By: Bro. Aaron Gardner, 32°, MPS
Wearing the white lambskin apron is the most honorable privilege a Mason has. It is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle. There are, of course, many versions of the apron to include aprons that state a lodge officer’s position, Past Master aprons, aprons with the significance of Scottish Rite and York Rite symbols and aprons specially designed, such as those designed by Brother Juan Sepulveda. Yet, to remember our purity, nakedness and equality when standing in front of the Great Architect of the Universe the plain, blank, lambskin is buried with us. There is nothing more honorable then to represent the symbology of that apron.
When you are first handed that apron in your Entered Apprentice degree, you learn the significance of it, how to wear it and to never let it be tarnished. You further your quest for light and relearn how to wear it and the symbols behind it all the way through the Master Mason degree. If you decide to go into the appendant bodies you learn of more aprons, their symbols and the meaning behind them.
Yet, in the Scottish Rite you earn the right to wear more than aprons, once you earn your 32° you earn the right to wear what is known as a Prayer Cap. This is another honorable privilege within the Scottish Rite degrees. Like the Lambskin Apron, it has historical and spiritual basis behind the honor.
In I Kings 20:31 Jeremiah wrote, “ And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have hear that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventures he will save thy life.” It can be noted the scriptural context of “ropes on our heads”. The practice of clothing ones head with ropes can be seen in Egyptian monuments by a cord around long, flowing hair. It can also be seen by the Bedouin tribes in Arabia known as a Keffiyeh. The Keffiyeh is found in many forms that can depict region of origin and have their own symbology and history behind the headdress.
Today, the most common practice outside of Islamic lands you can find the Kippah. The Kippah, of course, is the traditional headdress of those who practice Judaism. It was originally used in the Middle Ages of Europe to distinguish themselves from others. The color and fabric of each kippah signifies ones belief in a different sect. Crocheted Kippahs are referenced to Religious Zionism, Suede relates to the Modern Orthodox and Satin is more conservative.
In Catholicism, you will see red caps donning the heads of Cardinals and a white cap worn by the current pope. There is even a black cap worn by all ordained members who have gone through the Roman Rite. These caps are known as zucchettos and date back to the Syriac and Malankara Orthodox traditions.
These traditions and history behind the caps are not the only representations of wearing a headdress. However, these are the most common practices that one would see a man wearing a headdress for spiritual recognition. They are all precursors for the cap worn in the Scottish Rite degrees. All related to each other in some shape or form.
Much like the Catholic zucchettos, the black prayer cap is designated for all members who have gone through the Scottish Rite. It is embroidered with the symbols of the Scottish Rite, the double-headed eagle, a red triangle with the number 32 decorated by golden rays, signifying the light given within 32nd degree. It is surrounded with a black band, trimmed in gold and has a gold cord across the top, attached by a gold button on both sides. Like the Catholic Cardinal zucchettos the Knight Commander of the Court of Honour caps are dressed in red silk. It is similar to the Black prayer cap with differences in the color and the emblem. The embroidered emblem is of the jewel of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
The distinctness in caps differs with each position held. White caps signify 33° Inspector General Honorary, Grand Cross of the Court of Honour and the Deputy of the Supreme Council; each having their own unique differences in symbols included. The violet cap represents the Sovereign Grand Inspector General and the purple cap is the Sovereign Grand Commander. Yet again, all these have different insignias and emblems attached to the symbology of the Scottish Rite.
Even if you never hold an office in the Scottish Rite, you will still be forwarded the opportunity to change cap colors. Once you have been a member for 50 years, you can change your black prayer cap for a light blue cap. The embroidery shows your commitment to the Craft for the past 50 years.
It is an honor to wear any of the specialized caps signifying your place of office within the Rite; rather it be the black, white, violet, purple or to signify your years commitment in blue. Yet, the greatest honor is invested upon us from the first degree. An honor older than Golden Fleece and the Roman Eagle; as pure as the lamb and as clear as we want our souls to be when we answer that call to the Celestial Lodge above. No greater honor is it to wear the badge of Mason, the White Lambskin Apron.
AG
