Bro Bobby J. Demott, 33° is a member of Cherokee Lodge No. 728 and Knoxville Scottish Rite Bodies, Knoxville, Tennessee, a Past Grand Historian to the Grand Lodge of Tennessee; and a frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal.
"Freemasonry' s symbols represent principles to guide and improve our lives.
Deeply moved by the beauty of Masonry, some newly made Masons asked the old Past Master to tell them more about the Masonic apron, and the elder man replied:
"Masonry regards no man for the clothes he wears, the house in which he lives, the kind of car he drives, or the other luxuries he owns or uses. All Masons are equal when in the Lodge room and all are clothed in the same manner. The apron is the only raiment we see.
Masons stand before God equal to one another, and the apron is the sign of equality. "In ancient times the aprons were manufactured from the skins of lambs, animals deemed to be pure and without taint. Thus the wearer of the apron assumes the characteristics, virtues, purity, and innocence typified by the lamb."
"Masons wear two aprons, one visible and one invisible. The visible one is a symbolic gift from the Lodge to the Mason. It is made of worldly material and is subject to decay and destruction. The invisible apron is the gift of God to every man who would assume the responsibilities and obligations which entitle him to wear it. This apron is eternal, not subject to decay or destruction. Man sees only the visible; God sees both, and He holds him accountable who wears this honored badge of the Masonic Lodge."
The young Masons then said: "Tell us more of the square." The old Past Master replied: "The operative masons used the square to determine if the rough ashlar were trimmed into a block of 90 degrees on all corners and thus fit for the builder's use. The perfect ashlar is always formed from a rough ashlar by removing excess material, never by adding to it."
"The rough ashlar always contains a perfect ashlar, and the stone is tested many times by the square to determine if it is fit for the builder's use. In Masonry, the rough ashlar is symbolic of the man who enters the Lodge for the first time, and the perfect ashlar is symbolic of the Master Mason."
"In a moral sense, the square is a symbol of morality, truth, justice, and righteousness. Man should refrain from doing to others what he would not have others do to him. This is called the principle of 'acting on the square' and has been a rule for the guidance of man since long before the time of Christ.
"Every person has a try square of his own. It is called conscience. We use this to measure our thoughts, words, and deeds as to whether they are true or false. The extent to which this test is applied to himself in regard to his relations with his fellows measures the extent to which each man's life will be stable, honest, true, and happy."
The young Masons then said: "Tell us more of the level and the plumb."The old Past Master said: "Now the square is the tool to be used in the making of a perfect ashlar, but the plumb and level are concerned with the use of the perfect ashlar in order to construct a wall which is straight and strong.
"As stones are hewed into perfect ashlars and placed in the building wall in a level and vertical manner, men are divested of their coarse habits and sinful manners, thus building a better life for the entire group through their common effort.
"Each man is tested by his own plumb line, his own conscience, in order for him to fit properly into the whole. Because no two men have the same talents, abilities or characteristics, no two men can use the same device to measure their fitness."
(Bold & italic supplied. Ed.)Then the young Masons said: "Please, Past Master, be more specific. We understand how to use the working tools to improve ourselves, but we are not clear as to how we can serve our fellowman in a society which is so indifferent to the needs of others."
And the old Past Master said: "This is your challenge. Your Brothers are confident that you are of high moral character, and you know that you are now a part of the great Temple of Masonry. Masonically you have reached manhood. Do your duty."
(Note: I have used the "magic" of Google to search for relevant links regarding the various topic and Masonic symbolisms. Please feel free to click on the highlighted or "linked" words or phrases for a more deeper discussion and/or for more information. Obviously this is not the complete or a comprehensive list of links, please use Google or other similar search engines for your own personal research. For downloadable and printable Masonic images as used here, click here. Book review by Bro Demott, click here. )
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