The Personal Ashlars

by Bro. Greg Henkelman

Yesterday (February 4, 2003), I celebrated my 30th birthday. In itself, I realize this event has little meaning for many (if any) of you. However, the past few years have represented a number of changes in my own life mentally, physically, and metaphysically. The birth of my daughter and the resulting change in commitment to family life has allowed me to refocus my energies, and I realize that the values inculcated in Masonry have formed a strong basis for my own self improvement.

It is in this spirit that I would like to express to you my feelings concerning the symbolism of the Masonic ashlars, which were briefly mentioned last month by WBro John Jardine, and the way in which I have chosen to use them to answer the questions: what am I? Whence come I? and Whither go I?

I became a Master Mason on February 1, 1995, nearly 8 years ago to the day. I recall standing near and hearing about the rough and perfect ashlars, both situated in the East and sitting to the North and South of the Worshipful Master, respectively. At that time, I understood the ideal represented by a stone, rough around the edges, ripe for reworking. I also understood the ideal represented by the perfect, squared stone. I even considered their placement in the Lodge itself, with the rough ashlar nearer to me in the Northeast corner and the perfect ashlar on the other side of the Lodge in the Southeast corner, visible especially when being given the lectures during degree work. These symbols I held for what they were: an outward manifestation of Masonic idealism.

More recently, upon my request of the Brethren of Britannia, I was recommended a book by Walter L. Wilmshurst entitled The Meaning of Masonry. This is an invaluable resource which I would recommend to all brethren seeking deeper value from the fraternity. It was with this book that I began to understand the inward manifestation of Masonic idealism. Perhaps a statement by Allan Boudreau in the preface of the book sums it up best: “The alpha and omega of Freemasonry is not the repetition of the ritual nor the safeguarding of secrets, but the regeneration of the Brethren.” Wilmshurst tells us that there is an outward side of Masonry consisting of ceremony, doctrine, and symbols, but reminds us that there is also an inward intellectual and spiritual side to the Craft which is concealed behind the ceremony, doctrine, and symbols.

I have stated in Lodge before my great respect for two statements in the Masonic work. The first is the opening charge by the Worshipful Master and the second is the closing prayer. These two pieces stir in me the desire to become a better man, to carve the rough edges of myself into a more perfect human being. I want to “practice out of the Lodge the great moral duties that are inculcated in it” and hope that each of us realizes it is “useless parade to talk within the walls of the Lodge of the subjection of irregular passions if we permit them to triumph in out daily intercourse with each other”. As Antoine de Saint Exupery once wrote: “To be a man is to feel that one’s own stone contributes to building the edifice of the world”.

I decided a little over a year ago to work my own rough ashlar of life towards an inward manifestation of the perfect ashlar: in my family life, in my work, and especially in my relation to others. It has not always been easy: from the pain of deep human tragedies to the anger towards that kind fellow that cuts you off on your way to work; from the student who tests your patience (and the parental tree from which that child’s seed fell), and the various bits of “administrivia” that fill our daily lives. All of these can take us away from the shaping of our own ashlars. But I challenge you, Brethren, to continue in your own Masonic work…to continue to shape and form your own ashlar that we may all contribunte to a society of respect, openness, and tolerance. That we may all, through our inward manifestation of the ashlar story, provide society with the outward ideal of the ashlar story, and thus bring greater recognition to the Craft.

As Wilmshurst said, when we heed the lessons contained within the movable (Note: York Rite) jewels of the Lodge, which include the ashlars, in our own lives and natures, “their influence becomes transferred to others and helps to uplift and sweeten the lives of our fellows”. This is what makes these jewels movable, beyond the doors of the Lodge. I agree with this statement that was printed in this month’s (February 2003) Lodge bulletin: “Let’s keep advertising by our actions as much as we can”. It is my belief, as a “young” Mason, that this is the path for Masonry’s future, if we wish it to be the fraternity that it can be for generations to come.