Brother David Bacon was raised a Master Mason in Canton Lodge No. 60 just last May. Professionally, he has been a tattoo artist for over a decade. As a new Master Mason, he has taken up the old craft of illuminating Masonic aprons by hand.
Prior to the industrial revolution, hand painted leather or silk aprons were a regular part of any Master Mason’s personal regalia. However, as the regalia industry grew and took on a life of its own, personalized
Masonic aprons became a thing of the past. Some examples can still be seen displayed as relics on lodge walls or in display cases. However, it is rare to find an artist today with the ability or interest to illuminate a Masonic apron.
“I first tried tattooing an apron, but that didn’t work. So I tried using permanent ink, which won’t flake off the leather like paint would,” explains Bacon. “My first real success was an apron that I did for a member of my Lodge, Right Worshipful Brother Tom White.” Since then, Bacon has completed a number of aprons. He even recently illuminated an apron for Brother Tom Stofac, CEO of the Ohio Masonic Home.
As a Mason and a tattoo artist, Brother Bacon loves the deep philosophy and rich symbolism of the Masonic fraternity. However, when asked why he became a Freemason, he explained, “I’m a Shriner baby. When I was born I was severely pigeon-toed. My great grandfather, who was a Mason, told my mom that the Shriners could help me to walk, and they did!”
There are many great traditions that were practiced at one time or another by the Masonic fraternity over the last 300 years. Some of them, like illuminated aprons, are returning.
