Mason's apron
A mason's apron (also: Schurzfell , Logenschurz ) describes the clothing of a Freemason worn almost all over the world and is a symbol of work .
variants
In many Masonic systems, the apron is completely white . The white color of the apron and gloves indicate the high ethical standard to which the mason has subjected himself and his actions.
In some Masonic systems, the back of the apron is black and decorated with a skull . The symbolism corresponds to that of the checkerboard floor , which represents the duality of good and bad or ethically appropriate and ethically reprehensible actions.
In some cases, the aprons are only white in the apprentice grade and have different colored borders, decorations, signs and the like in higher grades. Since members of the lodge wanted to improve their aprons even then, the first known dress code was in place in 1731 by the French scientist John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683–1744). In European Johannislogen , the aprons often have a blue border and are provided with up to three ribbon roses, which denote the respective degree of the Freemason.
history
The oldest still preserved Masonic apron at Melrose Lodge is made of sturdy linen .
Since the apron originally served as protection during the work of a stonemason , this work apron was often made of leather, reached to the ankles and had a flap with a buttonhole to attach it to clothing. While the journeyman had to attach his flap to the clothes according to his skills, the master let it fall down on the apron. The position of the flap is still often used today as a degree mark.
From these work aprons today's purely symbolic mason's apron developed, which has been available in various versions since then.