The Builders Book Discussion

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
I can imagine that a operative Stone mason of the 16th century, walking away from the days work on the current cathedral, sweaty, tired, and sore would be most amused by our use of the tools that he makes his living with to improve our lives.
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
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I cut it into 3 pieces and it posted :confused:
 

Azpir8king

Member
I can imagine that a operative Stone mason of the 16th century, walking away from the days work on the current cathedral, sweaty, tired, and sore would be most amused by our use of the tools that he makes his living with to improve our lives.
Or he might be greatly satisfied that there are symbolic meanings attached to the artistic and long lasting works that that tool can produce and the skill by which it is implemented. A physical effort and skill exemplified by a mental and emotional one. Hmmm?
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
Or he might be greatly satisfied that there are symbolic meanings attached to the artistic and long lasting works that that tool can produce and the skill by which it is implemented. A physical effort and skill exemplified by a mental and emotional one. Hmmm?
I have thought about this as I put on my apron at my day job. Do I now have a different sense of purpose, yes, do I think my apron would be a noble emblem of a noble purpose, no.
A stonemason would have his tools, just as our modern day craftsman have their's, my wife is a florist and I had to re-learn my opinion of flowers, they are not the precious things they were 10 years ago, they are part of a business, an item to sell and then dispose of when they are past their usefulness, just as a broken trowel would have been discarded,
 
G

Gary

Guest
I have thought about this as I put on my apron at my day job. Do I now have a different sense of purpose, yes, do I think my apron would be a noble emblem of a noble purpose, no.
A stonemason would have his tools, just as our modern day craftsman have their's, my wife is a florist and I had to re-learn my opinion of flowers, they are not the precious things they were 10 years ago, they are part of a business, an item to sell and then dispose of when they are past their usefulness, just as a broken trowel would have been discarded,
So if I'm reading your comment correctly, "it's not the tool, but the craftsman".

I'm not seeing how that correlates with what Bro. Tom said. I respectfully submit that it is the tool(s) "symbolism" that when recognized, enhances the craftsman's ability to do what he does. Without the tool, the craftsman probably wouldn't have a trade. Just as without the craftsman the tool is just an object.

Yin/Yang.
 

Winter

I've been here before
Bro. Newton makes a profound statement in the conclusion of this Chapter:

The Builders Pg. 10: Here, then, are the real foundations of Masonry, both material and moral: in the deep need and aspiration of man, and his creative impulse; in his instinctive Faith, his quest of the Ideal, and his love of the Light.
Our neolithic forefathers surely didn't carry dues cards, but there had to be some of them that saw in the building of a grand edifice a connection with the divine. In my mind, and probably Bro. Newton's, that made these men our Brothers. The same holds true throughout history, whenever a man had a vision of something greater than himself, to build something lasting.

We don't need to invent fanciful origins for ourselves when the truth is already a beautiful thing;

Men have been striving through their buildings to connect to G-d. And while we as Freemasons do not engage in the physical act of erecting domiciles, we are connected to them, down through the ages, by the fact that we are builders with a divine purpose.
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
So if I'm reading your comment correctly, "it's not the tool, but the craftsman".

I'm not seeing how that correlates with what Bro. Tom said. I respectfully submit that it is the tool(s) "symbolism" that when recognized, enhances the craftsman's ability to do what he does. Without the tool, the craftsman probably wouldn't have a trade. Just as without the craftsman the tool is just an object.

Yin/Yang.
Gary, nicely summarized.
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
Bro. Newton makes a profound statement in the conclusion of this Chapter:



Our neolithic forefathers surely didn't carry dues cards, but there had to be some of them that saw in the building of a grand edifice a connection with the divine. In my mind, and probably Bro. Newton's, that made these men our Brothers. The same holds true throughout history, whenever a man had a vision of something greater than himself, to build something lasting.

We don't need to invent fanciful origins for ourselves when the truth is already a beautiful thing;

Men have been striving through their buildings to connect to G-d. And while we as Freemasons do not engage in the physical act of erecting domiciles, we are connected to them, down through the ages, by the fact that we are builders with a divine purpose.
There is an old story about a man walking around a catherdal being built and talking with the various people working there. One person after another were just "doing their job", the architect was drawing, the carpenter is building a scaffold, etc, etc, then the man happens upon a man mixing mortar, when asked what he is doing the mixer replies, "I'm building a mighty shrine to my God." Newton is that kind of man, a builder.
 

Winter

I've been here before
Well, if nobody else wants to chime in and take part, let's read Chapter 2 & 3 of Part I by Monday for those who want to.
 
G

Gary

Guest
Monday!!!??? Monday!!!!??? Oh, OK.... ;)

At least you've got three of us, and Bro. Bob (The beloved forum lurker :eek: ).

Maybe the others that had initially shown interest can pick up on chapter 2-3's discussions. After the Holidays are over.
 

Winter

I've been here before
Be happy Gary! I was going to suggest the rest of Part I. :) Then I remembered that not everyone here is attending university currently as I am and is not used to reading hundreds of pages in just a day or two!
 
G

Gary

Guest
Is that a challenge???? :p I read quite a few pages myself. Take a look at my reading list over on the "what are you reading" thread.

You forget that I'm a bibliophile! I'd be willing to discuss chapters 2 and 3 tonight if that's what you had posted.

But you are right, the Brothers all need time to read and think the chapters through. We all have busy lives.

I'm just really enjoying the fellowship and discussion. It's interesting to see the different views on the chapters. Everyone pulls something different from the same material. It's a good learning experience.
 

Azpir8king

Member
Is that a challenge???? :p I read quite a few pages myself. Take a look at my reading list over on the "what are you reading" thread.

You forget that I'm a bibliophile! I'd be willing to discuss chapters 2 and 3 tonight if that's what you had posted.

But you are right, the Brothers all need time to read and think the chapters through. We all have busy lives.

I'm just really enjoying the fellowship and discussion. It's interesting to see the different views on the chapters. Everyone pulls something different from the same material. It's a good learning experience.
Plus, there is a serious lack of pictures in this diatribe. I want pictures or my attention wanders...SQUIRREL!!!!:eek:
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
Be happy Gary! I was going to suggest the rest of Part I. :) Then I remembered that not everyone here is attending university currently as I am and is not used to reading hundreds of pages in just a day or two!
I can read 100s of pages in a day. Now if you want me to be able to discourse about them, that takes longer.:eek:
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
While reading "The Working Tools" I was reminded of this:

Putting Our Tools to Use
Bringing Inspiration into Form

Many of us have so many life tools we have learned, but sometimes we forget to use them. Revisit your toolbox.

Every craftsperson has a toolbox full of tools and a number of techniques to help them bring inspiration into form. In the same way, throughout our lives, we have discovered our own life tools and techniques—the ways and means that have helped us create our lives up to this point. Sometimes we forget about the tools and skills we’ve acquired, and we wonder why we aren’t moving forward. At times like these, it might just be a matter of remembering what we already know, and rediscovering the tools we already have at our disposal.

In the process of becoming who we are and creating our lives, we have all gone through the experience of being inspired to do something and then finding the tools we needed to do it. If we look back, we may be able to remember that we used, for example, the tool of writing every day in order to clarify our intentions. We may also have used the tools of ritual, meditation, or visualization to make something happen. In addition, we may have been fueled by a new idea about how the universe works, which is what gave us the inspiration to use these tools.

In order for ideas to be powerful, they must be imbued with the energy of our engagement with them, and in order for tools to be effective they must be put to use. This sounds obvious, but often we fall into the habit of thinking we are engaging with ideas and using tools by virtue of the fact that we are reading about them, or listening to other people talk about them. In truth, using our tools is a very personal action, one we must take on behalf of ourselves. Like artists, we are each unique and no two of us will receive the same inspiration, nor will we bring it into form in the same two ways. To discover the truth of our own vision, we must take action by remembering our tools and putting them to use.
 

Bob Franks

Past District Deputy Grand Lecturer
While reading "The Working Tools" I was reminded of this:

Putting Our Tools to Use
Bringing Inspiration into Form

Many of us have so many life tools we have learned, but sometimes we forget to use them. Revisit your toolbox.

(snip)
Golly! I my just file the serial number off this one and read it in Lodge, claiming it for my own!!

:)
 
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