Masonic Jewels.

MASONIC JEWELS .

E VERY lawfully-constituted and well-governed Lodge has form , covering , furniture , ornaments , lights , and also jewels , all of which claim the attention of every speculative Mason who would rightly understand the royal art and become proficient in the noble science . The most important lessons in Masonry are taught in symbolic language . Each symbol

presented to the learner of these lessons is the sign of an idea designed to instruct the diligent Craftsman in skilfully executing his work , and it is desirable that every one in search of Masonic light should understand the media through which it is conveyed , in order to comprehend the instructions given .

Among the many symbols exhibited for contemplation are six jewels—three movable , three immovable—all being of special value to the Mason , and each of great worth among his possessions . The word jewel conveys the idea of something precious , highly valued , worth searching for ,

and that may be used for the adornment of the person . It is guarded as a treasure . Masonry as a " system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , " has selected the square , level and plumb as immovable jewels , each set in its appropriate place in the east , west and south , where it

is expressive of a fundamental idea in Masonry , awakening in the mind a precious train of thought relative to the work in which Masons are engaged , with a most valuable suggestion as to the manner in which they are always to meet , act ,

and part . They well deserve the name of jewels in this respect , and no quality of the human mind should be more eagerly , sought after or more highly prized than is symbolised by these immovable jewels .

These symbols , as tools in the hands of the Craftsmen , are of inestimable value in constructing a social and moral edifice in which every virtue dwells and from which every vice is excluded . Symbolising integrity , equality , morality , each shines in its respective station with the brilliancy of a

precious gem , sending a corresponding sentiment towards the mind , heart and conscience of the beholder , which , if received and reduced to practice , cannot fail to produce hrost precious results in peace , love and unity , with all the

valuable accessories that gather around this triplet of Masonic virtues . These jewels are radiant with Masonic ideas which should penetrate the soul of every Mason and be clearly reflected in his character and conduct till he becomes a pillar of strength to the fraternity .

For want „ of comprehension of the idea conveyed by these symbols through neglect of attention to them , Masonry falls short of its object as a system of morality , and it fails to come up to its true standard as an educational institution . Its design is to make its votaries wiser , better and happier ,

and this design cannot be accomplished , if its symbolic lessons be not understood ; nor can they be understood without such appreciation of their value as to call forth a special effort to make these symbols give up their secret , and especially to gain possession of these jewels .

Many a Mason has failed to grasp the " hidden " mysteries of Masonry . Too many gather up a few signs , words and tokens on their rapid passage from rank to rank , on their upward climb towards the pinnacle , and in their haste they fail to apprehend the true secret of a Master

Mason , or realise the beauty of the system , the attractive charm and precious worth of which is veiled in symbols , the meaning of which they have neglected to decipher , torgetting that Masonry ' s curriculum is a course of hieroglyphic and moral instructions communicated through the media of

symbols , together with allegory , legend and hieroglyph , they become Masons in body , but not in mind , heart , and soul ; nor can it be otherwise so long as a tinsel is preferred to a

jewel ; or , in other words , so long as the outer ornaments of Masonry are prized more highly than the inward adornment conferred through its mystic teachings that lie concealed in its symbols and sparkle in its jewels .

In addition to the plumb , level and square , Masonry has selected the rough ashlar , the perfect ashlar and the trestleboard as jewels , movable in their nature , and designed to be ever in reach of the Craftsman . The Operative Mason

wrought m stone , and his task was to transform , by a skilful use of his working tools , the rough block raised from the quarry into a stone hewed , squared and fitted , according to the design drawn on the trestle-board , for its destined place in the building . In like manner , the Speculative Mason takes manhimself for instance—as symbolised by the rough ashlar ,

Masonic Jewels.

from the quarry of human nature , demoralised by the evils incident to his natural state , and following the designs drawn upon the trestle-board , which is a symbol of the natural and moral law , and using for his tools the working symbols according to instructions , he hews to the plummet

and line till he has wrought a man—a model man , bearing all the features of true manhood , as symbolised by the perfect ashlar—a man that will pass the Overseer ' s

inspection as good square work that will entitle him to the reward that even the world is ready to bestow upon the just and upright man , who is true and trusty in all his relations with mankind .

In reality , there is no more precious object presented on earth for Masonic contemplation than the perfect ashlar as a symbol of the perfect man ( as far as human perfection is attainable by all the means within reach)—a man resting on that foundation which God has laid in Zion , shining in

the Great Light as " a tried stone , a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation , " and to whom shall be given a " white stone , and in the stone a new name written " when he overcomes the evils of his nature by circumscribing his desires , keeping his passions within due bounds , doing justly , loving mercy and walking humbly with his God .

Viewed in this light , the perfect ashlar , wrought by the skill of the Craftsman from the rough ashlar by the plan drawn on the trestle-board under the instruction of the Great Architect , may be regardel as the . highest point for attainment in all Masonic work . The common gavel , evert

in the hand of a skilful workman , may not be capable of changing the rough into a perfect ashlar . The chisel and mallet of the practised artisan may be needed to work such a desirable transformation ; but to secure both the strength and beauty of the temple , it is worth all that it costs in

knowledge , skill , and industry . No matter on how solid a foundation the Masonic edifice is laid , if its walls are largely composed of rough ashlars , it presents an unsightly appearance , and becomes repulsive instead of attractive to the world . Every Mason should , therefore , keep his eye

on this jewel as a symbol of that excellence of moral character , rectitude of conduct , integrity of purpose , honesty in dealing and social culture which he should attain in order to give strength and beauty to that social and moral edifice on the erection of which he is engaged as a Craftsman . /

There is reason to suspect that this particular stone is set at naught by many builders , and , if not rejected froni their contemplations as a symbol of finished work , is at least neglected as a model , and in consequence a large amount of Masonic work fails to come up to standard . In

addition to divesting the mind and conscience of the vices and superfluities of life , the mind , which , like the rough ashlar , is rude and unpolished , untutored and uncultured , must be brought under the influence of that system of education which " discovers its latent virtues and draws

them forth to range the large field of matter and space , to display the summit of human knowledge—our duty to God and to man . " This calls for an application of the chisel , which symbolises morally the advantages of discipline and education ; and this finishing tool in one hand

must be used with the mallet in the other , each blow of which must leave a mark on that which contains the vital parts of the man , that will be visible through all his life , for " what the mallet is to the workman , enlightened reason is to the passions ; it curbs ambition , depresses envy ,

moderates anger , and encourages good dispositions and kind feelings "—in a word , " it relieves the mind from the domin-: ation of vice and immorality , and fits it as a well-wrought stone for that exalted station in the great temple of nature

to which , as an emanation from Deity , it , is entitled , " " Morally the mallet teaches to correct irregularities , and reduce' man to a proper level ; so that , by a quiet deportment , he may , in the school of discipline , learn to be content . "

If these refining tools were used more frequently , carefully , and diligently by the Craft in their daily work , there would be fewer rough ashlars in the walls of the temple , and its claim that " no institution was ever raised on better principles or a more solid foundation , " would be established in strength before all mankind .

But while the perfect ashlar may be contemplated as the most valuable jewel in the set , as it is the product of all combined and a resultant of all Masonic labour , yet it can never be wrought without 'most closel y following