Winner Best Paper 2015 HMRS ay pent ri re ar Se ee Edemenen neato Working Tools of the First Degree By Damien Donavon, Member MRS, Hari Lodge RAM “Man cannot work without tools. The necesiy for these has stimulated his powers of invention, and his inventionof them has enabled him, everywhere in the material creatir, to conquer and establish his supremacy. By them and through them he has also developed his higher nature and extended his ‘mental ond spntual horizon." TAS Metice, Snclotve Masnn =e Men, Fulton, andi andmark Caen an co 1916 938 ‘Damien Donnan ‘onol Locee‘The Purpose of Masonie Tools ‘he first question asked by the inquisitive mind in relation to Freemasonry might be “Why do Freemasons use “tools” when they do not build anything” The whole history of the transition from operative to speculative Masonry is «deeply involved one andthe topic of separate course of research? However, acknowledging atleast that there was a transition made at some point from ‘operative masonry ~ those that bull, fashioned, and shaped great edifices ~ to speculative masonry ~ those who built, fashioned, and shaped great men ~ many of the trappings of ‘operative masonry were retained forthe purposes of moral instrueion, or “to imprint on the ‘memory wise and serious truths’ Or in other words, Masons ‘cease o build material temples, and devoted [themselves] tothe erection of spiritual on." Mason tools, therefore, are used fora more noble and glorious purpose: as vehicles of instruction regarding the values which a ‘Mason should pursue to improve and refine their spiritual and mon edifice. Rather than the ‘operative instruments of labour, they have become the speculative implements of morality. ‘This paper deals with the tools appiod allegorical ia the int, o Entered Apprentice, Degree of Freemasonry and the teachings they aim to convey. ‘Jurisdictional Differences - The Third Tool inthe First Degree ‘Before launching into a brief discussion of the tools of the First Degree tis worth ‘noting the differences that occur in relation to the working tools across jurisdictions. It wll be ‘no surprise to know that some ofthe verbiage ofthe ritual will ltr fom place to place while ‘taining the central teachings of Masonry. Less wellknown, or expected, isthe fact that there are some differences inthe actual tools used fr this dogree. * one tang ofthe hry hast that with the ection of Grand Master on 28 he, 717, andthe ‘etablshmert ofa rand Lodge nena tthe nature of Masonry “whol changes rom an opertve to 2 spective oe see ohn Benne, The Org of Freemasonry and Fights Tempo onaon and Hari Crnat, 1907, Ps Others wi refer oa more radal wanton, where someof the alegoeal ute were ako appied by Operative Masons se fo example CW. LandbeteFreemaromy nd is Ane Mystic [tes New York: Gramercy Boots, 1998, Chapt Nine Se so lose Fart Newton, The Bure Stor and Study of remosony, mand Vga: Maco Pubishing nd Mazon Suppy Company, 1951, area ‘the comment that"Masone seo peat a intiaton toate been madein 3 Sy, uth ese by few me, but was slow tlton through lang time unfoidng ts easy a5 grew”. 139, Theres aso a use {teat in Berard Jones, Fremesons Guide ondCompenum, London :Harap 1979, 800k To, ‘Cheptr Sever ting that "the madern stor of speculative mason tarts with 686 (p. 97) ain pater a sugeston tat the nga spective masons of ts pred shoul not be conured with the “entemen nor-peraive masons ofa eae pero p93) Cares W Moen, hnw Macatee Reon Chives M Mee, 868,» At “Bennet op cP 66. Damien donovan nous tosge[As Mackay outlines in his Eneyelopaedia of Freemasonr?, there are differences between the American and Brits jurisdictions in which tools are presented to the Entered Apprentice? This is also tru ofthe Third, or Master Mason, Degree, but apparently nt forthe ‘Second, or Fellow Craft, Degree. ‘In the United States the tools are but two, the 24"Gauge and the Gavel. In British jurisdictions is added to this number the Chisel. However, Brethren of the American Jurisdiction need not be concerned about the potential to miss the moral edification presented Dy the Chieti consuiutes part ofthe teaching of the Mark Master and will be instructive for ‘those who continue that portion of the Masonic jourey.* However, it warrants laying out briefly later as it does constitute critical part ofthe moral teaching ofthe First Degre in many- paris of the world, The Gavel ‘The Operative Mason used the Gavel to break off the superfluous excrescences of the rough ashlar, and ths fitit the better for the use of more expert hands. The Speculative Mason ‘uses this tol analogously to remind him ofthe need to “knock off” from the rude matter of his ‘untrained mind and conscience all the vices and impurities of lie, He can thereby ft his body sa “living tone for that spriual building not made with hands, eternal nthe heavens.” ‘The British” ritual teaches thatthe Gavel bs an addtional symbotical utility; teaches. ‘that “labours the lot of man ~ that the heart may conceive, and the head devise, a van, ifthe ‘hand be no: prompt to execute the design” in other words, unless mar i ready to ti, the conception devised by heart and head ar oflittle value and wll remain unfulfilled. A corollary to this idea might be thatthe ability and willingness to toil are of litle worth unless thee be & clear desige and conceptual direction "Ave G. lay, Eorcoponda of frees, Pladelphia: Mas and Compa, 1874, p 162. or he purpose ofthe dscusionhere by “Bs ean the Consmonweah mate bray a these Wadors ave carted over to cours sch 2 Carats ang Ausvaa Specialy, where erprsons ae made with “tes inthis pope, the autor Ras most refered tothe ral ofthe consttaton of Grand Lodge of NSWAACT, now that hesitates with ether eorimon hertage lg are ep. “Cares wi Moors New Mosoni Teste board Boson Crates M. Meare, 868 Pl p33; Cornee Moe, The Craftsman and Feemeaons Gage, Cinna cob Et, 1858 pp); MACE, 2 46zsRober Mac The Mosnc Maru New Yok: Clark nd Maynard, 1858p, nate, >. 303. "olin Day Steet Smbotsm fhe Tre Degrees, Part One The Entered Apprentice Degree, Washington, (.cThe Americ Mason Pres 1825, p.23; Fst Degre, Bul Book the Unted Gran Lodge of New Sout Wales an he Ausalan Copal Terry of Ande, Fee, and Acepted Mars, 2005, 39 "Thales tothe ned fr productive Masons tbe guded by a wide and morelearned Brother whose we of tretootr are mere exer end woe desis or strong and wel-dorned eit we descrbed onthe Damien Donavan onal toe‘Taking the preceding point further, Chalmers Paton notes that inthe endeavour of moral and spiritual perfection “those who have the greatest progress themselves, are best abe to render kind asistance to ther brethren". The Master ofthe Lodge could be considered such a person. Moreover, they provide clear design and conceptual direction, such as was provided. ‘by the Grand Masters of Antiquity in the building of the Temple. Thus could be one reason sven that the Master holds the Gavel in the Lodge o maintain order, and assist the Breen to strive towards their own moral and spiritual purity.” Indeed, a further point of difference between American and British jurisdictions is” that the latter uses the term “Common Gavel” rather than “Gavel” to distinguish clearly between the tool used by the Entered Apprentice and that used by the Worshipful Master: ‘The 24” Gauge or Rule ‘The 24” Gauge is a ruler divided into twenty-four one-inch lengths. The Operative ‘Mason uses it “to lay out and measure their work” and thus prepares it forthe further labour required Each ofthe twenty-four divisions can neatly be representative ofthe twenty-four hours ‘of the day. Thus, the Entered Apprentice is aught the value of time and the need to allot time to the various aspects of life in such a way as to ensure a life that is productive and well- ‘employed, Those aspects are the service to God and worthy, distressed brethren; labour; and reffeshment and res. In some ritual, there isa clear direction that this division should be equally alloted to these three tasks. In others, and more generally, there is no such direction and thus we can ‘conclude that a Brother i to use his own discretion to determine how he should allocate his time, but nevertheless always reflecting on the need to satisfy each of these thre aspects of life. While rest and reffeshment is necessary, Brethren are also reminded in the “British” ritual ~pethaps with a recognition towards the precious, Hleting and finite nature of ime to ensure thatthe portion given to refreshment does nt impede on the requirement to devote time {rst board— this ales, ofcourse, tothe Mater ofthe lodge, without whos struction the Lodge would nt moral ane ysl sep. hamerst Paton, Feemesony: fs Symbolsm, Religious Notre, and Low of Perfecto, ondon Reeves ane ‘ure 2873, 9.90. "Soe Weedeater, The Hidden fe Feemesony, Mads, nda The Teoropic Publishing Howe, 1926 pra, "sucha American jutsicions, see Mazo, op. P.2. "Such ain ath ures. Nenouwtougeto work, civil duy, prayer and meditation, and charity. To do othersise would be to squander ‘Brother's ru potemial and to doa disservice tothe git of ie given him. ‘The Chisel Interestingly, the operative who wilds the Chitel refered o in the American Mark ‘Master ritual, according to Mackay, is “the artist”, who uss ito give “form and regularity to the shapeless mass of ston”. In British jurisdictions, in keeping withthe same terminology asthe rest ofthe First Degree Working Tool, the generalised term “Operative Mason” is used {o identify the welder of this implement Its allegorical utility isto admonish the Freemason to recognise the value of education to cultivate ideas and posh made thoughts, ths “{tansforming] the ignorant savage into the civilized being." In British jurisdictions the (Chisel also teaches the value of perseverance in working towards perfection: it alludes toa Tong joumey of development requiring “indefatigable exertion [to] induce the habit of virtue, enlighten the mind and render the soul pure™” Discussion above noted the inclusion ofthe Chisel in British risdictions inthe Entered Apprentice Degree while itis included in Royal Arch Masonry in America. In the United States, therefore, the Chisel is practically obsoletz""* Some would consier its proper place to be ‘ithin the Fellow Craft Degree (of wich the Mark Master Degree is considered an extension and from which cerived).* The Chisel allows an ability “to give a higher finish tothe stone oF ‘o give itan omamental shape orto engrave designs upon. The Chisel, therefor, symbolises those advanced studies and trainings which give a man polish and refinement and fit him for the highest stations in life, Tis fom this point of view that the inclusion ofthe Chisel in the Second Degree could be thought of as more appropriate than in tke Firs; the work of the Entered Apprentice is expected to be ough and crude in making the initial preparation of the ‘material, while that of the Fellow Craft is more expert and refined. Conclusion It is hoped the preceding discussion has provided a useful overview of some of the ‘riniple teachings evoked by the First Degree working tools, both those well-considered and aka, op. tp. 82 i. irs Degree ct . 39. Atard Cae, Marv of Freemasonry, Leeds, rand Cle res, 2005, 9.14. street op p24 i enous Lodgeperhaps several often overlooked or providing a new approach. Similarly, thatthe discussion ‘of some ofthe jurisdictional dfterences ofthe number and employment ofthe tools inthe Fst ‘Degree is enlightening to those with limited crost jurisdictional Masonic experience. ‘The working tools of a Freemason should be seen as highly prized and valuable implements, just as the Operative Masons placed so much value in their physical tools, which ‘were the implements which brought their livelibood. indeed a serious wansgresson could be met with the impounding of sue tol, such that outing nthe second stat ofthe Loge of Aberdeen n 1690, 0° hat dues wer not pai the tol wuld slay 3. Impounded un the debt erased, as ulned inthe everth stati Soe Robert Freke oul (Ee 04 vero Freemasonry, orden ihn Yorston Pulehing Company, 3906, 9p 4849 Damien Donavan tteBIBLIOGRAPHY Bennet, John, The Origin of Proomasonry and Knights Tompla, rest of Johnson A Hardin Cincinnati, 1907, ‘Carlile, Richard, Manual of Freemasonry, Leeds, England : Celephals Press, 200. 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