COMPASSES OR COMPASS? - WHICH IS CORRECT?

by V. Wor.  Bro.  I.J. Nathan G.L.


This is a question that has concerned a number of members but a
simple answer cannot be given. There has been a suggestion made
that the plural form came into common use when the mariners
compass was invented.  The word compas has been recorded as
having been used in the 14th century.  Three examples are: 1340
"craftily casten with a compas"; 1387 "made the first compas";
and in 1391 by Chaucer who wrote of the "poynt of my compas".  In
1551 this sentence was recorded "haue a payre of compasse aptelye
made for to draw the circles." In 1570 a mathematical text had
"geometrie teacheth the vse of the Rule and cumpasse." Swift
wrote in 1745 "to fix one foot of their compass wherever they
think fit." As recently as 1845 Emerson wrote "defined by compass
and measuring wand."

Earliest uses of the plural form have been recorded in the 16th
century.  In 1555 "we took owre compases and beganne to measure
the sea coasts" and an example from 1594 "how to make with your
compasses a perpendicular line to fall from any point given
another right line." Milton wrote in Paradise Lost in 1667 "in
his hand he took the golden compasses to circumscribe this
universe."

The mariners compass first appeared in 1515 "Some the anker layde
. . . . one kepte the compass and watched the our glasse." In
1552 this was recorded "ane skypper can nocht gyde his schip
without direction of his compas."

In at least four verses of the Old Testament compass appears in
its singular form.  Isaiah 44:13 "The carpenter stretcheth out
his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with
planes, and he marketh it out with the compass . . . . "Other
references are Exodus 27:5, Exodus 38:4 and Proverbs 8:27.

Early masonic rituals do not show any marked preference for
either form. Prichard's Masonry Dissected of 1730 uses the
singular four times and the plural once. Three Distinct Knocks
published in 1760 has the plural form seven times and the
singular twice. Jachin and Boaz which appeared in 1762 shows a
slight preference for the singular over the plural by five to
four.

In the United States some jurisdictions use compass and there are
also masonic clubs known as square and compass clubs.

After reading this far it would be a bold reader who would say
one or the other was correct.  There is, however, a criterion of
correctness for the modern New Zealand constitution mason and
that is how the word appears in our Book of Constitution and
Ritual.  As it always appears as compasses then as far as our
working is concerned compasses is the correct form.


Published from the proceedings of The Waikato Lodge of Research,
No. 445 A.F. & A.M. New Zealand.



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