
                THE PERFECT CUBIT - MASONIC LEGEND OR FABLE 
        
                       by Lloyd U. Jefferson, P.G.M. 


                                 DEDICATED 

    To the loving memory of Reverend and Brother John Henry Powers in 
    his earlier years a stone mason by trade, he founded the Powers 
    Memorial Baptist Church, served with distinction on the Virginia 
    State Baptist Mission Board, member of Old Town Lodge No. 68, A.F. 
    & A.M., Galax, Virginia, Masonic Scholar and Master Teacher, 
    Exemplary Mason and Cherished Friend. 

                                 1870-1961 



                              ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
    
    With a grateful heart, I profoundly thank the following for their 
    wise counsel, help, and assistance: 

    Mrs. Marie M. Barnett, Librarian Grand Lodge of Virginia 

    Col. Catlin E. Tyler, Librarian Richmond Scottish Rite Bodies 

    Wor. James A. Brewer Deputy Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Virginia 

    Right Worshipful E. Milton Skelton, P.D.D.G.M. 

    Mt. Wor. A. Douglas Smith, Jr. Past Grand Master 

    Jerry Marsengill, Editor, The Philalethes Society 

    Mrs. Inge Baum Supreme Council Library, A. & A. S. R., Southern 
    Jurisdiction 

    Mrs. Gwen Keran, Secretary Grand Lodge of Virginia Staff 




    Masonry, the more it is examined, the more beautiful it becomes.  
    This paper which I have prepared, howsoever imperfect, is an 
    attempt to explore the origin of the perfect cubit.  It is my 
    prayer that it may induce others having more extensive means of 
    information and time for elaborate research, to accept the 
    challenge. 


    Admittedly, the existence of a "Perfect Cubit" has neither 
    historical authority nor logical possibility to support it.  It was 
    first implanted in my mind by Reverend and Brother John Henry 
    Powers, my wife's grandfather, for whom I had the greatest respect 
    and admiration in all the years I had the privilege of sharing his 
    friendship and Masonic knowledge.  This paper is dedicated to his 
    loving memory, to his intelligence, and his profound influence on 
    my life.  He truly exemplified the greatest teachings of 
    Freemasonry.  While I come from a Masonic family, including my 
    father, father-in-law, a number of uncles and other relatives, I 
    suppose Reverend Powers was the one singular person who most 
    influenced by decision to petition Freemasonry.  Then, in 1946 
    following by being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, 
    our warm relationship blossomed and grew with each passing year.  I 
    treasure the countless evenings I spent with him in his study, as 
    he discussed with me the origins and ageless teachings of 
    Freemasonry.  He was a Masonic scholar, possessing the keen mind of 
    a Master Teacher.  Born in 1870, he was one of the great 
    evangelistic Baptist preachers who rode horse-back over the dirt 
    roads of Kentucky and Virginia, preaching the Gospel.  This man of 
    God was a member of Old Town Lodge No. 68, at Galax, Virginia, and 
    when I became a Mason he was seventy-six years of age. 


    During one of our many sessions together, he expounded on the 
    building of King Solomon's Temple.  It was his belief, which I 
    share, that the origin of Masonry took place at the building of 
    Solomon's Temple, and that King Solomon was the first Grand Master, 
    and Hiram of Tyre and Hiram Abif were his Wardens. 


    Dr. James Anderson accepts this legend in the second edition of his 
    "Constitutions" when he says that King Solomon was Grand Master of 
    all Masons at Jerusalem; Hiram, King of Tyre, was Grand Master at 
    Tyre, and Hiram Abif, in Solomon's absence, filled the chair as 
    Deputy Grand Master, and, in his presence was Senior Grand 
    Warden.[1] 


    Moreover, Reverend George Oliver in "Antiquities of Freemasonry" 
    said these periods occupy a space of three thousand years; and I 
    have selected them for illustration, because it is generally 
    believed that Masonry took its rise at the building of King 
    Solomon's Temple.[2] 


    Reverend Powers spoke of Solomon's recruiting over one hundred and 
    fifty thousand stone Masons, hewers of timber, artificers of 
    previous metals, laborers and overseers from all over the land, 
    many speaking in strange tongues, making communication difficult.  
    Chapter Two, Second Book of Chronicles relates how "Solomon 
    numbered all the strangers who were in the land of Israel, after 
    the numbering wherewith David, his father, had numbered them; and 
    they were found one hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand 
    and six hundred.  And he set three score and ten thousand of them 
    to be bearers of burdens and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the 
    mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the 
    people to work.[3] 


    Grandfather Powers reflected on the monumental task that was 
    Solomon's to meld such a huge body of workmen, sorting out their 
    various talents and abilities, and organizing them into an 
    effective and harmonious work force to commence building the 
    temple. 


    Yet, perhaps Solomon's greatest problem, Reverend Powers suggested, 
    was the lack of a uniform measure of length by which the stones, 
    timbers and other materials could be joined with accuracy. He spoke 
    of the cubit, which was used as a measure of length by the Hebrews, 
    Egyptians, and Babylonians, being the distance from the elbow to 
    the extremity of the middle finger or approximately eighteen 
    inches.  Understandably, the cubit would vary by the physical size 
    of the workman or overseer, and thus, precluding the use of an 
    exact measure, World Book Encyclopedia states that generally the 
    cubit was the length of a man's forearm from his elbow to the tip 
    of his middle finger.  The cubit of the Ancient Egyptians was about 
    21 inches long.  That of the Ancient Romans was 17.5 inches.  The 
    Jewish cubit was 22 inches.[4] 


    Coil in his Masonic Encyclopedia says the cubit was a measure used 
    by the Hebrews, the exact length of which has been the subject of 
    much uncertainty and dispute.  The majority opinion is that it is 
    the length of the forearm and hand from the elbow to the extremity 
    of the middle finger or approximately 18 inches.  The Egyptian 
    common cubit was 17.72 inches; the Egyptian Royal cubit was 20.67 
    inches; and the Roman Attic cubit was 17.57 inches.[5] 


    Marsengill, Editor (The Philalethes Society) said, "According to 
    Bishop Cumberland, the Hebrew cubit was 21 inches but according to 
    all other authorities it was approximately 18 inches. Two kinds of 
    cubits were known: the Sacred (36 inches) and the Profane (18 
    inches).  The measurements given in the Bible about Solomon's 
    Temple are all based on the Profane or common cubit.[6] 


    Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia refers to Hasints Dictionary of the 
    Bible (page 967), "We have at present no means of ascertaining the 
    exact dimensions of the Hebrews' ordinary and Royal cubits.  The 
    balance of evidence is certainly in favor of a fairly close 
    approximation to the Egyptian system.[7] 


    The Maryland Master Mason Handbook declares that it is of great 
    interest that archaeological research has revealed that in 
    Solomon's day there were three different cubits; a Land cubit which 
    was used for plotting the layout of the Temple's courts and the 
    surrounding terrace, which had a length of about 17.6 inches; a 
    Building cubit used in the erection of buildings was about 14.4 
    inches; and a Gold cubit used in the construction of the gold and 
    silver vessels and decorative work which was equal to about 10.8 
    inches.  All these three are found to be multiples of the basic 
    palm breadth of 3.6 inches which was used by the Babylonians and 
    also the Hebrews.[8] 


    Amid all of this confusion about a unit of measure, especially 
    finding one which was uniform and dependable, Reverend Powers said 
    the ancient workmen of the Temple fashioned a rope of human hair 
    which was knotted at three, five, and seven cubits.  The human hair 
    was chosen because it was unaffected by heat or cold, and thus 
    maintained a constant length.  He called this, "The Perfect Cubit," 
    which enabled the workmen to join the stones, timbers and other 
    materials with accuracy. 


    In Oliver's Antiquities he said ". . . The structure thus begun, 
    according to a plan given to Solomon by David, his father, upon the 
    Ark of Alliance, every energy was used to render it a perfect 
    specimen of art.  Every stone, every piece of timber, was carved, 
    marked, and numbered in the quarry and the forest; and nothing 
    remained for the workmen at Jerusalem but to join the materials 
    with precision, on a reference to the marks and numbers.  This was 
    affected without the use of either axe, hammer, or metal tool; so 
    that nothing was heard at Zion, save harmony and peace.[9]  It is a 
    real testimonial to the Ancient Craftsmen that the parts could be 
    so shaped at great distance and fit as they were intended. 
    Grandfather Powers contended that this was due in part to the use 
    of the Perfect Cubit. 


    I have reflected many times upon the significance of the three knots 
    in the Perfect Cubit . . . three, five, and seven. Mackey in his 
    History (Volume I) referred to the symbolic character of those 
    sacred numbers in the teaching of our Ancient Art and Science . . . 
    three, five, and seven.  In the same spirit of symbolic reference 
    the steps of the winding stairs leading to the middle chamber were 
    divided into a series of three, five, and seven.[10] 


    I said at the onset of this paper that the existence of a "Perfect 
    Cubit" has no historical authority.  None surfaced during my 
    research.  Again, Mackey in Volume One (p. 9) states for a faithful 
    and thorough inquiry of the history of Freemasonry, carefully 
    separate the two periods into which it may be naturally divided, 
    The Historic, and The Prehistoric. 


    The Historic is the period within which we have genuine documents 
    in reference to the existence of the order. The Prehistoric is the 
    period within which we have no such records and where we have to 
    depend wholly upon legends and traditions.[11] 


    In the preface to Mackey's History (Page VII) Robert Ingham Clegg 
    reflected that Brother Mackey . . . pointing out that the very age 
    of the Masonic institution had tended to confuse mere traditions or 
    legends with the authentic truths of history and he welcomed light 
    from all directions but carefully applied critical standards to the 
    source and standing of the information that came his way.  By no 
    means was he ready to reject a Masonic Legend as fable.[12] 


    So I leave it up to the Masonic scholars and prominent historians, 
    imminently more qualified than I, to determine whether "The Perfect 
    Cubit" is a Masonic legend or fable. 


    Now, from Second Corinthians . . . "Finally, brethren, farewell.  
    Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and 
    the God of Love and peace shall be with you.[13] 




    NOTES:


    [1] Anderson's "Constitutions" (Second Edition) Chapter III (1738) 
        pp. 12, 13, 15. 

    [2] Rev. George Oliver, "The Antiquities of Freemasonry (1854) 
        pp. IX 

    [3] Holy Bible, Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 2, Verses 17-18 

    [4] 1962 World Book Encyclopedia 

    [5] Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (Macoy), Page 153 

    [6] Editor, Jerry Marsengill, The Philalethes Society, in response 
        to letter from Colonel Catlin E. Tyler, Librarian, 
        A. & A. S. R.,  Richmond Consistory (January 25, 1985) 

    [7] Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia, Page 257

    [8] The Maryland Master Mason Handbook (1976) p. 265

    [9] Oliver, "The Antiquities of Freemasonry" (1843) p. 321

    [10] Mackey's History of Freemasonry (Volume I, 1921) Chap. 24,  
         p. 167 
        
    [11] Mackey's History of Freemasonry (Volume I, 1921) p. 9
         
    [12] Preface to Mackey's history of Freemasonry (1921) p. VII by 
         Robert Ingham Clegg. 

    [13] Holy Bible, II Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 11


        
    BIBLIOGRAPHY


    Anderson's Constitutions (Second Edition, 1738)

    Robert Ingham Clegg, Preface to Mackey's History of Freemasonry 
    (1921) 

    Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (Macoy)

    Mackey's History of Freemasonry (Volume One, 1921)

    Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia

    Maryland Master Mason Handbook (1976)

    Oliver, "The Antiquities of Freemasonry" (1843) and (1854)

    World Book Encyclopedia (1962)

    Holy Bible, Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 2, Verses 17-18, 
    Second Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 11

    Letter, January 25, 1985 from Editor Jerry Marsengill, The 
    Philalethes Society


