Page 12 - ASHLAR - Oct-Dec 2020
P. 12
N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XVI Issue III
The Masonic Stones
W.BRO.DR.GOVIND WELLING
Just the other day a brother sent me better thought process that points out to
WhatsApp message, regarding stones. him about charity, spirituality, and good
The question was "why Ashlar in craft, thoughts towards humankind. Which in
Key stone in Mark and Porphyry in Royal turn leads to better conduct. Here the
Ark Mariners?" freestone, an entered apprentice hones
Well for the un-introduced, the stones his skills under a fellow craft who in-turn
are stones! To the American mind they hones his skills under a master. A
would all be rocks, at least the English freestone thus becomes a rough ashlar,
distinguish between stone and rock! But who by the obligation, denouncing of his
beside the point let me hope you are on ego, by charity and improvement in
the same keel. thought towards other human beings
Ashlar – in the craft; an ashlar is actually changes his behavior thereby smoothen
any stone that is either partially or fully some of the edges and the tends to
dressed well to put it very straight - rough make his life and his person better!
ashlars were quarried far away, they are He is then, taught how to make his ashlar
carried to the site of the building, where smoother by understanding nature, and
they were dressed… “to further smooth science and liberal arts, he is then
the stone and prepare the stone for the elevated in his thought and his own
hands of an expert craftsman” well we do stature, he becomes a fellowcraft.
take this to an esoteric level by saying Tending towards a perfect ashlar.
how freemasonry makes us better The Ashlar is really not made smooth for
human beings, there I want to get a very the hands of an expert man. Rather it is
concerting thought. made smooth that it can be laid
In the old times any stone quarried was horizontally with minimum mortar in the
called a “Freestone” as it was released building, that means a freemason ought
from the mother rock formation. If they to make himself smooth that he can be a
were to be refined into the shape part of any structure, and so unsullied of
desired, first fitness for use was seen,– character and ego; that he becomes
not all freestones were accepted to be a ductile and malleable to fit into society
part of the building or edifice nor were with minimum fuss.
they perfect when quarried, each was The freemason must have such standing
inspected, and then chiseled and honed in society that others must be able to take
and polished. him as a standard to measure up to -
Here as we are speculative the freestone (Adjust jewels upon!) that my brother is
is the candidate who offers himself as a the story of the ashlar.
freemason from the mine of the Now an Ashlar can be a foundation
uninitiated, thereafter he is schooled in a stone, a stone in a building or a
10
