The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 6 - Peculiarities of Masonic Language 387
told that story in the lecture. See also Section 5.5 on technical terminology under
the entry "metal."
8. This is a rough ashlar, he said stonily.
And this is the perfect ashlar, he added smoothly.
In order to resolve this Masonic Tom Swiftie, the profane first has to know
that a "rough ashlar" is a stone. Further, he must know that it is the "brute stone,"
which is given symbolically to the Entered Apprentice to work upon. It is a
metaphor for his unfinished and unpolished character. When the Entered
Apprentice has advanced in improvement and knowledge, he has treated his
"rough stone" with his working tools and made it smooth. By this stage, he is a
Fellow Craft, having created the "perfect ashlar" or "smooth stone." See also
Section 5.1 on technical terminology, that deals with terms of architecture.
9. I now declare this lodge to be called from labor to refreshment, he
said hungrily.
Strictly speaking, this Tom Swiftie is not quite correct for it implies that the
"refreshment" is an actual refreshment, with food and drinks being served.
However, as we have seen in Section 5.3 on technical terminology that deals
with Masonic customs, the "refreshment" is mostly only a short suspension of
the work without closing the lodge formerly. The brethren can assemble in an
anteroom and smoke or talk, but usually there is nothing for hungry Masons
there. Refreshment and banquets were synonyms though during the time of the
old table lodges.
10. The pitcher is broken at the fountain, he said in a shattered voice.
This is, strictly speaking, not a purely Masonic Tom Swiftie but a Christian
one. The broken pitcher is a symbol of death, which the Masons have taken over
from Biblical language into their ritualistic one. Here, semantically we have a
Tom Swiftie that does not use an adverb but an adjective. This adjective,
"shattered," refers to either voice or pitcher.
11. Where's the tiler's sword, he asked pointedly.
Right here, the tiler replied cuttingly.
The "tiler" is the lodge officer who acts as a watchman, being positioned
outside the lodge door with a drawn sword in order to guard it against "cowans"
and eavesdroppers. Furthermore, Masons "point" the swords or other sharp