Defending the Badge: The Glory of Our Masonic Apron
Kerry A. Shirts, 32°
Eagle Rock Lodge #19
Idaho Falls, Idaho
July 19, 2010
Masons teach when it comes to the symbolism and the meaning of Freemasonry, that it is the individual Mason who learns their meanings for himself. No lodge has a dogmatic, authoritative belief of the meanings which all Masons must adhere to and believe.[1] In the course of studying our symbolisms and philosophy of Freemasonry, I learned of an egregious error on the part of Matt Brown discussing the Masonic apron, our badge of Freemasonry. He wrote an article in 1997 discussing the Masonic apron in relation to the Book of Mormon lambskin apron. His article is an apologetic in favor of the antiquity of the Book of Mormon lambskin apron, but a dismissal of the Masonic apron. In Brown’s mind, only one can be authentic, which, according to his logic means the other is a fraud.[2] Brown is not a Freemason, and his incredibly naïve use of Masonic sources is what caught my eye. As a Freemason, I know there is more to it than what Brown led on to believe. I wish “to set the record straight.”[3] I have no interest in this article
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