what is pectoral

Derived from the Latin pectus, meaning the breast, the word pectoral suggests symbolic instructions relating to the virtue of fortitude, as the heart is held to be the seat of courage 1. In early eighteenth-century Masonic lectures, it designated one of the principal signs and was represented by the hieroglyphic X 1. In modern instruction, that hieroglyphic is obsolete, and the word is appropriated as one of the Perfect Points of Entrance 1.

In the Royal Arch—specifically within American Chapters—the term refers to the official breastplate worn by the High Priest as part of his vestments 1. Thomas Smith Webb assigned a symbolic interpretation to this vestment, explaining that it serves to remind the presiding officer of his ongoing responsibility to the laws and ordinances of the Institution, ensuring that the honor and interests of his Chapter remain continually close to his heart 1. This mirrors the ancient usage of the biblical breastplate, which was termed a memorial to signify how dear the tribes of Israel were to the heart of the High Priest 1.