Some Memorials Of The Globe Lod Ge,No. 23, And Of The "Red Apron."

Some Memorials of the Globe Lodge , No . 23 , and of the "Red Apron . "

( BY HENRY SADLER . )

THE additional Lodges , several of which had had the privilege of the " Red Apron " in past years , were the Grand Masters Lodge , No . i ; British Lodge , No . 8 ; Tuscan Lodge , No . 14 ; Castle Lodge of Harmony , No . 36 ; St . Alban ' s Lodge , No . 29 ; Lodge of Felicity , No . 5 8 ;

Lodge of Peace and Harmony , No . 60 ; Pilgrim Lodge , No , 238 ; and the Prince of Wales's Lodge , No . 259 . As a matter of course these Lodges readily adopted the privilege which had been handed down from their predecessors , that of electing one of their own members to

represent them as Grand Steward , and , with the exception of two , they have preserved that privilege intact down to the present day .

JOHN THKOPHILUS DKSAGULIKRS , LL . D ., F . K . S ., Grainl Mauler , 171 !) , Dip . G . Matter , 1722-2 ( 1 .

The Pilgrim Lodge resigned its " Red Apron " in 18 34 owing to paucity of members , and the Grand Master nominated the Jerusalem Lodge , No . 197 , in its place , and the Old King ' s Arms Lodge lost its privileges in 1852 owing to the neglect of the Secretary in not returning the name of the

brother elected within the specified time , when it was succeeded by the Old Union Lodge , No . 4 6 . Being under the impression that on the occasion referred to this venerable Lodge , which had done good service in the past , was somewhat severely dealt with , I have much pleasure in recording the fact that at the last Grand Festival , 1904 ,

the M . W . Grand Master , with the hearty concurrence of the Grand Lodge , was pleased to restore its ancient privilege by replacing it on the Roll of " Red Apron " Loclges . PROBABLE REASONS FOR THE BLUE , AND THE RED APROXS .

I feel that I shall not have completed my essay on the " Red Apron " if I do not endeavour to furnish a probable reason for the selection of the distinctive colour of the regalia of the Grand Stewards of England , differing as it does from that worn by the same officers in the sister jurisdictions of

Ireland and Scotland , in both of which the colour of the Grand Stewards clothing corresponds with that of the other Grand Officers , the former being light blue and the latter dark green . As has already been noted the records of the Grand

Lodge contain only the bare mention of the selection of the distinctive colours for the Grand Officers , the Grand Stewards , and the other members of the Grand Lodge , giving us also an inkling of the period of their adoption , but for the why ? and the wherefore ? we are left quite in the dark , nor ,

so far as I can learn , do the numerous Masonic books of reference and the general works of Masonic writers from Dr . Anderson , the father of Masonic historians , down to those of the present day , with one single exception , throw the smallest reasonable light on the subject .

The exception referred to is Frederick J . W . Crowe , Grand Organist , author of " Masonic Clothing and Regalia , " and several useful Hand-books on Freemasonry , who may justly be credited with having made a special study of the subject in hand , and whose opinions thereon are consequently entitled to the greatest respect and consideration .

In a paper on " Colours in Freemasonry , " recently read before the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , Bro . Crowe expresses a strong opinion that the symbolism now attached to the colours of Masonic regalia is of comparatively modern adaptation , and that their selection had its origin from a

more homely and practical source , and I am bound to say that I quite agree with him . Bro . Crowe ' s theory is that the dark blue of the Grand Lodge regalia is derived from the ribbon of the Order of the

Garter , and the red of the Grand Stewards from that of the Order of the Bath , and in my opinion he has reasonable grounds for his conclusion . Having already quoted from the minutes of the Grand Lodge certain paragraphs relating to the introduction of these colours , I need not here repeat them , but will content myself with supporting Bro . Crowe's

theory by a few historic facts , which seem to me to bear , although perhaps indirectly , upon this interesting and not unimportant subject . I think it will be generally conceded that during the lirst six years of the existence of the Grand Lodge of England there was no distinctive colour of the

clothing , either for the Grand Officers or the other brethren . What little evidence we have bearing on the subject indicates that while was the original colour of the badge worn by all members of the Order , doubtless derived from the plain white apron of the operative Masons .

The earliest representation of a Masonic apron that has come under my notice is in the well-known engraved portrait of Anthony Sayer , Grand Master in 1717 , painted by Joseph Highmore , an eminent brother contemporary with Sayer . This apron has the appearance of being quite plain and white , without border or other ornament . There is no date on the plate , but as the inscription thereon describes Sayer as " Grand Alaster of the Masons , "