In recent months, there has been much hate and rage in the social media webs. I confess, I have been fed up with all of this nonsense for a while now, and have posted to some forums with words that don't make it past the Square and Compasses. What got me back on the path?
I haven't been able to go to lodge lately, and have been looking online for podcasts and videos made by brothers from all jurisdictions. The common message of late is this: would what you are about to post answer the three questions before speaking positively? Would you say it to this person's face if you were in front of them?
So, here is a Masonic lesson we could all take a moment to read.
The Square of Virtue, The Compasses of Restraint: A Lesson on Due Bounds
Of all the symbols in Freemasonry, none is more recognized than the Square and Compasses. To the world, it is the emblem of our Fraternity. To the Mason, it is a profound source of moral instruction and a constant reminder of the principles we have sworn to uphold. While its full meaning is revealed through ritual and reflection, its core lesson on conduct is one that can and should be understood by all. In an age of heated discourse and fleeting fame, its wisdom is more necessary than ever.
The symbol is not one, but two distinct tools, joined to teach a unified lesson. Let us consider them separately first.
The Square: A Tool for Proving Our Work
In the hands of an operative stonemason, the square is a tool of precision. It is used to test the trueness of stones, to ensure that corners are perfect right angles, and that the foundation of a structure is sound. Without the square, a building would be unstable, crooked, and destined to fall.
As speculative Masons, we apply this tool not to stone, but to our character. The Square is the symbol of virtue, morality, and truth. We are taught to "square our actions," which means we must measure our every word and deed against this unyielding standard. Is this action honest? Is this word true? Am I acting with integrity, not just for my own benefit, but for the good of all? The Square reminds us that our character, like a great cathedral, must be built upon a foundation of virtue. Actions born of anger, ego, or a desire for attention are imperfect stones; they will not pass the test of the Square and will ultimately weaken the structure of our lives and communities.
The Compasses: A Tool for Defining Our Limits
The Compasses are a tool of definition and limitation. An operative mason uses them to draw circles, to mark out the boundaries of a design, ensuring that every element remains in proportion and harmony with the whole.
For the speculative Mason, the Compasses are a guide for self-governance. Their primary lesson is to teach us to "keep our passions within due bounds." In this context, "passions" are not merely emotions of love or joy, but also the powerful impulses of pride, wrath, envy, and greed. It is the unchecked passion for validation that leads a person to seek notoriety through rage and name-calling. It is the passion of ego that refuses to listen to another's perspective.
The Compasses remind us that we must draw a circle around these destructive impulses, with our conscience and our obligations at the center point. The circumference of that circle represents the limits of decency, respect, and brotherly love. To step outside of it is to allow our passions to run wild, causing harm to ourselves and creating discord with others. The Compasses are the symbol of self-control, the essential virtue that separates wisdom from intellect.
A Unified Lesson for Our Times
When we see the Square and Compasses joined together, we are reminded that virtue and self-control are inseparable. To act with virtue (the Square) requires the self-discipline to control our base passions (the Compasses). To restrain our passions (the Compasses) is meaningless unless we are guided by a moral standard (the Square).
In any discussion, especially one that becomes difficult, we have a choice. We can cast aside our working tools and give in to the passion for a quick retort or a moment of online fame. Or, we can apply this timeless lesson: Measure our words against the Square of Virtue, ensuring they are true and just. And circumscribe our conduct with the Compasses, keeping our ego and anger within the due bounds of respect and reason. It is by this method, and this method alone, that we can hope to build something worthy and lasting.
WB Shaun Housler (A Facebook post)
