What do you learn from the Square?

[pointwithinacircle2]

In Freemasonry we are taught that the tools of the Craft offer us lessons in improving ourselves. What have you learned from the Square? How do you relate it's lessons to your daily life? Do you think that it teaches something specific or is it generally just a reminder to be good? And finally, do you think the jewels were assigned randomly or is there a reason that the Square is assigned to the WM? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[hanzosbm]

I like the idea behind this discussion and think some wonderful things could come from it. That being said, although the lessons taught on the square are not technically secret, I, personally, am hesitant to speak about it in an untiled area.

 

[pointwithinacircle2]

Perhaps you are right. Maybe we can get a moderator to move this thread.

 

[dfreybur]

The compasses are a method of constructing squares. When we go from a Mister to a Brother we have obligated ourselves to act on the square. Both the square and compasses are symbolic of that spiritual transition.

The compasses construct squares - Plato's theory of forms/ideas. The square is a physical tool to test squares - Moving from the realm of ideas to the realm of the pragmatic.

The reason the square is the jewel of the master of the lodge is he is to lead by example but also to require goodness in the behavior of the brethren.

For day to day meaning I do take it as a challenge for my good today to be better than my good of yesterday. More a challenge to excel than a floor to not go below.

 

[hanzosbm]

Without going too deep into the symbolism, and to piggyback on dfreybur's post, before I came to the Craft, my grandfather passed away. He was Mason of over 60 years and had never spoke to me about it. However, from his death, I saw his Masonic funeral and also came across a Masonic publication when going through his things. In it, a brother wrote an article on how to be a better Mason. I, unfortunately, no longer have a copy, but part of it talked about striving for fairness in all of our dealings. An example would be paying at a cash register and having the wrong amount of change returned. The moral was that just as we should not allow the cashier to give us back less than we are owed, nor should we allow them to give us more.
The square measures a perfect angle and ensures that it is no more or less than 90 degree. It is not biased or swayed by personal motivations. As such, the WM, while ruling over his lodge, ought to be sure to square his actions in his dealings with the lodge as a whole and to see that he is ruling virtuously and is neither too generous nor too frugal regardless of his personal feelings. As the saying goes, 'with great power comes great responsibility' and the square reminds the Master to rule impartially.

Now...there might be additional lessons to be learned that I am unfamiliar with as I am not a PM, but that is my take.

 

[MRichard]

I attended a lodge where the Grand Master (Texas) gave a speech and stated that the Square and Compasses were not always associated together. Interesting presentation. I wish there was a way to get a copy of it.

 

[coachn]

In Freemasonry we are taught that the tools of the Craft offer us lessons in improving ourselves. What have you learned from the Square?

I have learned nothing from the Square. But it does allude to the Work, and that Work is not just learning the Ritual script and choreography.

How do you relate it's lessons to your daily life?

Simple, it has no lessons, BUT by examining how it is referred to within Ritual, I found out that the left side of the Square represents my heart Work and the right side my head Work. When they are Square with each other, my life stays Right.

Do you think that it teaches something specific or is it generally just a reminder to be good?

Once again, it teaches NOTHING. It does however allude to the Work that needs to be done and that Work has to do with living a better life by getting one's head and heart together by doing specific WORK!

And finally, do you think the jewels were assigned randomly ...

No.

...or is there a reason that the Square is assigned to the WM?

Yes.

 

[LAMason]

Is Freemasonry so shallow?

I guess for me it is. I find the simplicity of the lessons taught by the working tools and their application to how we live our lives to be impressive.

I grew up knowing members of my family and many neighbors who were Masons and witnessed men living their lives according to those lessons. They were good moral men, good role models, and good citizens.

 

[coachn]

It truly cannot get any simpler...

 

[Pscyclepath]

We are admonished in the Fellowcraft degree to apply the square to our work and actions with everyone around us. It's short in wording, but powerful words are used, so maybe we don't need so many of them ;-)

For me, the most impressive lesson in the use of the square is in the Mark Master degree, when we learn about passing the test of the Master Overseer's square in all of our work. For me, that's the the most useful degree in the York rite, to be placed in use every single day...

 

[Bloke]

......the Square and Compasses were not always associated together.

The square might be the tool i contemplate the most at the moment, and i rarely think of it in conjunction with the compass.

Yeah, yeah.. geometrically, the compasses *are* critical to the square because with the compasses and a straight line, we create a perfect 90° angle and hence a square. Or indeed a perfect ashlar. Or indeed test anothers ashlar or chip away at our own. ( interestingly the straight line might come from the 24 inch gauge, skirret, plumb rule or level but a compass can test the straightness of them all).... hmmm i'm getting a bit obtuse perhaps but bros should follow the logic.

We can use the square to test our and others ashlars. For me that's about copying good behavioural examples in others and providing good examples for others to follow. It's about self improvement and trying to improve those around you. That's the central thing i've drawn from the ritual about the sqaure.

All the tools, great lights etc help us see what a good example is.

For me, as told in the 3rd degree, its all connected and dependent on its several parts. .. but if i had to work with one tool only, the square would be on the short list with the chisel because of the importance of education.... but ask me tomorrow and i might give you a different answer

 

[hanzosbm]

( interestingly the straight line might come from the 24 inch gauge, skirret, plumb rule or level but a compass can test the straightness of them all)

I think there is another important lesson that ties into this. (and to which you and I had spoke about privately)

The square, plumb, and level: we know their rightful places in the lodge and to whom they belong. We also know the minimum number it takes to convene a lodge of MMs and of whom they consist. In the legend, we know KS, KHoT, and HA all needed to be present to complete the work.

Now, before I get to my conclusion, please keep in mind that I am not part of the YR or SR, so there may be additional lessons there that I am simply repeating or that I'm missing the point. Now...

Back the square, plumb, and level. Any of the two can create the third. The intersection between a plumb and a level, both dictated by the same vector of gravitational force, will create a perfect square. A square held to the plumb line will give a perfectly level line. Likewise, a square held perfectly level will provide a plumb. In a three dimensional space, you would need all three to erect a perfect structure, but, as long as one has 2 of them, they can recreate the third.

Something to think about...

 

[Warrior1256]

For me, the most impressive lesson in the use of the square is in the Mark Master degree, when we learn about passing the test of the Master Overseer's square in all of our work. For me, that's the the most useful degree in the York rite, to be placed in use every single day...

This impressed me greatly also.

 

[Bloke]

Something to think about...

Indeed. It may sound dumb, but there are some great high school maths tutorials on youtube. Watching things like 'create angles with compases' got me thinking, seeing the operative use then being able to better apply it to understanding the speculative.

 

[hanzosbm]

PointWithinACircle2 posted this thread awhile back regarding practical geometry.

http://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/playing-with-geometry.25536/