand Lodge of Minnesota

 

There are many great and valuable lessons within Freemasonry that can be applied to our everyday lives to improve our daily living and enrich our lives.

During this pandemic, for us Freemasons, it is almost like déjà vu again, for we have been living the very beginning of the Entered Apprentice degree, where the Master of the Lodge directs the candidate to “wait with patience” in a sequestered space.  We are all like that candidate who is sitting in the candidate room waiting for the pandemic to dwindle so we may gather again.

I cannot think of a timelier lesson to explore more closely during this time of chronic uncertainty than patience. The past months of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a very test of patience in the extreme. Living under self-quarantine has disrupted the structure and rhythms of daily life, as well as the predictability of our daily lives.  All those events, that as humans we crave, such as family holiday get togethers, birthday celebrations, masonic events and gatherings have all been put on hold until the virus is contained.  We anxiously wonder what the future may look like or what the new normal is going to be.  There are many similarities that can be drawn between that Entered Apprentice and our lives today.

I have not seen any masonic education about patience or waiting, so it must be assumed that all masons possess this trait, which may be true, but by observing society today, maybe this is a good time to give patience more thought and attention.

What is patience? Official definitions vary, but I prefer the Cambridge Dictionary definition: The ability to wait, or continue something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or being annoyed.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines wait, “to allow time to go by, especially while staying in one place without doing much, until someone comes, until something that you are expecting happens or until you can do something”.  If you don’t have one of those three goals in mind at the start then it’s just indecision, procrastination, or you are killing time.

The first three degrees of the Blue Lodge contain lessons for us to build upon to be master of ourselves. Patience is an exercise in self-control; you can say patience is the neglected virtue, but patience is the foundational virtue that supports the development of other great moral strengths such as wisdom and courage. Patience is also needed before we take on our serious obligation of learning to subdue our passions.

I mentioned patience as a foundational virtue. What is a virtue? A virtue is a behavior displaying high moral standards. So, does patience show a high moral standard? You bet it does. Patience is essential to self-control.

We are not born with patience. Patience is a learned skill that takes practice to master, but it is a skill that is essential in our daily lives. Patience has been described as like a muscle that needs to be exercised on a regular basis for it to be effective. The more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

Having patience means we can wait calmly in the face of frustrations, difficulties, obstacles or struggles.  This ability to continue, despite adversity, is a skill all of us need on during our lives. Whether stuck in a traffic jam, standing in a long line at the grocery store, or even in lodge when the secretary reads the electric bill.  We certainly have needed this skill during the past year with the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

Patience is a state of mind, where you deal with your thoughts and emotions, between the experience and your reaction. To have patience, ultimately means dealing with your own thoughts and emotions. Patience requires you to control your thoughts, words and deeds.

Patience, on the surface, appears to be passive, but it is an active and purposeful state. Patience is a decision-making process that allows us to make better decisions. Patience allows us to take a pause that allows us to gather our thoughts and manage our feelings. Patience allows us to observe more intently, ask questions to understand the situation more clearly, communicate better with a tempered response, and most importantly, find peace in situations that are outside of our control.

I would guess that hardly a day goes exactly as we planned, free of any intrusions or without any adjustments. Who plans to have a car accident on the way to work? Accepting the fact that these intrusions or difficulties are part of normal life and exercising calm will help us all be more patient. If we can work to accept and tolerate a situation, without becoming upset or angry, that helps us manage our emotions and choose what behavior that we wish to respond with.  We cannot choose our feelings, for our feelings just happen, but we can choose what behavior we wish to display.

Other times, patience is needed for those daily hassles or obstacles that are beyond our control. Like, when your boss tells you must work late but you must also drive your kid to soccer practice, you walk to your car after lodge and discover you have a flat tire, the air conditioner breaks down on the hottest day of the summer, or your computer crashes and neither you, nor your teen age kid, knows how to fix it.

A critical time we need patience, is to overcome setbacks or hardships in life, like the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing a divorce, medical treatments such as cancer treatment, or especially when we are helplessly waiting to see if those treatments are working for a loved one, or coping with the death of a family member. Patience for the long term is essential to life.

For parents’, patience is an absolute necessity, during even the best of times. During this global pandemic, life is more stressful with this forced togetherness and so many unknowns. With working from home and the kids schooling from home, this can result in a lot of clutter, noise, fear and confusion. We adults can become irritated and feel like we are “losing It” or simply feel overwhelmed. We also need to model patience for our children and help them cope with changing situations.

When needed, give yourself the “quiet time” to take a step back, take a breath, and collect your thoughts before losing your patience. The entire household is in this together so patience and understanding of each other are essential, as hard as that can be some days.

Sometimes, in what may be the most difficult challenge we face, we need to be patient with ourselves.

In this fast-paced chaotic world that we live in, it seems there is always the constant pressure to do more with each minute of the day or that nagging voice in the back of our minds is telling us to do more, and do it perfectly.

We make notes in our phones at odd hours of the night. Our pockets are filled with sticky notes and scraps of paper. Our to do list becomes a never-ending monster that is never satisfied leaving us frustrated, restless and impatient. It can become overwhelming and can lead to being highly self-critical of ourselves for our self perceived failures. This may lead us to become angry and frustrated with ourselves.

Again, as with our loved ones, we just need to take a step back, and be patient with ourselves first.  To realize that we are all human and no one is perfect.  We all do the best we can and be kind to yourself as well as to others.  

Patience when practiced, can calm our minds, preserve positive emotions, and it can guide us to view life’s’ daily struggles in a better way. Developing the skill of patience can help accepting life’s daily frustrations and can help us to not lose our temper.  There is no real point in losing your temper over the things we cannot control.

The flip side of patience is impatience.  Impatience usually happens when we refuse to accept a situation that we have no control over, like getting stuck in traffic or a meeting being delayed because someone is late.

Rebbetzin Chana Heller in her article, Developing Patience: The Foundation for All Relationships describes impatience like this.

“Impatience is a form of anger. There is a continuum. On the one end we are impatient or slightly irritated and then we start ramping it up to being annoyed, indignant, angry, exasperated, furious, and finally totally enraged. In each case we are angry because our will is not being done and we can’t tolerate the pain that causes us. It’s just a matter of degree”. (Heller, 2021, aish.com)

I have observed so many impatient and angry individuals since the pandemic officially began.  It made me stop and reflect, in general, on why our society has become so impatient, and the importance of patience.

I believe that one reason that has contributed to our society becoming more impatient can be traced to technology and the internet.  The speed and amount of data available to all of us has led to a sense of instant gratification.  Today, we live in a world, that because of technology, we can instantly connect with our friends and loved ones in real time although they are thousands of miles away. We can connect while canoeing the Boundary Water Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota, climbing mountains in Colorado, or enjoying a cruise in the Caribbean.

In this modern high-tech era that we live in, where almost everything that we desire is just a click away, technology had caused a cultural shift in our society and has conditioned us to expect immediate answers 24/7 all at our fingertips. With the click of a mouse, we can access information, download movies or entire seasons of television shows, and order any kind of consumer merchandise. We have come to expect information in a second, orders to be delivered within hours or the same day, and the movies and entertainment to appear within seconds. The problem that this high-tech era has fostered is the expectation of instant gratification or instant solutions.  Expecting instant gratification for everything is counter to having patience and can get in the way of us coping with problems or other things in our lives that require more time or obtaining things that may require more time. Do you want to have that serious discussion with your wife or just send an angry tweet to her twitter account?

Certainly, the pandemic caused added stress to everyday life, which can add to impatience. For those fortunate to continue working remotely during the pandemic, there is the stress of trying to find a reasonable line between work and home life.  We may be working longer hours or find it difficult to disconnect from work.  Many feel pressured to show increased productivity while working remotely, believing if they do not, their job could be in jeopardy.  For those with children at home, there is added pressures of wearing multiple hats throughout the day.  We are checking and responding to emails at all times of the day and sleeping with cell phones to be always “available”.

Another area where I observe impatience is while driving.  Over the years, it seems that all streets and highways have become more congested, making it more difficult to reach out destinations or the potential for all of us to become more impatient while driving.  There appears to be a dramatic increase in negative driver emotions leading to honked horns, rude hand gestures, tailgating, aggressive driving and ultimately road rage.  If ever there is a time exercise patience it is while we are driving.

For thousands of years theologians and philosophers have exalted the qualities of patience and identified it as an important virtue and important component of moral excellence.

There has been quite a lot of scientific research conducted on patience and the researchers have found that there are health benefits of being a patient individual. Impatient people are often angry and stressed, resulting in stress related illness such as hypertension and heart disease to name a few. Patient people tend to, overall, have lower stress levels and fewer physical illnesses related to stress. According to a 2007 study by Fuller Theological Seminary professor Sarah A. Schnitker and UC Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons, patient people enjoy better mental health, can cope better in stressful situations and tend to experience less depression.

Patience is a decision-making process that can allow us to make better decisions. Patience allows us to take a pause, gather our thoughts and feelings, before expressing ourselves. Patience allows us to temper our response, preserve relationships with those we care about and interact with people more pleasantly. Patient individuals are viewed more positively by their employers’ co-workers and by lodge brothers. Patience allows us to be approachable, to learn, conquer a complex task, accomplish long term goals.

If you are perceived as being impatient people may perceive you are impulsive, insensitive, and even arrogant. Others may think you are a poor decision maker, someone who takes short cuts and of being short tempered. At lodge, if you gain a reputation of having poor people skills and being insensitive, you may find yourself sitting alone or that your voice may not be heard as loud as you would like.

In our Masonic life, patience is a necessity. From our relationships with our Lodge Brothers, learning our Ritual and its meaning, working on committees or projects and especially while leading the Craft.

Patience makes us better leaders and mentors. As Masonic Leaders we need to establish relationships and work with our Brothers to develop their skills and understanding of the craft. As leaders, we may need to spend extra time with our Brothers to help them learn and them to develop that sense of belonging with other Brothers.  For the Masonic tradition to continue there should be allowance for Brothers to develop and grow while passing out knowledge to the next generation of leaders.

With the vaccines being expanded to more individuals, this gives me hope that our lives will be returning to normal soon. One of my friends, he wishes the isolation to end because he had watched everything on Netflix. Another friend wishes to find a different family to quarantine with.

Given the prolonged period of self-isolation and uncertainty, it not unexpected that we are growing tired or frustrated. I think I can say that we are all suffering a bit from limited human contact and Zoom fatigue.

I think we all look forward to the day when we can all return to our lodges and experience, in person, the sound of the gavel, announcing our meeting is to begin. Although, some of us may need a refresher on getting dressed, combing our hair (for those that have hair) shave and wear a suit instead of sweatpants.

We just need to be patient a bit longer. 

For, like the Entered Apprentice, we will find the door to our Lodge and enter, leaving the darkness, anxieties and helplessness of the world behind for the light and warmth of our Brotherhood. 

For, we have waited with Patience.