28th Degree – Apron

In the Liturgy Pike describes the apron thus: “The Apron is square, of scarlet-colored lambskin, lined and edged with black. The flap is white, and on it is a Teutonic Cross described as a cross potent sable, charged with another cross double potent or, surcharged with an escutcheon of the Empire, the principal Cross surmounted by a chief azure, seme of France; …” He is using the technical terminology of heraldry: “potent” is a word used to describe a cross with cross pieces at the ends, “double potent” means two cross pieces at the ends; “sable” is black; “or” is gold; “charged” means superimposed upon; “chief” means on top of; “azure” is blue; “seme” means strewn or scattered. In the middle of apron is a black key and around it a wreath of laurel. The laurel symbolize the good opinion our brethren have for us.

—from “A Bridge to Light” book by Rex R.Hutchens