jewels

The Cable Tow

How many of us have given serious consideration to the significance of the Cable Tow used in Freemasonry? It has both physical and spiritual symbolism. Its origin and definition are uncertain and the word probably comes from either a Hebrew or German word meaning “ a Pledge of the Body”. This definition becomes more significant as one obligation follows another.

An intriguing definition of the Cable Tow, is given by Carl Claudy in his book, “An Introduction to Freemasonry” and I quote

“It is symbolic of the life cord by which the embryo receives life from the mother. It is the symbolic cord by which the Masonic infant is attached to his Mother Lodge. As soon as the infant is born, the physical cord is severed, but never the knife was ground which cut the spiritual cord which ties a man to his mother”

To a sailor the cable tow has a measurement of length, which has 600 Feet. This length has no relationship to Freemasonry. In our ritual we hear the phrase “a cable’s length from shore” such allusions are symbolic of the binding covenant into which the mason has entered. In the early 1700’s every brother was expected to attend his lodge if within the length of his cable tow. This distance was set at three miles, which was all he was expected to walk.

In Masonry the physical restraint of the cable tow indicates that the Candidate is in submission to the Master of the Lodge. In early Roman times citizens appeared before their monarchs with a rope around their neck to indicate their loyalty to him. The cable tow is removed from the candidate as soon as he assumes the spiritual bond of his obligation. However, never the means has been made, by which, to cut the obligation, which binds a man spiritually to his Mother Lodge, and to the Craft. Expulsion does not relieve the Mason from his obligation; if the Brother is unaffiliated it does not dissolve the tie; demitting and joining another Lodge cannot make the new Lodge his Mother Lodge.

So what then is the length of a Cable Tow? Who can define the length of a spiritual tie?

Physically, it translates into “ if within reasonable possibility”

Each Brother must decide for himself the length of his Cable Tow.

Adapted from a paper, written by W.Bro.Barry.D.Thom. Lodge Mackay #1129 S.C. Bay Roberts. Nfld. Nov 2004.

On a less serious note, I have some things” That Make You Go HMMM” to share with you

When I was young we used to go “Skinny Dipping” now I just go “Chunky Dunkin”
Why is it that people say they “Slept like a Baby” when babies wake up every two hours.
If a deaf person goes to court, is it still called a “Hearing”
Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize “You haven’t fallen asleep”
Why is it that our children can’t read a Bible in school, but they can in Prison.
Finally. Wouldn’t it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press

“CTRL ALT DELETE” and start all over again.

The Square.

The ethics and good reputation of the Craft have been impressed on the public more by the word ‘SQUARE” than by any other means, although “LEVEL” is a close second. A SQUARE DEAL is a phrase that can be readily understood by virtually anyone in today’s society and implies open and honest bargaining wherein the transaction being entered into ends in mutual satisfaction to all the contracting parties.

As with other symbols, it is impossible to explain the meaning of the SQUARE 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.

The Masonic Square is essentially a TRY-SQUARE and is distinguished from the carpenter’s square.

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.

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.

Furthermore, it is to be remembered, that our Square is to be tried on our own work, not on that of a fellow Brother.

He should be encouraged to try his square on his own work, and in a manner that satisfies his own conscience.

As previously mentioned, the Masonic Square is a TRY-SQUARE 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.

And it is exactly the same with our PERSONAL SQUARE. Masonry concerns itself more with the

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.

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.

Adapted from “The Square” written by W.Bro. Dr.F.W. Andrew and published in the

Masonic Bulletin – BCY- February 1939.

Things to be Thankful For

The good, green earth beneath our feet

The air we breathe, the food we eat,

Some work to do, a goal to win.

A hidden longing deep within

That spurs us on to bigger things

And helps us meet what each day brings.

All these things and many more

Are things we should be thankful for………

And most of all our thankful prayers

Should rise to God because HE CARES!.

From the Collected Poems of Helen Steiner Rice.

The Benefits of Aging

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true” she wanted to know, “That the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?” “Yes I’m afraid so” the doctor told her. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, “ I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked “NO REFILLS”.

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. “Yes Dad, what is it” “Don’t be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn’t go well, if something happens to me..your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife..”

Long long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft, Today it’s called GOLF.

Cable Tow etc.

The Square etc.