THE COMPASSES AND THE WORK OF A MASON: BY "P.M."

AMERICAN FREEMASON, OCTOBER 1914

WHOSO enters upon the course of instruction given by Masonic ritual does
so of his own free will and accord, and for a definite and expressed
purpose.  The instruction is philosophic and religious - philosophic in that
it teaches the postulant matters of the utmost importance regarding himself,
and religious in that it gives him rules for guiding his conduct under all
circumstances, but particularly in his relations with his fellow men.

The first step on the path toward wisdom is taken when the neophyte
learns his own identity, not as distinguishing himself from others, but as
knowing his own reality.  He is brought to the light of reason as an
individual, and instructed to stand uprightly as "I am I." He stands as the
personal pronoun I - as a man - as a Mason.  He should here, perhaps for
the first time in his life, fully realize that he is not the body nor the brain nor
even the mind, but the Thinker - the "I" who USES body, brain and mind. 
It was at his own wish that he approached the door of knowledge, and it
was his own hand that caused the door to open. He is the Thinker, and as
a thinker he is the doer.  Whoever may offer to guide or direct, HE takes
each step himself and for himself.

That he may take each step wisely and toward the goal of Master Workman
he is given, in ceremonies and symbols, full instructions as to how to
control and direct his powers.

The symbols of Freemasonry explain to the initiate what he is himself, and
what his environment, while the ritual instructs how to so express himself
that he may become master of his environment.

The most comprehensive symbol of Freemasonry is the "Square and
Compasses," which every Mason is entitled to wear as indicating his
membership in the Craft.  The principles which this emblem symbolizes are
fundamental and universal and therefore every student is entitled to
knowledge concerning them.  The application of the principles to the
Masonic life is the particular care and privilege of students of the Mysteries
of Freemasonry.

The simplest form made by straight lines is the equilateral triangle.  In it all
parts correspond to each other.  Each side is similar to each other side,
and the same is true of the angles within and the points without.

Science at one time proposed to account for the origin and development
of the universe by the hypothesis of two elements - force and matter, and
that the action of force on matter produced all the infinite variants of the
whole universe.

When the inquiring mind asked "Why does force act on matter" and "why
does the action repeatedly produce the same results," there was no escape
from the answer "because force is directed."

We cannot here pursue the psychology of the question, nor go further into
the very interesting realm of metaphysics, but let us add to the former
scientific hypothesis one other element - Will - or if you prefer,
Consciousness, or Spirit, or God.  The name hardly matters if we
understand the principle.  We shall then have Will, Force and Matter as the
elements of the Universe.  They are three and are symbolized by the
isosceles triangle, in which each side is an aspect of the same thing.

In man we have the individual or thinking self which has its three aspects
- viz: Will, Soul, and Mind or Spirit, Soul and Mind.  Each is of equal
importance, and the WORD or expression of the MAN cannot be spoken
unless all three are present.

Among mystics of all ages the triangle has been taken as the symbol of the
ever-unmanifested spirit of the universe and the corresponding spirit of
man.

Now the compasses are the two sides of an isosceles triangle, and may be
corresponded to will and force in the universe, and to spirit and soul in
man.  Bearing this mystic meaning in mind let the workman recall the
successive changes in the use of the compasses, and he will at once
understand WHO is to be Master Builder and how that high distinction is
to be gained.

As to what he is to subdue in order to become Master we shall speak when
we consider the square and its meaning, but the "Subduer," the
"Conqueror," the "Master" is that in Universe, Lodge or Man which is
symbolized by the compasses.  You may call it the "Divine Spark," the
"Spiritual Nature," or what you choose only let us understand that it is the
Thinker - he who says I am I. By expressing HIMSELF, exercising his own
will, man circumscribes and limits his lower nature, controls his passions
and transforms his desires into aspiration.

