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Aprons in 3 Degrees
The existence of this chart, and much of the information included in it, is the result of research efforts by Chris Harris, on the Philalethes Society listserv. The information on this chart comes from various sources, mostly email messages from several brethren. If anyone has definite information for additions or changes on this chart, please send email to Paul M. Bessel so I can update this chart.
United States
| State | How Aprons are Worn in the 3 Degrees |
|---|---|
| Alabama | EA- Bib turned up FC- Right corner tucked up MM-left corner and bib turned down EA worn this way to prevent soiling their clothes FC worn this way, distinguish them from EAs MM worn this way to distinguish them from EAs and FCs. |
| Alaska | EA–Flap up FC–Flap Down MM–Same as FC, with this explanation: Masters, as a mark of distinction, wore their aprons with one corner turned up, forming a square. But since we no longer work in operative masonry, the custom has become obsolete and MM wear theirs with the flap and corner turned down as FCs. |
| Arizona | EA–Flap up FC–Flap Down MM–Same as FC, with this explanation: Masters, as a mark of distinction, wore their aprons with one corner turned up, forming a square. But since we no longer work in operative masonry, the custom has become obsolete and MM wear theirs with the flap and corner turned down as FCs. |
| Arkansas | EA — bib truned up FC — bib truned down, left corner turned up MM — At full sweep |
| California | EA–Flap Up – to protect their clothing from being soiled FC–Flap Down – no explanation MM–Same as FC, with this explanation: Masters, or overseers of the work, as a mark of distinction, wore their aprons with one corner turned up thus, forming a square. But since we no longer work in operative masonry, but in speculative only, the custom has become obsolete and MM wear theirs with the flap and corner turned down as FCs. |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | EA- Bib turned up. FC- Bib turned down and left hand corner brought up and tucked in. (His left) MM- Bib turned down and apron spread. |
| Delaware | |
| District of Columbia | |
| Florida | |
| Georgia | EA – Bibb Up FC – Bibb Down – Left Hand Corner of the Apron tucked in at the waist MM – Both Bibb and Flap Turned Down |
| Hawaii | |
| Idaho | |
| Illinois | EA- Flap up FC- Flap Down with left corner turned up in form of triangle to hold working tools MM- Left corner down in form of square. |
| Indiana | E.A. bib turned up F.C. bib turned down M.M. left corner turned up only when being taught how to wear the apron |
| Iowa | E.A. bib turned up F.C. bib turned down M.M. left corner turned up only when being taught how to wear the apron. |
| Kansas | EA – flap up (bearers of burdens) FC – fold as pocket for tools (right or left we do not yet agree) MM – as above flap down |
| Kentucky | EA – flap up (to protect clothing) FC – corner up (to hold the FC working tools) MM – corners down (to distinguish MMs) |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | EA****** Flap Up FC****** Flap and corner up ( no corner specified ) MM****** Flap and corner down |
| Maryland | |
| Massachusetts | EA: Lap turned up FC: Right corner (as well as lap) turned up MM: Right corner and lap turned down |
| Michigan | EA – Flap up FC – Left corner up MM – Flap and corners down |
| Minnesota | EA the flap is UP FC the flap is DOWN MM “At the building of King Solomon’s temple the Masters or overseers of the work were directed to wear their apron with the corner turned up, thus my Brother are you directed to wear yours, but for convenience you may wear it in Fellow Craft’s form.” And it is the right corner that is turned up and then placed down. |
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | EA – Flap up FC – Flap down MM – right corner tucked up (possibly for holding the trowel which is the proper instrument for a MM) but for uniformity’s sake wear it with the corner down |
| Montana | |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | |
| New Hampshire | EA – lap turned up, corners down FC – lap turned up and left corner tucked up MM – lap and corners down |
| New Jersey | EA – Flap up FC – Flap down,- left corner tucked up MM all down, OVER (outside) the coat |
| New Mexico | EA – Flap up FC – Flap down MM – right corner tucked up (possibly for holding the trowel which is the proper instrument for a MM) but for uniformity’s sake wear it with the corner down |
| New York | In NY Entered Apprentices wear their aprons with the flap up. The Fellowcrafts have the flap up and left corner tucked up. The MMs have them both down. |
| North Carolina | EA – flap turned up FC – flap down, left hand corner of the apron tucked in at the waist MM – corner down, flowing freely |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | email message said: EA wears the apron with the flap up, and the FC with the flap down. The MM wears the apron with the corner turned up, except I forget which corner, and the only time that a MM actually wears his apron that way is during the 3rd degree. Otherwise, in everyday practice, the MM wears his apron with the flap down. |
| Oklahoma | EAs wear their aprons with their bibs up, to protect their clothing. FCs wear their aprons with the bibs down, and left corners turned up MMs wear their aprons in the form of a square |
| Oregon | EA – Flap turned up. The explanation is that it protects the mason’s clothing from being soiled while he’s working. But as we’re speculative masons and not operative, we should wear our apron “unspotted before the world.” FC – Flap turned down, left-hand corner turned up. MM – Flap turned down, left-hand corner turned down. |
| Pennsylvania | EA – flap up FC -flap down, right hand corner tucked up MM – square (flap and corner down) |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | EA – Flap up FC – Corner turned up (with flap down) MM – Flap down. |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | EA – flap up FC – flap down MM – right corner up (for instruction only) |
| Texas | EA- Bib turned up FC- Left hand corner tucked up MM-left corner and bib turned down EA worn this way to prevent soiling their clothes FC worn this way, distinguish them from EAs MM worn this way to distinguish them from EAs and FCs. |
| Utah | |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | EA – flap turned up FC – flap down MM – right corner tuckup up with flap down |
| Washington | EA – flap up FC – flap down MM – right corner up (for instruction only) |
| West Virginia | Same as Washington state in WV for aprons in the degrees. |
| Wisconsin | EA- Flap up FC- Flap Down with left corner turned up in form of triangle to hold working tools MM- Left corner down in form of square. |
| Wyoming |
Other than the United States
| England | EA – plain white lambskin (14 to 16 inches wide and twelve to fourteen inches deep) FC – ditto but with two rosettes, one each at lower left and right corners MM – white lambskin with same two rosettes plus another central on flap plus border (not more than two inches wide) of light blue all round apron and flap plus two sets of seven silver tassels suspended from light blue ribbons above the two lower rosettes. Not worn with flap or corner turned up. |
| Scotland | EA – Flap up FC – Corner turned up, to hold your wages when received at the Wicket MM – Flap down. |
| Australia | Australian jurisdictions follow the English practice of embellishments on the apron to indicate rank, and always have flap and corner down. |
| Israel | AA Scottish Rite ritual wear aprons as follows: EA: plain white, flap up FC: plain white, flap down MM: white with red border, black back, letters M.B. on front, flap down. |
| Brazil | EA – flap up FC – flap down MM – blue flap down |
| Ontario, Canada | EA – white FC – 2 rosettes MM – 3 rosettes and a light blue border |
| New Zealand | In New Zealand the English practice is followed |