Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Apron
1821-1840
Attributed to Giles Fonda Yates (1798-1859), artist; Balch, Rawdon and Co., engraver
USA: New York, Albany
Silk, linen
overall: 17-1/4"h x 18-3/4"w
Gift of John Boyce
2005.017.9

Masonic apron with shield-shaped body and rounded flap. White with light blue pleated trim and braid at edges. Body is printed in black. At top center is an all-seeing eye above a banner reading, "Sit Lux et Lux Fuit." The rest of the design is composed of an arrangement of Masonic symbols. At center is a temple. At top is checkered flooring with a series of five columns receding toward the background. The columns are hung with banners or cloth. The last two columns support an archway with a central keystone. Under the arch is G with glory rays. Between the front two columns is an altar, three candlestands, a book marked "Constitution" and a scroll marked "Charter." On the altar is an open book with square and compass. Below the checkered floor are two doors, one marked "Percelsus Structor," and one marked "Pelsanti Aperietur." There are also three pairs of columns supporting the flooring. One column of each pair is marked with a letter, W, S and B. The columns rest on a floor that has words printed on the end, "Charitas Fidelitas Obedientia Veritas Honor / Amor Fortitudo Prudentia Temperantia Justicia." A large column stands on each side of the central design. There is a selection of Masonic symbols below the central design and along the bottom. These symbols include: star with clasped hands, sun, moon, winged hourglass, Euclid's 47th problem, ladder, beehive, sword and heart, book, circle between two lines, ark with rainbow, urn, coffin, rough and smooth ashlars. The apron is lined with white linen. The top edge is bound with light blue ribbon, which extends to form ties (one is torn off).