The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

More documents

Recommendations

Info

70The Lost KeyGavelSquareChisel2209. Figure 1 is the rough ashlar. The dotted lines show the size ofthe perfect ashlar which the Apprentice has discovered, bymeasuring with the Twenty Four Inch Gauge, that he can makeout of it. See how much of the stone has to be knocked off. TheTwenty Four Inch Gauge is used to determine these dotted linesand you can see where the aspect of criticism comes in with respectto the Gauge. Figure 2 shows the ashlar after the first rough workhas been done on it. Now the Apprentice, or rather the FellowCraft, takes the Square and the Chisel as well as the Gavel.210. There are many lessons in self-criticism given in the course ofthe Masonic Rituals. The twenty four inch Gauge is an emblem ofself-criticism. This initial criticism is rough and is only the firstestimate of the possibilitIes of the character. The Square denotes amuch more searching criticism which must also be directedtowards one’s self, a criticism in which the little inequalities withwhich the twenty four inch Gauge did not concern itself must betaken note of and the sharp cutting edge of the Chisel applied.And back of it all there must be the force of the will power as it issymbolized by the Gavel. The Gavel must be heavy enough to dothe work. A Gavel which is too light will not develop enough forceto smooth anything.
Chapter VI. 71211. There are two other Working Tools in the Second Degree, theLevel and the Plumb. The Level serves a two-fold purpose. It maybe used to some extent to criticise the ashlar just as the Square isdoing in Sketch No. 2 but its principal use is to level the wall. Astone built into a course should not be above or below its fellows, itshould be on the level with them. In the wall of a stone buildingwe may conceivably imagine that the stones are not always of thesame size. Some few of them may be very large yet, for the mostpart, they are pretty much alike. At any rate, whether the stonesbe larger or smaller, they must be level. The great majority beingof practically the same size, the Level is used to prevent anyonestone being higher or lower than its fellows. Hence the Level is asymbol of EQUALITY and also of HUMILITY.212. In the case of a stone which thinks that it should be placedabove some other stone, the Level teaches humility. But there aresome stones which are so humble and distrustful of self that theythink they ought to be below their fellows. In this case the Levelteaches CORRECT JUDGMENT or CORRECT OBSERVATION.213. Then comes the Plumb. This Working Tool is in a class all byitself. The Plumb is the one absolutely perfect tool. When you tiea weight to a string you are able to find the exact perpendicular.There is no mistake due to imperfections in your instrument. Thestring points out absolutely, the straight way from earth to heaven.But what could that symbolize? What have we in the nature of aPlumb? The Plumb is not a cutting tool. It is a tool of Directiononly. It is a tool of Guidance. It is let down from above. It tellsyou how to build your wall. so that it will not fall over from its ownweight. It does not cut the ashlar or even criticise it. It is primarilya tool of advice.214. Also IT IS LET DOWN FROM ABOVE. This is a very importantfeature. All the other tools you have picked up and used but thePlumb is a method of direction in the building of the wall and it is
Page 2 and 3:
First published 1927 e.v.by Harry M
Page 4 and 5:
CONTENTSSECTIONSPAGEQuestions on th
Page 6 and 7:
2The Lost Key25. What is the symbol
Page 8 and 9:
4The Lost Key80. What are the Worki
Page 10 and 11:
6The Lost Keyother details with whi
Page 12 and 13:
8The Lost Key6. So the Flag is an A
Page 14 and 15:
10The Lost Key17. Suppose that a ma
Page 16 and 17:
12The Lost Key24. Now that we have
Page 18 and 19:
14The Lost Keymeaning. Let us quote
Page 20 and 21:
16The Lost Keyordinary, uninstructe
Page 22 and 23:
18The Lost Keyof religion and is th
Page 24 and 25: 20The Lost Keysupposed to have gain
Page 26 and 27: 22The Lost Keythe intelligence? The
Page 28 and 29: 24The Lost Keyexcept PREJUDICE? The
Page 30 and 31: 26The Lost Keytreatise, he will be
Page 32 and 33: 28The Lost Keythe activities or the
Page 34 and 35: 30The Lost KeyHANDS—Symbolize dir
Page 36 and 37: 32The Lost Keyand knowledge is of a
Page 38 and 39: 34The Lost KeyTHE OBLONG SQUARE93.
Page 40 and 41: 36The Lost Key101. There are other
Page 42 and 43: 38The Lost Keynature, the mind, etc
Page 44 and 45: 40The Lost Keyhis love for sports.
Page 46 and 47: 42The Lost Key121. Bending the knee
Page 48 and 49: 44The Lost Keythe members of the pa
Page 50 and 51: 46The Lost Key135. All outgoing cur
Page 52 and 53: 48The Lost KeyMasonic membership. U
Page 54 and 55: 50The Lost Keydefinite enough to se
Page 56 and 57: 52The Lost KeyCosmos. It is very im
Page 58 and 59: 54The Lost Keyone which falls the m
Page 60 and 61: 56The Lost Key167. Beginning at the
Page 62 and 63: 58The Lost Keyby Christ Himself but
Page 64 and 65: 60The Lost Keyrealize that the vari
Page 66 and 67: 62The Lost Key184. Now, since we ar
Page 68 and 69: 64The Lost Keyservice and help woul
Page 70 and 71: CHAPTER SIXThe Working Tools199. In
Page 72 and 73: 68The Lost Keyyour imagination and
Page 76 and 77: 72The Lost Keylet down from above.
Page 78 and 79: 74The Lost Keyobservation. The form
Page 80 and 81: 76The Lost KeyTHE SECOND DEGREE228.
Page 82 and 83: 78The Lost Keybody firmly fixed in
Page 84 and 85: 80The Lost Keythe present day and o
Page 86 and 87: 82The Lost Key246. The meaning of t
Page 88 and 89: 84The Lost Keythe symbology to suit
Page 90 and 91: 86The Lost Key257. The first Sectio
Page 92 and 93: 88The Lost Keyunknown meaning, so m
Page 94 and 95: 90The Lost Keythe penalties of law
Page 96 and 97: CHAPTER NINEThe Method of Teaching
Page 98 and 99: 94The Lost Keysymbolism is understo
Page 100 and 101: 96The Lost Keya tremendous effect e
Page 102 and 103: 98The Lost Keyof the clothing was n
Page 104 and 105: 100The Lost Keythis intuition had b
Page 106 and 107: 102The Lost Key292. This is the tea
Page 108 and 109: 104The Lost KeyOUGHT to mean. There
Page 110 and 111: 106The Lost Keyhe is to progress, t
Page 112 and 113: 108The Lost Keyheld by the ancient
Page 114 and 115: 110The Lost Keythe clothing. The Mo
Page 116 and 117: 112The Lost Keyto meet the peculiar
Page 118 and 119: 114The Lost Key320. The Lost Word,
Page 120: SectionAllegory . . . . . . . . . .
show all

The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?