The Mystical Court Apron
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 with 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 Freemason’s apron.
- Roman Priests: Roman priests wore white garments when they sacrificed.
- Druids: The Druids changed the colour of the garment presented to their initiates with each degree; white, however, was the colour 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.
