{"id":57,"date":"2004-10-02T13:09:38","date_gmt":"2004-10-02T20:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theeduca.mywhc.ca\/?p=57"},"modified":"2004-10-02T13:09:38","modified_gmt":"2004-10-02T20:09:38","slug":"the-square-etc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/the-square-etc\/","title":{"rendered":"The Square etc."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Square<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The ethics and good reputation of the Craft have been impressed on the public more by the word \u2018SQUARE\u201d<\/strong> than by any other means, although \u201cLEVEL\u201d is a close second. A SQUARE DEAL<\/strong> is a phrase that can be readily understood by virtually anyone in today\u2019s society and implies open and honest bargaining wherein the transaction being entered into ends in mutual satisfaction to all the contracting parties.<\/p>\n

As with other symbols, it is impossible to explain the meaning of the SQUARE<\/strong> completely by the use of language alone. If this were possible, we would miss the charm of symbolism and speculation. But being indefinite, we have the privilege of reading a variety of meanings and abstractions into it, depending on our skill and experience.<\/p>\n

The Masonic Square is essentially a TRY-SQUARE<\/strong> and is distinguished from the carpenter\u2019s square.<\/p>\n

The arms that include the angle are not necessarily of equal length. Indeed in operative Masonry, it would be an advantage to have them of unequal length, for on occasions the workman, when using this tool, might find it inconvenient to use a long arm for lack of space, whereas by adjusting it, the desired trial could be made.<\/p>\n

This applies also to our own personal square. If the degree of accuracy or error of the moral problem under consideration is not revealed by one position of the Square, it (the square) should be applied in another manner. Thus we may approach the TRUTH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, it is to be remembered, that our Square is to be tried on our own work, not on that of a fellow Brother.<\/p>\n

He should be encouraged to try his square on his own work, and in a manner that satisfies his own conscience.<\/p>\n

As previously mentioned, the Masonic Square is a TRY-SQUARE<\/strong> and therefore any marks of measurement are out of place. There can, however, be no objection to decorating one or both arms of this useful tool in any way that might make it a thing of beauty and a joy to the possessor.<\/p>\n

And it is exactly the same with our PERSONAL<\/strong> SQUARE<\/strong>.\u00a0 Masonry concerns itself more with the<\/p>\n

broad principles of conduct rather than with degrees of efficiency, for such degrees vary with the talents that have been entrusted to us, the environment in which we live and the arches of experience through which we have passed.<\/p>\n

So, as you can now readily see, no two of us have the exact same decorations on the arms of our Try-Squares, with the passing of time, we constantly add to the decorations or alter them according to our experiences in life, and finally we hope to apply this square with satisfaction to the Perfect Ashler.<\/p>\n

Adapted from \u201cThe Square\u201d written by W.Bro. Dr.F.W. Andrew and published in the<\/p>\n

Masonic Bulletin \u2013 BCY- February 1939.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Things to be Thankful For<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The good, green earth beneath our feet<\/p>\n

The air we breathe, the food we eat,<\/p>\n

Some work to do, a goal to win.<\/p>\n

A hidden longing deep within<\/p>\n

That spurs us on to bigger things<\/p>\n

And helps us meet what each day brings.<\/p>\n

All these things and many more<\/p>\n

Are things we should be thankful for\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

And most of all our thankful prayers<\/p>\n

Should rise to God because\u00a0 HE CARES!.<\/p>\n

From the Collected Poems of Helen Steiner Rice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Benefits of Aging<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor\u2019s office. \u201cIs it true\u201d she wanted to know, \u201cThat the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cYes I\u2019m afraid so\u201d the doctor told her. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, \u201c I\u2019m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked \u201cNO REFILLS\u201d.<\/p>\n

An older Jewish Gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son. \u201cYes Dad, what is it\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn\u2019t go well, if something happens to me..your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife..\u201d<\/p>\n

Long long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft, Today it\u2019s called GOLF.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The relevant Section of the Tracing Board read as follows:-<\/p>\n

\u201c The Jewels of the Lodge are three movable and three immovable. The three movable jewels are the Square, the Level and the Plumb Rule. Among operative Masons the Square is to try, and adjust rectangular corners of buildings, and assist in bringing rude matter into due form; the Level is to lay levels and prove horizontals; the Plumb Rule is to try, and adjust uprights, while fixing them on their proper bases.<\/p>\n

Among, Free and Accepted Masons, The Square teaches morality, the Level equality, and the Plumb Rule justness and uprightness of life and actions. They are called the movable jewels because they are worn by the Master and his Wardens, and are transferable to their successors on nights of Installation. The Master is distinguished by the Square, the Senior Warden by the Level and the Junior Warden by the Plumb Rule.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[85,98,99],"class_list":["post-57","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-educator","tag-jewels","tag-justness","tag-square"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"MasterMason","author_link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/author\/mastermason\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"The Educator<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The relevant Section of the Tracing Board read as follows:- \u201c The Jewels of the Lodge are three movable and three immovable. The three movable jewels are the Square, the Level and the Plumb Rule. Among operative Masons the Square is to try, and adjust rectangular corners of buildings, and assist in bringing rude matter…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}