THE BUILDER JUNE 1916

SQUARE AND COMPASSES
BY BRO. WALTER RUSSELL REED, NORTH DAKOTA

CRAFTSMEN, it is truly a matter of rejoicing to me that my
journeyings have brought me near your Lodge of Operative Cathedral
Builders, so that I may again greet you, and know of your welfare.
And it is a great pleasure to me, a Speculative Mason, to note the
progress you have made in the construction of this noble and
beautiful building. Its growth has no doubt seemed to you slow, but
to me the advance you have made is most evident, and the
development has been rapid toward that completed structure which
our Master Architect has planned. It will be truly a poem and a
prayer in stone, and each of you may well be proud to have had a
part in so noble and glorious an undertaking as the erection of
this cathedral which overshadows your lodge.

You remember, possibly, that on the occasion of my first visit to
you, I held familiar discourse with you here on the likeness of
such a work to the growth of human character. Again when I was with
you a brief time last year, I drew from the same source some
lessons on the strength of organization. Even as I walked about the
building today, I noticed in the work-yard many of the stones which
had been brought from the quarries, and were lying there until they
should be needed. Beautifully finished some of them were, and much
labor had already been expended on each one, yet as they lay here
and there without order there was no beauty in the assemblage. One,
which seemed to be the key for an arch, appeared at even a less
advantage than its fellows, and I thought of our old legend of that
"Stone which the builders rejected." Yet, united according to the
wisdom of our Master Architect, these same stones will combine to
form the wondrous strength and beauty which is produced only by
harmony. If it has chanced that you have pondered on my words,
Craftsmen, as you have day by day spread the cement which has
united these stones to one purpose, so that now you are grown to a
higher regard for the craft, a greater loyalty to the state, and a
deeper respect for law, then my words have not been in vain. For
verily I would urge upon you that by organization, and true
co-operation, even the rough stones of Failure may be builded into
the beautiful temple of Success.

And now I might tell you of my travels in foreign countries, or
speak of some of the ancient legends of the craft. But rather would
I talk of the familiar things around you, so that with new eyes you
may look on these common objects of everyday life. Would I could
leave with some of you that Philosopher's Stone of thought and
observation which turns each common thing to gold, and gives to him
who possesses it the true title of Master.

Brother Warden, I notice that you have, with a carefulness which is
no doubt a habit to you, brought your working tools with you into
the lodge. Lend me for a moment your square. And a right good one
it seems to be, and I doubt not the angle is true and the blades
straight. How then, craftsman, do you use this tool? To try your
work. Ay, and how often it tells you that your work is not yet
perfect, does it not? The surface of the stone may be chiselled
ever so smooth, but if, when the square is applied, the angle
proves to be untrue, all must be done again, or the stone will be
rejected by the overseers, and it may be that he who has shaped it
will be humiliated by seeing it heaved over among the rubbish.
Truly, square work only is what is required of us. Some may bring
up stones for inspection of a pattern we know not, and which the
square will not justify. Yet be not too hasty to condemn or
criticise them, my Brother. Such stones may yet be needed for the
building. Genius is not always to be fettered by the common
standard. But as for us, we know that we must apply the square to
every angle of our work ere we pronounce it good.

Let us now name this working tool with a new name. Suppose we call
it Duty. As we day by day shape the rough ashlar of our rude and
natural selves into the perfect ashlar of virtuous character, let
the Square of Duty be our unerring standard. Swerve not from those
principles of honor and morality, of truth and right, which are
expressed by this symbol. Stand erect, and let your feet form its
angle. In your walk of life pursue no crooked and devious way, but
turn only on the angle of the square. Let Duty be with you always,
craftsmen. Do that thing which is right; because you would, if that
be possible; but even if you would not, do it because you should.
Only thus may your work be approved by the Great Overseer.

But the Square of Duty is an inflexible and arbitrary thing. I
would fain leave with you some more inspiring thought, which may
make duty easier, though not less imperative. Worthy Master, in
your work at the trestle board you often make use of the Compasses.
Lend me, I beg of you, those useful and valuable instruments.

Ah, here we find no fixed and arbitrary angle, but one which may be
varied from the closest contact to the widest circle of action. Let
us give to the compasses, also, a new name. We shall call them
Love. And a great name it is; perhaps that Most Great Name which
gives to its possessor power even over things of darkness and evil.
Duty often drives unwilling feet, which with Love go gladly. Duty
alone could not bring us Goodness, or Devotion, or Charity, or
Heroism. Truly, we must place Love above Duty, for Duty speaks to
us from the earth, but Love comes down from God. Let Love guide you
in your dealings with your fellow men, and Duty will be easy.

See, brethren, we have by thus placing the compasses on the square
formed the six pointed star, the Seal of Solomon, with which you
are familiar in ecclesiastical architecture. You already know some
of its meanings; possibly now you have learned another. Let us lay
these tools, so placed, here upon the open Book of the Law, that
like a Blazing Star the Square of Duty and the Compasses of Love
may be as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

A MASON'S PRAYER

Oh ! Unseen Power that rules and controls the destinies of the
children of earth: teach me the symphony of life so that my nature
may be in tune with thine. Reveal to me the joy of being loving,
self-sacrificing and charitable. Teach me to know and play life's
game with courage, fortitude and confidence. Endow me with wisdom
to guard my tongue and temper, and learn with patience the art of
ruling my own life for its highest good, with due regard for the
privacy, rights, and limitations of other lives. Help me to strive
for the highest legitimate reward of merit, ambition, and
opportunity in my activities, ever ready to extend a kindly helping
hand to those who need encouragement and succor in the struggle.
Enable me to give a smile instead of a frown, a cheerful kindly
word instead of harshness and bitterness. Make me sympathetic in
sorrow, realizing that there are hidden woes in every life no
matter how exalted or lowly. If in life's battle I am wounded or
tottering, pour into my wounds the balm of hope, and imbue me with
courage undaunted to arise and continue the strife. Keep me humble
in every relation of life, not unduly egotistical, nor liable to
the serious sin of self-depreciation. In success keep me meek. In
sorrow, may my soul be uplifted by the thought that if there were
no shadow, there would be no sunshine, and that everything in life
must have its antithesis. Grant that I may be a true, loyal friend,
a genial companion with the broad, honest charity born of an
intimate knowledge of my own shortcomings. If I win, crown me with
the laurels fitting to be worn by a victor, and if I fall, may it
be with my face to the foe, fighting manfully, "and falling fling
to the host behind,--play up, play up, and play the game."
--William J. Robinson.


THE MOTIVE OF MASONRY

The cardinal doctrine, the underlying motive of Masonry, is
service. There is not a degree in the elaboration of its teachings
which lacks the inspiration of this thought--service to our fellow
men, regardless of race, creed or color; service to our country;
service to God. In the Nineteenth Degree of the Scottish Rite the
teaching is emphasized that "Unconsciously we obey the dead; and
the living, when we are dead, will obey us." Life is worth living
in all its aspects if it be made worthy by doing. The waves of
human influence go on and on in every widening circles until they
beat upon the shores of time itself with resistless energy. The
impulses of Masonry--ah, who can foresee their outcome? You, and I,
my brother, have it within our power to contribute to those things
which shall make others obey us long after we are dead and
forgotten. Shall it be for weal or for woe? It must be for weal if
we walk uprightly in the sight of God and of men, discharging our
obligations with Masonic fidelity.
--J. H. Marrow, Cal.


FOUNDERS OR FINDERS ?

People talk sometimes of the "founders" of religion. But did ever
a man in all the history of the world found a religion? Did
Franklin found electricity ? Did Newton found gravitation ? Both
forces existed long before these men were born. They were the
finders, and not the founders. It is so with religion. Neither
Moses, nor Buddha, nor Zoroaster, nor Jesus, ever founded a
religion. Religion was founded in the primitive constitution of
things, and these men were the finders of it instead of being its
founders. They are gone and the traditions have followed them. The
original order of things remains. Let us study religion at its
primal sources. Let us seek as they sought, and we shall find as
they found. They will help us to find. But not one of them ever
claimed to be a founder of religion. They all depended on
antecedents.
--E. L. Rexford.

MAN AND WOMAN

The man be more of woman, she of man; 
He gain in sweetness and in moral height, 
Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world; 
She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care,
Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind; 
Till at the last she set herself to man 
Like perfect music unto noble words.
--Lord Tennyson.

