Erase the Tracing Board

Erase the Tracing Board

A newly passed Fellow Craft approached the Worshipful Master: “Worshipful Master, I do not understand what I heard here tonight. Masonry is said to be the builder’s art, and yet we are told that a study of architecture and geometry is not necessary. Please explain this to me.”

The Worshipful Master replied, “The Craft does not belong to architecture, and likewise it does not belong outside of architecture. Geometry is an illusion, and the denial of geometry is absurd. If you want to learn the builder’s art, erase every superfice, line and point from the tracing board, and then study that.”

Empty Bottles

Empty Bottles

A newly proficient Master Mason was approached by a member of a rite of the so-called “high degrees”, who told him that only within that rite could a Mason learn the lost True Word. Then, as soon as they finished talking, a member of another rite came and made a similar claim. The Master Mason thought this odd and went straight to his Worshipful Master to ask him about it.

The Worshipful Master replied, “These brothers mean well, but don’t be deceived. All of their ‘True Words’ are like empty bottles that can be filled with wine, water, oil, salt, or nothing, each according to his desires.”
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