St. John’s Lodge No. 9, F. & A. M.
Trestleboard
7910 Greenwood Ave. N.
(206) 623-0261
[email protected]
www.seattlemasons.org
June 2015
Jim Russell, editor
Serving Seattle since 1860
Multiple research programs show that men are joining
Masonry in search of education in how to become a better
man. This educational opportunity is unique to Masonry and
is provided by no other organization. It is in fact the
keystone of Masonic value proposition.
This same research also shows not meeting the expectations of new Masons is
the primary reason for low retention rates. This research leads to the prudent
conclusion that the key to a Lodge’s long-term success lies within retention and
hence its educational programs. Perhaps a few questions are in order.
If men are coming to Freemasonry looking for knowledge, then how well are
we providing it? How much effort do we expend and how effective are we in
teaching the many Masonic lessons? Are we meeting the expectations and needs
of new Masons? Our retention rates suggest we are not or that our effectiveness
is spotty at best.
Looking deeper, is our candidate education program the very best it can be?
Are we fully teaching the fundamental tenets of each degree; building a
foundation in each candidate to not only continue his education but also further
the knowledge within the craft? What about our new Master Masons, do they
have the tools, direction and inspiration to continue their studies or are they just
left to their own devices after being raised?
If the future of the Lodge is heavily dependent on the quality of our education
programs, shouldn’t we be spending a significant portion of our efforts and
resources on improving it? As an indication of our commitment consider that
this year we allocated 40% of our budget to charity and 7% to fellowship as
compared to one quarter of one percent to education. Are our priorities in the
right place?
In helping corporations define and execute on strategies for their futures, I
often ask them to dream of a utopian world and let their imaginations run wild.
Step outside the bounds of their perceived constraints and dream about what the
future could be. From these dreams the seeds to their future success are often
born.
So let’s play - what would be the utopian Masonic education program? If we
look beyond the constraints of budgets and manpower, what would that ideal
Masonic education program look like? Here is my homework assignment to
ponder: what if we used half a million dollars to develop modern education
programs? What would that program look like? What would the curriculum
include? What technologies would be utilized? What programs would we
develop? How would we maintain that which is best of Masonic tradition yet
become engaging and relevant to the current and future generations? Not that I
am recommending we change the budget, just asking everyone to start thinking
outside the box.
Brothers, I ask you to think about these questions and remember from the
nucleus of dreaming may come a practical path forward.
 June 12 – 13: 158th Annual
Communication Grand Lodge
 June 15 (6pm): King Solomon
Lodge Annual Strawberry Feed
 June 17 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St.
John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; Scholarship
Night
 June 20-21: Fremont Fair
(Masonic information booth)
 June 22 (7-9pm): Ritual
instruction classes at Greenwood
 June 23 (7pm): “Intender”
Masonic Education Study
 June 24: Feast Day of St. John
the Baptist join a Brother for lunch?
 June 24 (6:30pm): District 5
Assoc. meeting (Spiro’s Pizza)
 June 26 (6pm): Everett AquaSox
baseball family event
 July 2 (7pm): Master Masons
Study Group topic: “Freedom”
 July 9 (7pm): Officers meeting
 July 15 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St.
John’s 9 (dinner) Stated - Herb’s
Night
 July 22 (6-8:30pm): Greenwood
Seafair Parade
 July 23 (7pm): degree practice
 July 23 (7pm): WF Meier
Masonic College The Women Problem
for Modern Freemasonry
 July 25 (10am): Past Masters
Secrets of the Chair
 July 26 (11am – 4pm): Lodge
picnic at Nile (Sunday)
 July 27 (7-9pm): Ritual
instruction classes at Greenwood
 July 28 (7pm): “Intender”
Masonic Education Study
 July 30 (7pm): Fellowcraft
Degree tentative
 August 1 (10am): Open Air
Degree, Masonic Park
 August 12 (6pm): Board of
Trustees date subject to change
 August 12-13: Seattle Teachers
Autism Symposium
1
WBro. Russ Johnson, Master
CALENDAR
Page
FROM THE EAST
June 17 Stated Communication
In June We honor students, re-visit square & Compasses
Eager high school graduating seniors and previous recipients of scholarships from St. John's Lodge
will be accompanied by their families at dinner leading into our June 17 stated communication.
Scholarship committee chair Bro. Josh Skinner will introduce his hard working committee members
and the scholarship recipients will be invited to tell a little about their plans for next fall.
Continuing our tiled Masonic education, VWBro. Fred Eastman will present a program on the
Masonic Square & Compasses. While not unique to Freemasonry, the interlaced Square and
Compasses are almost universally recognized as the emblem of Freemasonry. However, the Square
and Compasses have not always been linked in Masonic ritual and it appears the symbolism of these two emblems
developed separately. Over the years, these two symbols of Freemasonry have become inextricably linked as a public
symbol of the Fraternity and are even protected by copyright.
Our Past Master (2005) and Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Bureau WBro. Joseph Lund will speak to us
about the current efforts of the Masonic Service Bureau.
Working with teachers, counselors and individuals, our
scholarship committee of Bros. Erik Koteles, Blair
St. John’s Masons and families are heading to the
Neumann and Chairman Josh Skinner received
Everett
AquaSox baseball game Friday, June 26. “Prerecommendations and interviewed students who have
admission” opens at 6pm into the Coca
demonstrated industry, character and high moral standards.
Cola Food Pavilion, with hot dog,
They focused on students who, without our assistance,
hamburgers, fruit salad, baked beans,
would be unable to continue higher education. This marks
soft drink and reserved seating. Free
the 18th consecutive year our Lodge has made continuing
parking on site.
education possible to the young people of our Seattle area.
Here’s a look at our future
Traditionally, throughout its long history, Freemasonry
Mariners vs. the Boise Hawks (Colorado Rockies farm
has taken a leading role to promote learning and educaclub). First pitch will be thrown at 7:05; fireworks
tion. From its early beginnings, in the 18th century in
following the game. Up-close seating to all the action is
England and Scotland, Masons were among the founders
guaranteed, with a block of thirty on the first base side of
of learned academies. We have been active in education at
the field.
every level from grammar school through university.
Get your $10 ticket ($22 value!) from WBro. Terry
Please make your 6:15pm dinner reservations with the
Grove (425) 610-4561. Only a few tickets remain!
secretary at 206 623-0261 or [email protected] by
Friday, June 12, prior to the June 17 meeting. Invite a
Have a
brother to accompany you to Lodge and bring your Lady!
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Each year brothers of Daylight Lodge No. 232 put
their time and energy into telling the story of Freemasonry
at a Masonic Information Booth during the Fremont Fair.
This year’s fair, which is one of the best attended fairs in
the entire Puget Sound, will be June 19, 20, and 21.
St. John’s brothers are more than welcome to stop by
and help distribute balloons to the kiddies and Masonic
brochures to those men who want to know a little more
about our Craft.
You don’t need to commit to a time – just show up,
chat with the brothers who are staffing the booth – and
lend a hand. Or, visit the Doric Lodge Beer Garden!
Fremont Fair offers art and craft booths, local bands,
food vendors, a beer garden, funky painted cars, and a
Sunday dog parade. The famous (infamous?) Solstice
Parade starts at 3pm, Saturday.
2
The 158th annual communication of Grand Lodge has
arrived. The 2015 annual communication will be Friday,
June 12th and Saturday, June 13th at the Three Rivers
Convention Center in Kennewick, Washington.
We’ll elect the Junior Grand Warden (a future Grand
Master), vote on changes to our rules and laws and review
our finances.
Three have declared their candidacy for Junior Grand
Warden. They are VWBros. James Kendall, Paul
Waadevig, and Charles Wood. Each has contributed his
thoughts about the future of Washington Freemasonry
within the pages of the Masonic Tribune.
Friday evening, delegates will enjoy a Fellowship
dinner and oldies Rock Band. “Come dressed in your 50’s
themed hot rod costumes.”
A couple of dozen brothers from St. John’s will be
attending, including our Master and Wardens, Secretary
and Treasurer, several Past Masters, and some
representing other Lodges.
Fun Time
at
Masonic
Info Booth
Page
GRAND LODGE ANNUAL COMMUNICATION
Senior Warden Message
Junior Warden Message
Bro. John Murray Louderback
Bro. Jeffrey Pullen
JUNE MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:
Here’s a look at what’s happening at our June stated
communication:
Dinner - guests welcome
1. Menu: Vegetarian 3-bean hash; braised short-rib,
baked potato w/deep-fried onions and sour cream; banana
nut cake w/crème fresh frosting (allergies, vegetarian?
Let us know a week before.)
2. Introductions & announcements
3. Presentation of scholarship winners
Stated Meeting - tiled
1. General business – reports & planning
2. Ballot on petitioner
3. Masonic education: The Masonic Square &
Compasses – WBro. Fred Eastman
Refreshments
Kick back, visit, and enjoy a beverage and dessert
There is a lot of truth to that statement; it is good
when friends unite for the sake of fellowship.
It is a pleasing experience to have brothers come to
visit our Lodge.
It is just as pleasing to go out to visit other Lodges.
You can choose to go alone or with a group of
brothers; visiting another Lodge that you have not yet
been to for a degree or stated meeting. You may be in for
something you had not expected. Quite simply stated,
“You get out of it what you put into it.”
The rewards are greater than your time; it takes a bit
of your time, granted.
We all have so many things that we would like to
accomplish and so little spare time. Rather than being
frantic about all the things that you need to get done, stop
and make it a priority to do one thing that you would like
to do.
There are a variety of things that a lot of Lodges are
doing during the summer, and throughout the year for that
matter.
Many invitations go out to the secretary of your
Lodge and are posted in the trestleboard for you. For
instance, the ‘Master Mason Study Group.’ I come away
from these sessions with a humbling feeling that I know so
little, but I just learned a lot. Opportunity keeps knocking.
The annual Grand Lodge communication will be an
event that I am looking forward to attending, my first.
Preparations that have been in the works from the close of
last year’s event are expected to be full of firsts for me.
The past leadership conference was a reward in
having a chance to meet brothers from Lodges that I had
not even heard of, only to have one that I had met come to
visit our Lodge last month!
On a more personal note, I recall my father’s wife
saying to me that my father had so many friends while he
was a bartender yet so few of them came to visit him after
he retired. That thought, as true as it is, should be a
wakeup call. Not that you need many friends, but the
friends that you do have are the ones that you would do
anything for, and they would do for you. Quality trust and
heart are a few of the traits that we hold dear to this
fraternal organization. Not all need be your friend, yet all
are your Brother.
Next Master Mason Study topic: “Freedom”
Thursday, 7pm, July 2nd
Greenwood Masonic Library
3
“(Our) Fraternity has no hierarchy to plot its course; no pontiff to
declare its creed; no censer of books to check heresy. Anyone,
either within or without the society, may think, believe, or write
about it what he will, and many have taken advantage of that
liberty.” - H. W. Coil
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Page
As I watch the world news I am very distressed with
what seems to me as total chaos. How could the world be
allowed by “leaders” to descend into such death and
destruction? There seems to be no way to turn ourselves
back from a total world war.
I know I am expected to address something Masonic.
I am further saddened by the fact that I cannot even
inspire my Brothers to react to my messages. I had one
Brother, the editor, tell me that he had of course read and
liked my May 2015 message. The message is lost if no
one ever reads it.
How can we even begin to change the world when
we seem to not even be able to inspire Masons let alone
inspire new members to our noble cause?
America has become so self-centered, corrupt, fat,
gluttonous and lazy that we are apathetic.
We had better wake up or we will be fighting
bombers in our streets. Our way of life is threatened.
Wake up America. Get busy, roll up your sleeves, inspire
today! The leadership of tomorrow begins with what we
do today.
What we believe in as Masons - Brotherly love,
relief, and truth - seems to be lost in the world. It seems
that our enemies are willing to sacrifice more for their
cause than we are for ours.
GOOD OF THE ORDER
o Charity The deadline for submitting charity requests will be the end of
June in preparation for the 2016 budgeting process. A Charity request form is
available by contacting the Secretary.
o Fellowship Only a handful of AquaSox baseball
game (June 26) tickets remain available. The Mark
Twain show (June 2) was another family success. We had
chicken from Ezell’s and all the trimmings followed by a
great Mark Twain show from MWBro. Jefferson Jordan of
New Mexico. Our anniversary dinner will be Sunday,
September 20, at Ray’s Boathouse Restaurant on Shilshole.
o Membership Bro. Paul Doak welcomes interested
parties into the library to discuss Freemasonry and answer
questions following our dinners on the 3rd Wednesday of
each month. We expect to be voting on a petitioner for
plural membership this month.
o Scholarship The scholarship committee has selected
a number of students who will be presented scholarships.
The committee’s work will be complete when we host the
students and their parents June 17th.
o Seattle Teachers Autism Symposium To date we
have over 600 teachers who have registered through the
STAS website. Additional help is needed to make this
first year autism awareness project successful. Volunteers
are encouraged to contact Bro. Seann Maria or the
Worshipful Master.
It’s coming!!
St. John’s
155 Anniversary Celebration
Ray’s Boathouse
th
at Shilshole
Sunday, September 20
Invite ALL Your Family Members
for
Fun, Food, and Games
At the Nile picnic Area B  11am
 Music  Chuck Wagon  Free cowboy hats
Last year the St. John’s family picnic was one of the
largest and fun-filled outings we’ve seen in years! Our
picnic should be exciting this year, too, with a “Western”
theme, country music to reel and swing to, and a contest
for “best-dressed” western outfits. Bro. Ken Wehl
promises some challenging games for the kids and even
for those who have a little of the youngster still inside us.
The picnic will again be held at the Nile picnic
grounds, same location but earlier this summer. Festivities
have been moved from August to Sunday, July 26.
St. John the Baptist Feast Day June 24
Freemasons historically celebrate two feasts of Saint
John. The feast of John the Baptist falls on 24 June, and
that of John the Evangelist on 27 December, roughly
marking mid-summer and mid-winter. During the
eighteenth Century, the Premier Grand Lodge of England
and the Grand Lodge of Ireland favored the day of John
the Baptist, while the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the
Antient Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of
All England at York installed their Grand Masters on the
feast day of John the Evangelist.
The first Grand Lodge was formed on 24 June the
feast day of John the Baptist in 1717. This may arise from
a very old tradition, since the Baptist appears to have been
regarded as the patron of stonemasons in continental
Europe during the Middle Ages. The guild of masons and
carpenters attached to Cologne Cathedral was known as
the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist. The earliest
surviving record of Grand Lodge of Ireland installing a
Grand Master is dated to 24 June 1725. As records of
individual Lodges appear in Ireland and in the Antients' in
England, it seems many of them met to install a new
master twice a year, on the feast days of both the Baptist
and the Evangelist.
4
o Education WBro. Eric Koteles reports the Master
Mason Study Group will meet at Greenwood on July 2nd.
WBro. Helmuth Svoboda leads the discussion and has
chosen the topic “Freedom.” We will discuss five ideas of
freedom which have shaped history and five experiences
of freedom as well as Masonic implications. Please bring
your ideas and stories. Our “intender” sessions continue;
all are invited to participate on the 4th Tuesday of each
month.
Western theme
prizes for best cowpoke attire
Page
o Company Store WBro. Wehl reportedly will have a
“St. John’s” glass goblet available for sale at our June
meeting. Several company store items will be marked
down for sale the following month in July.
St. John’s is proud to announce Traci Schneider as
the first annual Seattle Teachers Autism Symposium
keynote speaker.
Along with her husband John
Schneider, she established Ben’s
Fund to provide monetary grants to
families with autistic children and
provide summer camps for
children with Autism spectrum.
Ben’s Fund is named in honor of
their son, Ben, who himself
registers on the autism spectrum.
St. John’s and the University
Traci Schneider
of Washington Autism Center will offer a two-day
symposium in August that includes curriculum on how to
identify and support ASD children for Seattle-area public
school teachers and staff. The hope is to reach a share of
the Seattle teacher workforce in K-12 each year by
providing them with informed educators dedicated to
understanding and implementing classroom strategies to
assist students impacted by ASD.
Symposium topics will include: communication
supports, emerging social
interactions, challenging behaviors,
understanding ASD, classroom
strategies, and supporting students
with high-functioning ASD.
Additional help is needed for a
variety of tasks to make this first year
autism awareness project successful,
especially to contact local schools and
to seek out more sponsors. Volunteers are encouraged to
contact Bro. Seann Maria or Worshipful Master Russ
Johnson.
The UW Autism Center is a nonprofit specialty
facility for people with autism spectrum disorders. It is
proud to be an internationally
recognized leader in the field of
autism. The mission is to
provide exceptional care for
individuals with autism and their
families by offering evidencebased clinical services,
conducting cutting-edge
research, and providing
specialized training opportunities
for parents, service providers,
and future professionals.
The Seattle Teachers Autism Symposium will be held
on the UW campus August 12-13.
Flag Day: June 14
The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by
Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through
the official program of the National Public Schools
Celebration of Columbus Day, which was printed in The
Youth’s Companion of September 8, 1892, and at the same
time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the
country. School children first recited the Pledge of
Allegiance this way:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic
for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty
and Justice for all.”
“The flag of the United States” replaced the words
“my Flag” in 1923 because some foreign-born people
might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth
instead of the United States flag. A year later, “of
America” was added after “United States.”
No form of the Pledge received official recognition
by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the Pledge was
formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official
name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945.
The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954,
when Congress passed a law, which added the words
“under God” after “one nation.”
Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in
the so-called “Bellamy Salute,” with the right hand resting
first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out
from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe,
some Americans were concerned that this position of the
arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In
1942 Congress also established the current practice of
rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.
Citizenship
Perhaps no institution, except the church, has contributed
more to good citizenship than Freemasonry. The Ritual of
all the degrees, the ethical instructions given, and all the
fundamental principles of the Order are inducive to the
highest ideals of civilization. Democratic principles, good
government, civic liberty, freedom of conscience,
individual rights and responsibilities in civic affairs are
championed by Masons. Loyalty to one’s government,
faithfulness in all the duties of citizenship, and active
support of public institutions are required of all Masons.
5
Over 600 teachers registered to date
History of the Pledge of Allegiance
Page
Traci Schneider Keynote Speaker at
Seattle Teachers Autism Symposium
The Masonic Temple Association of Spokane has
purchased the historic Selkirk Building at 506 W. Second
Ave., following the $1.1 million sale of the stately
Masonic Center on West Riverside Avenue in 2013.
The new building
is much smaller, but
Randy Guegel, the
association’s president,
said that was the point.
“None of us
wanted to leave that
magnificent old
building, but 110,000
Selkirk Building to become new
Masonic Center
square feet was simply
too much for us.”
The Selkirk is a 13,000-square-foot brick building
with three stories built in 1910, and the Masons have plans
to renovate the dilapidated structure beginning next
month, according to a news release from the association.
The building will have at least one large “lodge” room,
full-service kitchen, library, museum and public
meeting space.
The price of the building was not disclosed, but
current records from the county assessor’s office show the
building assessed at $364,500.
Greg Newell, representing
purchasers of the old Temple,
said he envisions using the
neoclassical white-stone
building as a meeting center and
event venue. He says the grand
plan is to make the revamped
Spokane Masonic Temple
Masonic building a centerpiece built in 1908
for an “old town” tourist and
visitor area in downtown Spokane.
Newell’s investor group becomes just the second
owner in the building’s history. Since completion of
construction in 1905, the Masonic Center – originally the
Masonic Temple – has been occupied by the Masonic
order and several affiliated fraternal groups, including the
Scottish Rite and the York Rite.
“We’ve outlived the building,” said Carlton Oaks,
the association’s CEO, meaning Spokane’s Masonic
groups have a fraction of the membership they enjoyed
during the first half of the 20th century. After the temple
was built, U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt visited it twice.
Bring out your Western duds and
get ready to rumble!! St. John’s
picnic Sunday, July 26
Open Air Master Mason Degree
The Master Masons Club, the participating Lodges of
the Master Masons Club in Districts 8, 9, and 2 of
Washington and the Masonic Park Board of directors
invite all Master Masons to attend the annual Open Air
Degree at the Masonic Park in Granite Falls, Washington,
on August 1, 2015. Frank S. Land Lodge No. 313 will
confer the degree.
After the degree, the Lodge will be turned over to the
Grand Lodge of Washington for remarks from our Grand
Master prior to closing.
Instead of breaking for lunch, we will take a 30
minute refreshment break sometime around noon. The
Masonic Park Board will sponsor a dinner after the
degree. Dinner will be served from the end of the degree
until 4pm. Dinner will consist of:
BBQ Pulled Pork on Bun
Baked beans
Corn on the Cob
Coffee, Tea or Juice
Dixie Cup
The ladies will be welcomed at Dream Camp where
there will be entertainment. A delightful brunch at a cost
of $5.00 will be served in the Rainbow Chalet. They will
have a program that none of the ladies will want to miss.
If you have any questions, you may call the park staff
at 360-691-6641.
“Do not waste your time with people who do not
bring out the best in you.” - Martha Raddatz
(commencement address Kenyon College, 2015)
St. John’s loses first Temple Building to fire
Aftermath of Seattle fire of June 6, 1889, looking west from top of
Boston Block, 2nd Avenue and Columbia Street, showing destroyed
wharves - Photo by Asahel Curtis, Courtesy UW Special
Collections (Neg. 36929)
6
Spokane’s Masonic Center sold for $1.1 million
Page
Spokane Masons Move On….
Page
All Masonic emblems are symbols, but not all symbols are emblems.
Emblems have one meaning. Emblems are a visible symbol representing an abstract idea. (think in
terms of a logo) Emblems do not represent something else that is invisible. It is what it is.
That said, many Masonic writers, historians and websites (both now and in the past) use the words
“Masonic emblems” and “Masonic symbols,” interchangeably. This Masonic square and compasses is
an emblem of the fraternity. In fact, the Square and Compasses is trademark protected by the fraternity.
For centuries, the square and compasses have
represented the fraternity of Freemasonry. It is an emblem
SQUARE AND COMPASSES INTERLACED
because its only meaning is that it represents the fraternity.
Let us look at how the Square and Compasses originally
When you view it, you would not confuse it with
became
interlaced and rose to be the recognized and
representing any other entity other than Freemasonry. It
universal emblem of the Craft.
represents an abstract idea, (that of a group of people who
The earliest known Masonic coin was minted in 1733.
conform to specific beliefs.)
In
it there is visible a square and also a pair of compasses,
When you see the image of the two symbols (the
but
these two items are set apart from each other. They
Masonic square and compasses) in this configuration,
are
not
conjoined nor interlaced. Upon studying Masonic
together, they emblemize the fraternity. They are a visible
exposures
of the early 1700s there appears either a square
"sign" of the fraternity.
or the compasses, and if both appeared simultaneously
Emblems only have one meaning, however, symbols
they were never joined and not even near each other.
can have multiple meanings.
H. W. Coil states that the square and compasses in their
Symbols are something visible that by association or
present
day interlacement first appeared in the seal of
convention represents something else that is invisible (has
Lodge
of
Aberdeen in 1762. However, even earlier than
more than one connotation).
1762
there
is a beautiful picture of an English warrant for
There are two symbols used within the Masonic
the
Provincial
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, dated July
square and compasses emblem, above.
15, 1761, in Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727 - 1907,
They are the Masonic square and the Masonic
Vol. I, pp. 120/121. It is signed by Laurence Dermott and
compasses. Separately, they are symbols because each of
has the superimposed square and compasses in the seal.
them can have multiple connotations.
The seal itself is depicted on page 672 of the History of
Masonic Square Symbol
Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted
The word “square” could be taken to
Masons, edited by Bro. H.L. Stillson, Boston, 1910.
mean:
Careful research has brought to light earlier instances of
1. A carpenter's square, used to create true
the interlaced square and compasses. For instance, there
lines.
has been found a reprint of a Lodge summons form used
2. A Masonic square, which symbolizes a state of moral
in Europe on the Continent in 1760.
rectitude.
In a 1749 French exposure called Nouveau Catechisme
Masonic Compasses Symbol
des Franc-Macons there is a pictorial representation of the
The word “compass” could be taken to mean:
master of a Lodge standing behind a table over which has
1. A compass used by an architect which
been placed a mantle adorned with interlaced square and
when a base point is chosen, will create a
compasses in a manner usual among Masons.
perfect circle around the base point to
On the Island of Corfu excavations unearthed some
ensure that the work has the correct
eighth and ninth century coins and vessels, and among
proportions, thus giving it beauty, stability
them a bronze square and
and harmony.
compasses. This jewel was
2. A compass used by a mariner which has a magnetic
very much corroded, and
needle and circular dial or card by which he directs his
although there can scarcely be
course over the ocean.
a doubt that it is Masonic, its
3. A compass used by an aircraft pilot which also has a
age is difficult to ascertain.
magnetic needle by which he directs his course in the air.
Much depends on the level at which the jewel might have
4. The Masonic compasses symbolize an implement of
been found, and unfortunately, there was no such inforvirtue by which we are taught to circumscribe our desires
mation on the point. British Museum experts were inclined
and keep our passions within due bounds.
to ascribe it to the seventeenth century. (cont. next page)
7
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES
continued from page 7
In Cuzco, Peru, capital of the old Inca Empire, the
Conquistadores erected the Church of La Compania in
1580. It was reconstructed about 1600 to 1620. Alongside
the church, while it was in course of erection, would have
been a masons' workshop or “lodge,” and it is precisely in
this area that two carved 3-foot tall wooden objects have
been recently unearthed. One of which clearly shows a
square and compasses. The carved objects which may
well have adorned the “lodge” in some prominent
location, are now in the possession of Koricancha
(“Temple of the Sun”) Lodge No. 40, Cuzco, constituted
in 1942 under the Grand Lodge of Peru.
The information presented proves that historically the
association between the square and compasses is of long
standing. Antiquity supports their partnership. To that
must be added that they appear together, in sundry roles,
in all three degrees of Craft Masonry. Hence, universality
is added to their antiquity. It is only natural, then, that
these tools would gradually come together and become
interlaced to constitute the classical emblem of the Craft.
APPEARANCE OF THE LETTER G
The Square And Compass
by Bro. Odillon B. Slane
(from The Builder, June, 1917)
Both points beneath the square,
Darkness, doubts, dungeons of despair,
Yet trusting in God who answers prayer,
Follow your guide — nor fear nor care,
Light will come with effulgent glare.
One point above the square,
As yet but partially there
Is light; for more light prepare,
As you ascend the winding stair.
Both points above the square —
Friendship and Morality share
With Brotherly Love, tenets taught where
Masons kneel, and vow, and swear.
The Square and Compasses logo has a meaning that
goes much deeper than merely teaching lessons. Notice
how the Compasses tool on top draws a “circular” shape:
from The "G" In Masonry's Emblem by George H.T. French
The Square tool on the bottom draws a “square” shape:
The square and circle shapes are related in Euclid’s 47th
problem of “Squaring The Circle,” said to be the primary
goal of the Masonic craft. Squaring the circle, however,
does not in this case refer to a mathematical problem: it is
a spiritual reference to man’s instinctive quest to
harmonize our physical and spiritual natures. Since
Antiquity, the square has represented the physical body.
The circle, on the other hand, has always represented the
soul.
8
When placed together, as in the logo of the Freemasons,
the Compasses tool and the Square tool form a square and
circle:
Page
Historically, the square and the compasses were used
in architecture and have been in Masonry since time
immemorial, and this explains their presence in the
Freemasonry we practice today. Whereas the Letter G
appears to have entered Freemasonry as late as the 1700s.
The prevailing notion is that there is no trace of the
Letter G in the numerous English and Scottish catechisms
that appeared during the years 1696 to 1730. However, in
1726 there was published in London a newspaper
advertisement regarding “Antediluvian Masonry,” which
seemed to be a skit on Dr. Desaguliers and
his friends, and was obviously written by
some well-informed person. The
advertisement announces that there will be
several lectures on Ancient Masonry,
particularly on the signification of the
Letter G. If the 1726 date is correct,
then this advertisement contains the earliest
references known to us about the Letter G…..
….Notwithstanding that it is conspicuously displayed
in many Lodges, the Letter G has the curious, if not unique,
distinction of being a Masonic symbol which does not
have the all-important characteristic of universality. In the
first place, the working tools, the greater and lesser lights,
the pillars, which form an intrinsic part of our method of
teaching, convey the same lessons to Masons in every
language. Whereas the G bears its interpretation primarily
in English, and only by accident in other languages such
as German. Secondly, the G lacks universality because
ritually it appears only in the second Degree.