by WB Julio A. Calvao
The square is an instrument used by operative masons to “square their work.” What this means is in order for a stone to fit into place next to another stone in a wall the surfaces that face each other need to sit flush, or they would not carefully align into a tightly fitted row. To achieve this, the corners of each to be perfectly perpendicular. If they failed to be exactly square, the next stone will be slanted and a space would emerge between the two, causing a weak spot in the wall. To make the corners square a mason will shape the stone with his common gavel, “knocking off the corners of the rough stone.” He would then try, or test, his corner with the square to ensure it is perfectly perpendicular. Hence, the square is a testing tool. So too, is the square for a speculative mason, who labors upon his own temperament and personality instead of raw stone.
In the Fellowcraft Degree, we are taught that we square our actions by the Square of Virtue and Morality. This makes sense, as the tool itself has two arms. The first arm, Virtue, as defined by Aristotle, “is a habit of excellence, a disposition to act in a certain way that leads to flourishing.” This is a learned trait, one that needs to be cultivated and practiced. To act with virtue is to do things so that your actions will cause others to praise your actions and cause the flourishing of the parties involved, with no consideration of whether that action is the objectively right thing to do. The second arm, Morality, as defined by the philosopher Socrates, “knowledge of the Good”. These laws of morality are written on every human heart by the Grand Architect. We can know them by use of our reason and intellect alone. This means that every man can discern right from wrong without needing outside influence. To act morally would be to do the right thing just because it is the right thing and with no consideration of others or how it affects them. To explain the point of the square where these two arms meet, the square represents doing the right thing for the right reason and is the place where the subjective good (virtue) meets the objective good (morality).
A good use of the square in our lives is to be self-reflective, testing oneself and one’s thoughts and actions with the square to ensure that we are always trying to act with virtue and morality. Many of us take time at the end of each day to examine the day’s events and try our thoughts and actions by the square of virtue and morality. When I find those times when I was “recreant to right, as God has given me to see the right” and I was “false to the trying square of profession” (as is said in the long-form working tools of a Master Mason) then I repent, I take time to think about what I should have done, promise to do so next time, and I make a plan to make it right if I can. By adding this practice to our regular daily rhythm, all masons can improve and develop using this essential tool.
The Pharos Institute 