Читать книгу The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols - Adele Nozedar - Страница 243

The humble apron of the working Mason is elevated to almost religious status by the Freemasons. Generally made of leather, the way the apron is worn symbolizes the status of its wearer, with the bib worn up for the apprentice, or down by superior grades. Wearing the apron is representative of work and the necessity to be busy and industrious, and also of the fig leaves worn by Adam and Eve; as such the apron preserves the modesty of the wearer. Like the tracing board, the Masonic apron has the signs and symbols of the Craft embroidered on it.

One of the most famous of the many Masonic aprons is that which belonged to George Washington. Given to him in 1784 by the Marquis de Lafeyette whose wife embroidered the apron, it displays many Masonic symbols. Nothing is left to chance; the border colors of red, white, and blue are not only the national colors of France but also of the USA. Other symbols on this historic apron include:

 the All Seeing Eye—

 watchfulness, the Supreme Being;

 rays—show the power of the Supreme Being to reach inside the hearts of men;

 rainbow—symbolic of the arch of Solomon’s Temple that is supported by the two pillars, Jachim and Boaz;

 Moon—the female principle;

 globes on top of pillars—peace and plenty;

 the three tapers—symbolize the three stages of the Sun; rising in the East, in the Southern sky at noon, and setting in the West;

 trowel—symbolic of spreading love and affection, the “cement” that binds the Brothers of Freemasonry;

 five-pointed star—represents friendship;

 checkered pavement—often a feature of temples and again is based on the floor of Solomon’s original temple and represents the duality of opposites, male and female, and so on;

 steps—represent the degrees of masonry;

 coffin—represents death and therefore rebirth and is a recurrent motif in Freemasonry;

 skull and crossbones—symbols of mortality but also of rebirth;

 acacia;

 compasses;

 the square and level;

 the ark—safety and refuge;

 tassel and knot—the ties that bind the Brothers;

 the Sun—the Light of God, the male principle;

 sword and heart—symbolic of justice being done; nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the Great Architect;

 seven six-pointed stars—here, seven stands for the seven liberal arts and sciences;

 beehive—a symbol of industry and a reminder that man should be rational and industrious at the same time.