Category Archives: General

Moon and stars

Very general symbol. It appears on many tracing boards (“craft” or otherwise), on aprons, in lodge rooms. Usually there is a sun on the opposite side. The moon is usually (but not always) accompanied by seven stars.

Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan

Sun

Very general symbol. It appears on many tracing boards (“craft” or otherwise), on aprons, in lodge rooms. Usually on the opposite side there is a moon.

In A. & A. R. The intermediate Degrees 19º – 29º A.C.F. Jackson (1982), when talking about a 28th degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite tracing board, the sun is described as: “The Sun represents the unity of the Supreme Being”.

Also, it can be the emblem of the Senior Deacon.

Top: Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Bottom: general officer jewel

Checkered Floor

Checkered floor (often black and white), also known as “tesselated pavement”. The pattern can be either horizontal or diagonal, either or not reaching the edges of the room or only covering a small part in the middle. The floor appears in many degrees, “craft” or otherwise.

general image found online.

Bible / Book of Sacred Law

Many (but not all!) lodges make use of a Bible (either or not replaced or next to another sacred book), also known as the Book of Sacred Law or the Book of Sacred Lore. It is often opened on different places in different degrees and the way the Square and Compasses lay on it, differs per degree as well. These details can differ between lodges. In some lodges the book is replaced by another book, such as the constitution of the Grand Lodge, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a symbol book or nothing at all.

Without the Square and Compasses, the Book can be the emblem of the Orator or the Chaplain.

Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan

Apron

One of the most characteristic elements of Masonic apparel. Know that not only Freemasons wear aprons. Aprons come in an enormous variety of shapes, sizes and decoration. The colour of the border may refer to the lodge or Grand Lodge where the apron is in use. The way it is worn says something about the degree of the member. Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts can have the flaps of their aprons, upright, on the inside or on the outside. The apron is often all white. This can be different in different lodges. Master Masons usually have a more ornate apron with the colours of their (Grand) lodge, perhaps a symbol of their functions. The flap is often triangular, but it can also be round (usually this refers to a Scottish working). The same goes for the apron itself. There are even triangular aprons. Especially in ‘higher degrees’ the aprons get more variety in shapes, sizes and decoration. It takes a lot of knowledge of a lot of systems and degrees to be able to identify a random apron. Hopefully this website will assist a bit with that.

Wikimedia Commons.