COMPLIED BY: Sir Godfrey Gregg ROMC, OHPM
“….Lambskin or white leather apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a member of The Mystical Court. more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, and when worthily worn, more honourable than the Star and Garter, or any other Order that can be conferred upon you at this or any future period by the king, prince, potentate, or any other person, except he be a Mystical member and within the Body of a just and legally constituted Church or Organization of such.”
“It may be that, in the years to come, upon your head shall rest the laurel wreaths of victory; pendant from your breast may hang jewels fit to grace the diadem of a Caribbean potentate; yea, more than these:
…for with the coming light, your ambitious feet may tread round after round the ladder that leads to fame in our mystic circle, and even the purple of our Ministry may rest upon your honoured shoulders;
…but never again by mortal hands, never again until your enfranchized spirit shall have passed upward and inward through the gates of pearl, shall any honour so distinguished, so emblematic of purity and all perfection, be bestowed upon you as this, which I now confer. Have you received your emblematic apron? Why and what are you waiting for? Why has it taken you so long?
It is yours; yours to wear through an honourable life, and at your death to be placed upon the coffin which contains your earthly remains, and with them laid beneath the silent clods of the valley.”
“Let its pure and spotless surface be to you an ever-present reminder of purity of life, of rectitude of conduct, a never-ending argument for higher thoughts, for nobler deeds, for greater achievements; and when at last your weary feet shall have reached the end of their toilsome journey,
…and from your nerveless grasp forever drop the working tools of a busy life, may the record of your life and conduct be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem which I place around your waist tonight;
…and when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone before the great white throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds done while here in the body, may it be your portion to hear from Him who sitteth as Judge Supreme these welcome words:
‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'”
“I charge you-take it, wear it with pleasure to yourself and honour to the Ministry.”
Innocence of Conduct and Purity of Heart
The Mystical Court apron teaches the aspiring Member that none are admitted to that honour but such as were cleansed of all impurities of both body and mind.
The purity of life and rectitude of conduct is essential and necessary to gain admittance into the Mystical Court on High where the Supreme Architect of the Universe forever presides.
In primitive times, it was an ecclesiastical (religious) decoration more than a civil decoration.
The earliest mention of the apron was when Melchizedek, with Abraham, started the priesthood. (around 2100 B.C.) Melchizedek was the Most High Priest and the first to wear the apron as the badge of religious authority. The apron is a high honour and is the symbol of a holy man.
Ancient Badge of Distinction
The apron appears to have been, in ancient times, an honorary badge of distinction. None but the superior orders of the priesthood were permitted to adorn themselves with ornamented girdles made of blue, purple and crimson, decorated with gold upon a background of fine white linen.
Historic Ceremonies of Investiture have been common to all nations of the Earth from the earliest periods.
The Indian, the Persian, the Jewish, the Ethiopian and the Egyptian aprons, though equally superb, all bore a character distinct from each other. Some were plain white.
Others were stripped of blue, purple and crimson. Some were of wrought gold…others were adorned and decorated with superb tassels and fringes.
Israelites: Historically, among the Israelites, the girdle formed a part of the investiture of the priesthood.
Persia: The candidate was invested with a white apron.
Hindostan: A sash was used called the sacred zennar, which was substituted for the apron.
Essenes: The Jewish sect of the Essenes clothed their novices with a white robe.
Japanese: The Japanese practice certain rites of initiation invest their candidates with a white apron, bound round the loins with a zone or girdle.
Scandinavia: The military genius of the people caused them to substitute a white shield, but its presentation was accompanied by an emblematic instruction, not unlike that which is connected with the Mystical Court’s apron.
Roman Priests: Roman priests wore white garments when they sacrificed.
Druids: The Druids changed the color of the garment presented to their initiates with each degree; white, however, was the color appropriated to the last, or degree of perfection. It was, according to their ritual, intended to teach the aspirant that none were admitted to that honour but such as were cleansed from all impurities both of body and mind.
Spiritual Baptist: Women wore a white apron of varying designs. The men were exempted.
Formation of the Mystical Court
At the time of the formation of the Mystical Court, the Supreme Grand Commanding Officer apron was white – no ornaments at first, and full size, similar in every respect to that of the Commanding Officer’s apron.
Colour of a Grand Commanding Officer Apron:
Due to the preservation of its symbolic character – its color and its material:
The colour of a Grand Commanding Officer apron should be pure unspotted white, which is esteemed as an emblem of innocence and purity.
The material of a Grand Commanding Officer Apron:
A Grand Commanding Officer apron must be made of lambskin. No other substance, such as linen, silk or satin, could be substituted without entirely destroying the emblematic character of the apron, for the material of the Grand Commanding Officer’s apron constitutes one of the most important symbols of his profession.
….The lamb having always been considered as an appropriate emblem of innocence.
Drill Apron: Your drill apron is symbolic of your lambskin Grand Commanding Officer apron.
Why, then, do members of The Mystical Court wear their lambskin Grand Commanding Officer apron with such pride?
Honour: The reason the Mystical Court apron is more honourable than the Star and Garter are that all it teaches is exemplified by its wearer.
Spiritual Knighthood: The Mystical Court apron is a reminder to the Mystical Court member to do no moral evil to any person. It speaks to the charitable forgiveness of his brethren when they purposely or non-purposely do him evil.
It is the emblem of his dedication to a spiritual knighthood with which man virtuously rises above the crudeness and the ignorance of men.
Dignity and Virtue: The Mystical Court apron should be worn with dignity and honour as it exemplifies man’s virtues upon which during his manhood, he may wear it both with pleasure to himself while honouring the organization.
The Mystical Court Apron which is 14 inches by 16 inches and is made of white, synthetic leather with Mystical symbols embroidered onto them in different, colour thread.
Some members wear an apron which has ties in the back, however, most prefer the belted version. To keep them clean before and after court work, many Mystical Court members place them in zippered apron cases which have handles.
THE MYSTICAL COURT 