From July-August
2004
Working
Tools
By Stephen M. Osborn, 32°
Since that evening we first stood in
the Northeast corner of the Lodge, we have been presented
with many working tools,
from the 24-inch gauge and common gavel to the instruments
that help us to understand ourselves and the universe. We
have heard many lectures on them and their uses, but how
much thought do we give to them?
How many of us, for instance, have watched a sculptor at
work and compared his labor to Freemasonry? The sculptor
takes a piece of wood or a block of stone
and studies it. Finally, he finds the key to release the beauty in it, and
he begins to work. He starts out with crude tools, an axe
and an adz, or a coarse
stone-splitting chisel and mallet and begins trimming away big chunks, pausing
every once in a while to consider, then continuing to hew and chip. Eventually,
a blocky form begins to emerge.
Then he begins to use finer tools, knives, chisels, and
mallets with a lighter touch. The final form begins to emerge
more clearly. The sculptor now works
more slowly and carefully. As the figure becomes more distinct, he picks
yet finer
tools.
Finally, the sculptor steps back, and before him is the
figure which, at the outset, only he could see, but it is
now revealed to all. To the sculptor,
it may be no great feat, but to us, it is akin to magic. Leonardo da Vinci
is reputed
to have answered the question as to how he carved a particular piece from
a
block of marble with these words: “I simply removed all of the stone that doesn’t
look like an elephant.” Simple for him, nearly impossible for us.
We are, to a great degree, the tools in the hands of the
Grand Architect of the Universe, but we are self-acting tools.
Thus, we have more responsibility.
We
receive direction from our Masonic teachings, our readings, our rituals,
but
it is up to us to perfect the rough ashlars which are ourselves. We must
keep ourselves sharp and learn to strike true. We must recognize what
is superfluous
and what is part of the sculpture. How many apprentices have spoiled
a block of marble by a wrong blow? We must learn to be guided
by the plan
of the
Creator as we shape ourselves and our world to fit into that perfect
edifice, not made
by hands.
If we study and reflect upon our oaths and the teachings
of Masonry, Scottish Rite, and York Rite Masonry; if we keep
these teachings before
us always
in our daily lives and in our interactions with the world, we cannot
help but
make at
least our particular corner of the world a better place and so set
an example for others to follow.
May we always keep ourselves sharp and on the cutting edge
within the boundaries of the lines laid out by the instruments
of our Craft, being
careful not
to spoil the Great Work by a careless misstrike. If we can learn
to do this, then
we can
truly become a part of the Great Work intended by the Grand Architect
of the Universe.
