Dress Symbolism from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason.

As a summary this section will briefly discuss the symbolic dress of the initiate from entered apprentice until Master Mason.

The entered apprentice first enters wearing a blindfold. The blindfold is used in only one location in biblical text. It is used upon Jesus Christ after he had been captured by the Romans. It was placed upon him and he was then beaten. As a form of mockery he was then asked to prophesy who it was that was beating him. Considering that this is its only biblical usage it is particularly strange that it should be a dominant feature of the initiates dress. Luke 22.64

The entered apprentice enters with a noose and a rope around his neck and hung over his back. Biblically there are many references to hanging individuals. However there is only one generic term which describes hanging and its biblical significance. This is contained in Deuteronomy 21: 22 & 23. It explains that a man who is hung from a tree is cursed by God.

This has profound significance. In Douay Wisdom 2: 17-20 Jesus was to be tortured and suffer a most shameful death. To be hung on a tree was probably the most shameful biblical death he could have been given. Hence in Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29 and Galatians 3:13 His death is described as being hung on a tree. The noose draws attention to the method of the death of Jesus Christ.

The entered apprentice first removes and submits one of his shoes. If the entered apprentice had researched the first degree word Boaz he would have found that this appears in the book of Ruth in association with Boaz, King Davids grandfather. The story explains that it was an accepted method of displaying the agreement of someone to give up their rights over something.Ruth 3

The above mentioned is repeated throughout the three degrees and slippers are placed upon their feet. However the slippers are specifically mule type and do not have a backing such that the initiates heels are exposed. Alternatively the initiate is describd as slipshod which literally means down at the heel. The heel is the specific body part mentioned in the bible which the devil attacks.Genesis 3

The entered apprentice bares his breasts one at a time and then bares both of them in the third degree. The breast is first mentioned biblically specifically in association with the devil. It cannot be a reference to the heart in the sense that the compass is specifically pointed to the left breast when swearing the oath because in the second degree the right breast is often bared and eventually both breasts are exposed in the third degree. The heart has never resided under the right breast.Genesis 3

The entered apprentice is required to bare both breasts in the third degree and in the process also bares his shoulders. The baring of the shoulder, while being a side effect of baring both breasts, is specifically relevant to Babylonian text. Babylon was instructed to do the same. The description of the Freemason being son of the widow stems from the same biblical chapter.Isaiah 47

Between the first and third degree the initiate bares each leg one at a time before baring both of them in the third degree. The baring of the legs is specific to Babylonian text and is contained within the same biblical chapter as the above.Isaiah 47

Between the first and third degree he bares each arm before baring both in the third degree. It is significant that Genesis 3 contains reference to the breast the heel and the arm, the arm or hand being used in the description of reaching for the tree of life. Freemasonry with its light, mysteries, privileges, allegorical tales and guiding the morals of men, mimics such a spiritual ‘reaching’.

The apron which is worn by the candidate is mentioned only twice in biblical text. Not surprisingly, the first of these is Genesis 3. After the success of the original biblical deception aprons were made of fig leaves by Adam and Eve to hide their shame. As a symbol which represents the success of a deception the choice of an apron is suitable. Yet the Mason wears it with pride! It would be funny if it were not so sad. Indeed, to some it must surely be amusing.

The entered apprentice submits all metal objects including money and jewellery.  In the words of the junior deacon he is ‘deprived of everything valuable’. This is deemed particularly important because it represents the only aspect with which non-compliance would necessitate a complete repetition of the initiation from its very beginning. According to the first degree initiation this is so that the initiate may demonstrate his charitable nature later in the ceremony. He is asked to contribute to charity but yet having nothing to give he cannot. Therefore he has to state that if he did have something to give he would have did so.

Using search engines, there are no appropriate hits regarding the words metal or valuable. In biblical text such things are described as precious. There are many hits regarding this word. However there is only hit with which other comparisons with the initiations can be made. It follows the same rule as other such hits i.e. more than one similarity to particular aspects of initiations which are contained within a very small area of biblical text.

This area is Proverbs 1 verses 10 to 15. It describes the finding of all precious substance and the initiate submits all money and jewellery. It also describes restraining your feet from the path of the ‘wicked’ and the entered apprentice takes three steps in the first degree, led with the left foot, each step being bigger than the last. This is extended in the third degree with the initiate walking over what would become his own grave. Yet in the third degree these steps are deliberately designed to be awkward to complete. The initiate must make a concerted effort and display clear intent in order to complete the steps. It also describes being swallowed alive and whole as one that goes into the pit, which is a chilling description which can be used to describe being lowered into the grave on top of bones in the third degree. It also describes combining of lots to have one purse, this is achieved through the Freemasonic subscriptions which have always been a relatively substantial amount of money and the entering of the ‘brotherhood’.  It also describes laying snares for the innocent without cause and it may be argued that the initiations are exactly this. Snares of faith to trap unawares, compliant and trusting initiates. All of this in less than 100 consecutive words.

The premise which unites all of this is simply a celebration of the torture of Jesus Christ and a display of loyalty to a Satanic source. It is a deliberate deception. Compare this theory with the very wide variety of meanings given to the dress symbolism provided by Freemasonry itself.

More importantly, this pemise is entirely based upon biblical text and the information contained in the bible concerning the influence of the devil and the nature of its biblical attack. The bible is central to Freemasonry and is known as the Masonic ‘Volume of Sacred Law’. The Entered Apprentice is even specifically instructed to study it.

For men who are required to have a faith in God prior to membership it would appear that their religious ignorance and trusting nature is exploited to the full by the very organisation they have sworn allegiance to.