THE LAMB SKIN OR WHITE LEATHER APRON
 
Masons have been asked down through the centuries, why members of
the Masonic order wear a white apron?
 
The earliest mention of the apron was when Melchizedek, with
Abraham started the priesthood.  Melchizedek was the most high
priest and the first to wear the apron as the badge of religious
authority.  From the days of Melchizedek, the white apron was the
symbol of the priesthood.
 
The apron is the first gift a man receives in Masonry and one of
the first symbols explained to him.  It is the first tangible
evidence of becoming a Mason.
 
It is written that the lamb skin or white leather apron is an
emblem of innocence and the badge of a Free and Accepted Mason,
more ancient than the golden fleece, or Roman eagle, more
honorable than the star and garter.
 
The golden fleece was the golden wool of a sacred ram in Greek
mythology.  It was kept in a forest near the Black Sea and
guarded by a dragon.
 
King Pelias ordered his nephew Jason to bring the golden fleece
back to him.  In this way Jason might prove he was worthy of the
throne of his father, whose name was Aeson.  He sailed with other
heros on the ship Argo.  They had many dangerous adventures, but
Jason finally got the prize.  Meda and her magic spells helped
him, and he returned with the golden fleece to force Pelias from
the throne.
 
The Roman eagle was the Military standard of the ancient Romans.
They believed it was the bird of the Planet Jove, which we know
as the planet Jupiter.  The Romans believed that dead emperors
were carried up to heaven by an eagle.  The eagle topped their
scepters and were the insignia of the legions.  A legion was the
principal unit of the Roman army comprising three thousand foot
soldiers with calvary.
 
The Roman eagle faced right whereas the eagle on the great seal
of the United States faced left until recent years.
 
The order of the Star and Garter was founded by King Edward III
who reigned from 1327 to 1377.  In 1349 the King was dancing with
the Countess of Salisbury at a great court ball and she lost her
garter.  As the King picked it up to hand it to her he saw
several persons smile and indulge in remarks.  This made him
angry and he explained in French, "honi soit qui Maipense" (shame
be he who thinks evil of it).  Then he added that he would wish
to wear it, but very few do, only members of the royal family and
English noblemen.
 
Masons wear a white apron because it is founded on the scripture,
and not on Greek mythology, beliefs of the ancient Romans, or an
act of an English king. In all Masonic works a Mason is not
properly clothed unless he has on the white apron.  The apron
that was presented and explained to him when he first became a
Mason will be with him into eternity.
 
