Tassels can sometimes be seen on “craft” Master Mason aprons, usually of English (type) working lodges. They also feature on Royal Arch aprons (any degree).
general English apron design
Category Archives: Emulation
Rosettes
Three Rosettes can sometimes be seen on “craft” Master Mason aprons, usually of English (type) working lodges. Sometimes Fellowcraft aprons have two rosettes, but there are also Fellowcraft aprons with three rosettes, such as in the French “Lodge of St. John” of the Swedish Rite.
The rosettes can also have different colours for different degrees and can differ in number.
Here we have a fourth degree (“Apprentis of Saint Andrews”) of the Swedish Rite.
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Ribbon
In some lodges this is the emblem of the Master / Director of Ceremonies, especially English (type) lodges.
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Dove
In some lodges the Deacons have Doves as emblem.
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Key
The key appears in different degrees. This particular one is from the fourth degree (“Secret Master”) of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
In Emulation a single key is the emblem of the Treasurer.
A key also appears on some tracing boards of the Ark Mariner degree.
Maçonnerie des Hommes (1766, Vol. V. degree “Knight of the 12 Tribes) says about the key:
The key, that you can also see on the tracing board, is a symbol that teaches you to cherish the secrets that are given to you in your heart, it is like a sacred treasure, which the Enlightened Brethern entrusted you.
The Book Of The Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite (1884) Charles McClenachan
Triple Tau
Three connected T (Tau) crosses, a Royal Arch symbol used in various Royal Arch degrees.
When unconnected, the triple tau can be found on aprons of Worshipful Masters in some lodges.
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Trowel
The trowel is one of the oldest tools of Freemasonry. It can be seen on both “Modern” (Carmick manuscript 1727) and “Antient” tracing boards. In some lodges (in the past) it was a tool of the Entered Apprentice. In other lodges (also nowadays) it is a Fellow Craft tool. Most of the time it is a tool of the Worshipful Master. In Emulation it is the jewel of the Charity Steward. In the Schröder Rite this is the emblem of the Guardian of the Temple. The symbol seems to have fallen largely in disuse after the 1813 fusion though, except in the USA (where it mostly stands for “brotherly love”) and Scandinavia.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan