3932 – Rosicrucian Masonic Apron

Physical description:

A cream silk apron with embroidered image of pelican and its young, roses, crosses, name of God at the top. Red and rose cross. Red/pink border. Mounted and framed for display.

Museum classification:

Ritual Magic

Size:

30cm x 30cm (outside of frame)

Information:

This Masonic Apron is French and probably dates from the 1800s.  The apron has the name of God at the top in Hebrew letters (also called the Tetragrammaton), a pelican feeding its young with its blood and a rose cross. 

The symbol of a pelican in its piety was used throughout the Middle Ages as a symbol of Jesus who also sacrificed his blood for those under his care (humankind).  Francis King argued that this image is not Christian but an alchemical symbol of the phoenix as, “…the pelican and the phoenix were interchangeable symbols…it was with the blood of the phoenix that Christian Rosycross restored the King and Queen to life [in a story told in the pamphlet The Chemical Marriage of Christian Rosycross which is a symbolic treatise on alchemy].” Francis King, Ritual Magic in England (1887 to present day) p. 26

For more on the phoenix and its connections to Ritual Magic, see object number 1412: https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/object/staff-9/

The Rosicrucians

“…we be bretheren of the Rosie Crosse, we have the Mason’s Word and the Second Sight. Things to come we can foretell aright.” 17^th century poem

In 1614, a pamphlet was published in Germany which contained an account of the life of Christian Rosenkreuz, who was said to have lived to 106 years old and whose body had recently been rediscovered (remarkably well preserved) in an elaborate tomb.  He was said to have been the leader of “The Fraternity of the Rosy Cross”.  Several other pamphlets appeared in the 1600s about this secret society of healers, mystics and adepts who emphasise, “macrocosm and microcosm” and stress “Magia, Cabala, and Alchymia…combining to form a new religious philosophy which promises a new dawn for mankind.”  Frances Yates, Rosicrucian Englightenment p.67

One pamphlet in particular connects the Rosicrucians with Ritual Magic and that is the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, published in 1616.  On one of the pages of the book, a symbol developed by John Dee appears.  This symbol is called the Monas Hieroglyphica. 

In the pamphlets, people who are interested in joining the Brotherhood are encouraged to publish their replies.  We know that several people in the 1600s tried to reach out but we do not know if anyone ever received a reply from the Invisible College (as it became known).

In later years, many different organisations developed which included the “Rose Cross.”  Some were alchemists, other Masons, some interested in the Qabalah and others more interested in mystical Christianity.  Higher adepts in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn are also called Rosicrucians.  These disparate groups are connected by the mysterious symbol of the Rosy Cross.

 

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Silk

Copyright ownership:

MWM

This Masonic Apron is French and probably dates from the 1800s.  The apron has the name of God at the top in Hebrew letters (also called the Tetragrammaton), a pelican feeding its young with its blood and a rose cross. 

The symbol of a pelican in its piety was used throughout the Middle Ages as a symbol of Jesus who also sacrificed his blood for those under his care (humankind).  Francis King argued that this image is not Christian but an alchemical symbol of the phoenix as, “…the pelican and the phoenix were interchangeable symbols…it was with the blood of the phoenix that Christian Rosycross restored the King and Queen to life [in a story told in the pamphlet The Chemical Marriage of Christian Rosycross which is a symbolic treatise on alchemy].” Francis King, Ritual Magic in England (1887 to present day) p. 26

For more on the phoenix and its connections to Ritual Magic, see object number 1412: https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/object/staff-9/

The Rosicrucians

“…we be bretheren of the Rosie Crosse, we have the Mason’s Word and the Second Sight. Things to come we can foretell aright.” 17^th century poem

In 1614, a pamphlet was published in Germany which contained an account of the life of Christian Rosenkreuz, who was said to have lived to 106 years old and whose body had recently been rediscovered (remarkably well preserved) in an elaborate tomb.  He was said to have been the leader of “The Fraternity of the Rosy Cross”.  Several other pamphlets appeared in the 1600s about this secret society of healers, mystics and adepts who emphasise, “macrocosm and microcosm” and stress “Magia, Cabala, and Alchymia…combining to form a new religious philosophy which promises a new dawn for mankind.”  Frances Yates, Rosicrucian Englightenment p.67

One pamphlet in particular connects the Rosicrucians with Ritual Magic and that is the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, published in 1616.  On one of the pages of the book, a symbol developed by John Dee appears.  This symbol is called the Monas Hieroglyphica. 

In the pamphlets, people who are interested in joining the Brotherhood are encouraged to publish their replies.  We know that several people in the 1600s tried to reach out but we do not know if anyone ever received a reply from the Invisible College (as it became known).

In later years, many different organisations developed which included the “Rose Cross.”  Some were alchemists, other Masons, some interested in the Qabalah and others more interested in mystical Christianity.  Higher adepts in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn are also called Rosicrucians.  These disparate groups are connected by the mysterious symbol of the Rosy Cross.