Page 15 - Essex Mason Issue 84

Provincial DC's Corner

n my role as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for Essex I am regularly
Iasked questions regarding protocol and procedure. I will therefore be writing
articles in the forthcoming editions of the Essex Mason magazine, intended to
answer some of the more common ones.

Jewels

One of the more common questions I receive concerns the correct wearing of
Jewels, especially as we are moving towards the Festival 2022.

In a Craft Lodge the Royal Arch Jewel takes precedence over all
other Jewels and as such should be worn closest to the centre of
the body and your heart. In a Royal Arch Chapter a Companion
would wear his a PZ Jewel next but in a Craft Lodge that is incorrect; as a PZ Jewel should
not be worn in a Craft meeting; in the same way that you would not wear a Past Master’s
jewel in a Royal Arch meeting.

If you were a member of the Craft between 24th June 2016 and 31st December 2017 you are entitled, if you
are already or become a Master Mason, to wear a Tercentenary Jewel. It should be worn immediately next
to your RA jewel (if you have one). Next to that you should wear your Past Master jewel and any Centenary
jewels you are entitled to wear.

The current Festival Jewel (page 19) is then worn last, to the outside of the body.

In many Provinces it is generally accepted that when a Past Master is appointed to Provincial
Grand Rank he no longer wears a Past Masters Jewel. In fact, it is normal practice In many
lodges for a Past Master to return his PM jewel to the lodge to be re-used when he becomes
a Provincial Officer, a nice sentiment and a saving for the Lodge.

Whatever the norm in your lodge, Essex protocol dictates that Provincial Officers who hold
an acting/active rank do not wear a Past Masters Jewel; the only exception being if they are
attending a meeting of their Mother Lodge.
Aprons

Another point with regards to correct dress is with regards to the correct wearing of aprons.
A very simple and general guide for getting the height of the apron right on the body is to always have the
waist band of the apron just above your jacket pockets.
This should place the top of the apron just below the top button of the jacket
(as demonstrated left).

Some aprons come with a small piece of material stitched
on the back, just below the top of the apron, called a
‘becket’. This is simply hooked over the top button of a
jacket and stops the apron from slipping down.

The apron may feel a little high at first but you will
note how much smarter it looks, compared to the “gun
slinger” look adopted by some brethren.
If your apron did not come with a
becket a 2” length of shoe lace sewn
on the back of the apron will do the
job perfectly well.
If you have any other questions or
areas of protocol that you would like
me to clarify, please contact me and I will do my best to answer it
directly or, if it is likely to be of interest to a wider audience, in a
further article.
W.Bro Lee Taylor, PAGDC, ProvGDC
lee.taylor@EssexPGL.org.uk
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