Masonic apron

Masonic apron

Scottish Rite 18 Degree

20th century

United Kingdom

20th-century Masonic apron belonging to the Scottish Rite 18 Degree, showing a pelican in its piety, a passion cross, and a Tetragrammaton.

20th-century Masonic apron belonging to the Scottish Rite 18 Degree, showing a pelican in its piety, a passion cross, and a Tetragrammaton. The apron is made of white satin with a red taffeta border and uses metal thread, cotton thread, and sequins. Gold work on the body of the apron includes a pelican in her piety worked in cutwork, s-ing, and plate application. The pelican's nest is worked in bright green silk chenille threads. Two stems of cutwork roses sit below the pelican. Behind the pelican is a passion cross in cutwork, filled with red velvet. Sequins are arranged in rays behind the cross. On the flap of the apron is a goldwork Tetragrammaton, a triangle containing the four Hebrew letters YHWH, which is the word for God. A double row of twist is used for an edging detail around the ribbon. The strap, which is worn, is made of matching ribbon with a gold coloured swan neck buckle.

This apron belonged to a Knight of the Rose Croix, a member of the Scottish Rite 18 Degree. This is a Freemasons' organisation. The Scottish Rite is one of most popular rites. The 18th degree uses the teaching of Jesus to urge toleration of all. Though the imagery and symbols of the Scottish Rite 18 Degree originate in Christianity, the group now includes any religion but a belief in one God.

silk satin
ribbon
silk thread
metal thread
chenille
metal

Flat cutwork (goldwork) 
S-ing (goldwork) 
Plate application 
Gold twist application 

Goldwork 

pelican
rose
cross
leaf

RSN.1755