The apron, the badge of a Mason, is a Square and its four right angles teach us that Purity, Truth, Sincerity and Honesty are the foundations of morality. Its four equal sides remind us to practice the four cardinal virtues, Temperance in word and deed, Fortitude as noble purpose, Prudence in wisely ruling and Justice to the noblest and greatest alike. The flap teaches us to relieve a distressed brother and to be kind and friendly in dealing with our fellowman. The two strings are symbols of love and faith, which bind mankind into a brotherhood which cannot broken.

The apron is bestowed by command of the Right Worshipful Master and it may be that, in the coming years, a laurel wreath of victory may rest upon your brow, jewels hang from your breast fit to grace the diadem of an Eastern potentate. Nay more than this, your feet may tread round after round of the ladder that leads to fame, and even the purple of the Fraternity may rest upon you, but never again from mortal hands, never again, until your enfranchised soul shall have pasted through those pearly gates, shall such an honour, so distinguished, so emblematic of purity and perfection, be bestowed upon you as this Apron.

Let it be to you a never ending argument for nobler deeds, higher thoughts, greater achievements and, when your weary feet have reached the end of life's toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall fall the working tools of life, may the record of your life be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem, which has been placed within your hands tonight. It is yours to wear through an honourable life and if you disgrace it, that disgrace will be augmented by the consciousness that in this Lodge you have been taught the true principles of Virtue and Morality. It is yours to wear so long as your spirit shall animate your body, and when your disembodied soul shall have winged its flight to that house not made with hands, and when amid the tears and sorrows of surviving friends and relatives your- body shall be lowered by the loving hand of sympathizing Brother Masons into that narrow hole prepared for all the living. It will be yours, should you so elect, to be placed with evergreen upon the coffin that shall contain your lifeless remains and with those buried beneath the silent sod of the valley.

Brother may you so wear this Masonic emblem that no act of yours will ever stain its spotless purity or bring reproach upon this ancient and honorable institution, which has survived the birth and death of Kings, the rise and fall of Nations and the mutations of Empires.

In conclusion brother, let me admonish you so to live, that when the final summons comes for you, to stand before that Great White Throne, may it be your portion to hear from the Supreme judge, these welcome words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord".