UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND APPROVED ORATION THE COLOURS OF THE CRAFT ORATION NUMBER: OR08029 LEVEL: BEGINNER First Degree This document is protected by copyright and it may not be copied, used, or distributed in any form or manner without the expressed permission of the United Grand Lodge of England.
COLOURS OF THE CRAFT The dye used for colouring material has to have two properties; first a strong tendency to get together with the material, which is called affinity, and secondly, an ability to redistribute itself to an equilibrium position between each part of the material and the mother liquor, which is called levelling. A very good description of a Freemason: someone of strong affinity to his Lodge and always on the level. Indeed, when one looks around at Freemasons in a Lodge, it becomes obvious that colour plays a great part in establishing identity, rank and dignity. From the pure white of the Entered Apprentice s badge to the deep blue of Grand Lodge; from the light blue of the Master Mason s apron and the collars of the Lodge Officers, to the crimson of a Grand Steward, each has its own significance and each has been produced by the skill of a colourist, chemist, dyer or tanner. Additionally each colour conveys traditional moral messages, well understood by our ancient brethren and still of relevance today. Colours have such a large place in the customs of the Craft that inevitably the question arises: Did ancient symbolism inspire the colours of masonry, or were they first chosen and the symbolism then found to fit them? When the first English speculative Mason wore an apron, it was his one and only badge of masonry. It was white and was made of lambskin. As the lamb had been from time immemorial the universally acknowledged emblem of purity and innocence, he was reminded of that purity of life and actions which should at all times distinguish a Freemason, and which was most essential to his gaining admission to the Grand Lodge Above where the blessed ever rest in eternal peace. Essentially, the Freemason s apron of today is white, although the amount of ornament on it tends to obscure the fact. In English Lodges the Initiates apron is a plain white one and that same white apron is worn by Masons in many different degrees in the American Masonic system and throughout the world. Having mentioned America, it is interesting to note a custom from that country. Every Initiate receives his personal white lambskin apron (without any decoration or distinguishing mark) when he is initiated. He carries it home, puts it away carefully, 2
and leaves it there until his death. It is then brought out and put on his body and interred with him. At Lodge he wears a cloth apron usually all white, but sometimes bordered in blue, and sometimes bearing the lodge name and number on the flap taken from a supply of aprons furnished by the lodge and kept in a pile near the Tyler s station. White, as a colour, has ever been regarded as emblematic of purity, truth, innocence, and hope. It implies the moral quality of purity by the removal of stains. There are many biblical references to support this symbolism. The first Masonic reference should always be to the Sacred Writings, and perhaps the founders of our Order would have looked there for guidance. In the Second Book of Chronicles, The Bible refers to colours and the skills of Hiram Abiff And now I have sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, even Hiram my master craftsman, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to grave any manner of graving, and to devise any device; to do whatever may be set before him, with thy skilful men, and with the skilful men of David thy father. The Bible mentions many liturgical uses of white and blue: Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, thou shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue ; and there are many, many others. In Christian Religious Art, the light blue colour has been used to demonstrate Humility and Expiation, and to depict the Robe of the Virgin Mary. To the ancient Jews, blue was regarded as a religious colour. The High Priest had a blue robe, and one of the veils of the tabernacle was a blue colour and known as tekelet (implying perfection). It is said that in ancient days the most solemn oaths were sworn on blue altars. Many years ago, a writer who looked into the questions of colours with regard to Freemasonry, came to the conclusion that the English Grand Lodge, in choosing the colours of its clothing, was guided mainly by the colours associated with the Orders 3
of the Garter and Bath. This idea was later confirmed by Henry Sadler, a respected Masonic writer, who said: Having looked at the matter from every conceivable point of view, I have failed to think of a more favourable explanation. It is, therefore, possible that the deep-blue colour known as Oxford Blue of the Grand Officers clothing was borrowed from the ribbon of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. However, when the garter was instituted by Edward III in 1348, its colour was light blue, but in 1714, this light blue was changed to the present deep blue to distinguish the colour of the Order from that of King James I and the Stuart cause. They, in banishment on the Continent, had chosen to use the light blue colour. We can be sure that the first Grand Officers of the United Grand Lodge of England were loyal supporters of the Hanoverian succession, and their legacy has continued to this day. The light blue therefore known as Cambridge Blue of private lodge clothing, would appear to have been deliberately chosen to contrast with, and mark the difference from, the deep blue of Grand Lodge. In 1904, the Masonic author, Bro. F.J.W. Crowe, also stated his belief that all this symbolism has been invented after the fact ; his explanation being that the founders of our Order had simply used the colours of the various Orders of Chivalry existing in the 18 th Century. He was of the opinion that the light blue of private lodges was simply adopted to contrast with the dark blue of Grand Lodge, and the crimson of Grand Stewards derived from the Order of the Bath. The colour red, including crimson, of Grand Stewards, is an emblem of fervency and zeal; fervency in devotion to God, and zeal in our endeavours to promote the welfare of man. In Heraldry, crimson signifies fortitude, and in the Christian religion, it is the colour of martyrs. Above all, crimson is the colour of blood, and hence it denotes life of body and soul. Whichever came first, symbolism or colours, it is undeniable that Freemasonry attaches considerable importance to colours. Universally, blue is the colour of truth and fidelity and generally relates to the Craft; indeed in the United States of America, the Craft is known by the name Blue Masonry. To Freemasons, the colour blue has 4
become emblematical of universal beneficence and charity, and it teaches that, in our hearts, those virtues should be as expansive as the blue arch of heaven. 5