This was the name given to the head-covering of the high priest. It was made of dark linen twisted in many folds around the head, ornamented with a golden band or crown on which was inscribed in Hebrew the words which signify "Holiness Unto The Lord." The mitre is worn by the High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, because he represents the Jewish High Priest.
The prelate of the Commandery of Knights Templar wears a mitre, different, however, in form. It is a conical cap, divided in the middle, so as to come to two points, one in front and one behind, symbolic of the two Testaments, the Old and the New. Instructions concerning the Mitre of the Jewish High Priest… — ( Exodus 28:4,36-39 - Leviticus 16:4 )
Biblical References
Exodus 28:4,36-39
4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. 38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
~~ooOoo~~
This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
