Page 13 - ASHLAR - Oct-Dec 2020
P. 13
N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XVI Issue III
Keystone. The lesson of the Ashlar are to are not important if those many are non-
a worthy freemason there is but one existent.
truth, from ignorance to knowledge, form The key stone thus teaches us that you
darkness to light…IMPROVEMENT! may look different, you may not be in the
Keystone scheme of peoples plans at the moment,
In Operative Masonry the keystone when but someone superior has put you here
seen in an Arch appears to be the main on this sublunary abode for a purpose,
stone actually the keystone tells us an you must bide your time, even if you are
even larger story of setting an example thrown in the dust as unimportant.
for others, the duty of the keystone is in Every mason must understand that he is
structural masonry… The true arch, the someone's keystone. The Key stone is
arch of freemasonry, derives its strength Lapis reprobatus caput anugli – STONE
from its principle of construction. REJECTED BECAME HEADSTONE.
The vertical supports carry a series of The keystone teaches us that it takes
tapered or wedge-shaped stones time for people to find your worth, stay
spanning the opening between them. the path even if you are rejected, love
Though there is some mortar between God, do justice to other, have mercy,
the joints of the stones, the arch gets its maintain harmony, and like the keystone
real strength from its ability to carry the live in unity.
load, the load is evenly distributed by the Porphyry Stone
middle stone the stone at the top or If we have to understand it properly
centre without which the other stones will Porphyry is a geological term for an
collapse. igneous rock, that consists of large
The Keystone thus functions grained crystals, if I have to be intricate,
independently of any cement or mortar, the large grained crystals could be
and transmits the weight of the feldspar or quartz dispersed in fine
superstructure through the other stones grained silicate rich aphanitic matrix. The
on both sides of it to the side-supports. porphyry refers to the colour of the stone
There in brethren lies the lesson in doing that is purplish red. The stone is valued
this, it transmits an outward thrust that for it appearance.
would tend to destroy the arch were it not Brethren, there are many stories of the
for the supports, which have to be strong stone however - we are already
enough to resist the thrust, and are often knowledgeable in the North Eastern
buttressed, and were at one time often stone – the very stone you were in the
tied together for that purpose in wooden first degree, the keystone in the mark
scaffolding. degree and the Cape-stone in Most
So unless the supports are strong the Excellent Masters degree. Each of the
keystone is useless, and if there is no stones mentioned are instructive but
keystone then there is no arch…In life have no connection to the porphyry
you may be important to many but you stone.
11
