The Square And The Qube.

THE SQUARE AND THE QUBE .

' _/< TASO ^ X LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY ^ S & g & fr—

A MASONIC ESSAT . V \^ B YA BY J . ¥ . T . X § ON ]^ It is no new tiling to Masons that synioolTEave been used in all time as a means of teaching ancl impressing important truths . Rightly understood ,

everything is a symbol ; everything speaks , if only we will properly interpret it ., of the attributes of the Great Architect of the Universe . There

are " sermons in stones , ancl God in everything . It is my intention in this essay to endeavour to unravel the meaning of some of our Masonic symbols . I shall indeed produce no new meanings , bub I shall try to increase the appreciation of what

are taught , by showing that they are no arbitrary explanations , but founded on real analogies . Masonry teaches that man in his natural state is the brute or unhewn stone ; not indeed devoid of a wild beauty of its own , but useless for

embodiment in the building which represents society without preparation . Man as a good and useful member of society , capable of filling entirely his own place without trenching on his neighbours is symbolised by the cube . And the good Mason ,

ready to take his place in the Grand Lodge above is the perfect cube . In studying the practical mode of forming' such a figure , we learn our own duties and shortcomings , as well as how to remove the latter ; and I trust those who read this paper

to the end will rise with a greater love for the Craft and a higher opinion of the wisdom of its founders , the beauty of its teachings , and the strength which pervades it . First then with the gavel , the mason knocks off

all those irregularities of surface and protuberances which prevent one stone from being applied to another without large vacuities , and reduces the stone to an approximation to its final form . These protuberances symbolise our self-love and

impatience of all restraint . And as the protuberances are caused by the very hardness ancl rigidity of the stone which duly regulated it for the use to which it is destined , some learn that the passions and qualities with which we have been

endowed by the Most High are not in themselves evil , but that they require restraint and regulation , subject to which they are essential to our due performance of our duty as members of society : The chisel is another tool for a further stage of preparation , but equally to remove irregularities of

smface ; and as the performance of this necessary preparation is the duty of the masters ancl governors of society , so from their qualities we may learn what should be some of the qualifications for these offices . They must have temper ; that

is , while hard enough to remove protuberances , they must not be too hard ; some elasticity is absolutely necessary , or in removing the offending matter they will injure themselves and lose their efficiency . Judgment must guide their use , tho

the weight and keenness of the tool ; the hardness ancl elasticity of the material must all be considered in regulating the treatment ; indeed , the nature of the material will exercise some influence in the

represented by a hollow in B . A third , c , is similarly fitted to A , B and c are then applied to each other . If A be true , B ancl c will coincide and prove its truth , but every fault in A will be represented by a want af coincidence in B and c of

double its own amount . The edge of B is then corrected till on applying it to C , half the errors remain which were visible on its first application . A and c being then fitted to B , will , by their coincidence , prove the truth of all three , or give again

a further correction ; and by repetitions of this process we ultimately get a straight-edge . The straight line which mathematically represents tho edge , morally represents our proper conduct under any circumstances . The universal use of the

words rectitude ancl straightforwardness as expressions of approbation are enough to prove this , ancl come from the teachings of the ancient members of our Craft .

selection of the form and temper of the tool , "We now come to the gauge oi > straight-edge and the square . These are not tools strictly ; their object is not to prepare materials but to test the work , and accordingly they require care in

their construction and in preserving them from influences which may warp and distort them , no as to render them not only unfit to serve their end , but injurious as sources of error , As they cannot , however , be used , ancl at the same time

entirely protected from these influences , every good Mason should know the principles on which they are constructed , and be able to test and perfect them , as wall as apply them . In testing a straight-edge ( which I will call for

distinction A ) , we first make a second B , whose edge exactly fits that of A . If then A has any faults , B has the same number , but precisely opposite in nature ; every protuberance on A is