The Compasses...

[Seadog Bob]

Yes, the research is out there. But I guess what I'm asking is;

If my moral compass is set at 60 degrees, and your's at 180 on a particular issue... who is right? and how do we know when to be that flexible?

Or is your compass frozen at 60 degrees and anything outside of that parameter is out of bounds? or is my point moot?

What I tell my guys is that it doesn't matter where you have your particular moral compasses set. What does matter is that you have a standard of conduct that you adhere to. My feeling is that your 60 degree setting may not be the same as another brothers. What is important is that you have a boundary line that you adhere to. I try to figure that the compasses are used to set your boundary line beyond which you do not let your passions or prejudices betray you. I think the compasses are just an allegory for the self control that we learn as entered apprentices in the four cardinal virtues. Temperance and Prudence will rule our minds while Fortitude and Justice will rule our actions. Of course all of them play a part in our whole mental health.

 

[samuyl]

i have a question. what is it that sets the boundaries(limatations)?is it you(the compass)or180 mark(the straight line)?

 

[Gary]

i have a question. what is it that sets the boundaries(limatations)?is it you(the compass)or180 mark(the straight line)?

I think this was answered in the previous discussions.

 

[samuyl]

maby this covered as well,but would anything past the 180 mark be considered,out of "due bounds"?

 

[Duncan1574]

Amby this covered as well,but would anything past the 180 mark be considered,out of "due bounds"?

A compass is comprised of two arms, each of a length, so a compass's span is determined by two components, the degree of separation of the arms and their combined lengths. So to answer your question, your bounds are determined by those two factors: your degree of separation and the length of your compass's arms. If your compass has long arms that span can be much larger than if they are short.

So a truer question is how is the length of our personal compass arms determined?

 

[Bob Franks]

How wide to set your compasses?

Being a prominent symbol in Freemasonry, the question has been raised before about the proper distance the points are spread on the Square and Compasses logo.

60 degrees is the accepted distance for several reasons, which we can discuss as the reasoning is very interesting. The mathematical application to the symbolism is fascinating.

My question is, if the compasses spread to a maximum of 180 degrees, how does one judge the circumscribing of their desires and passions to keep them within due bounds?

It would seem to me that using such a tool for morality is rather flexible. Is that moral compass set at 60 degrees? and if not, how do you know when you've passed 180?

Has anyone else ever thought about that? I'm sure there is a reason such a symbol was chosen (because it has limits), but I'm more interested in how other masons apply it.

I see the setting of the compasses as one of the variable aspects of the Craft, like the length of your cabletow.
No one can tell you how long your cabletow is, or whether you are wandering outside the line circumscribed by your compasses.
If I would profess to advise on fire safety, I would be far outside my scribed circle! My circle on medical advice is a little larger.

S&F

 

[johnj1582]

here's my 2 cents...

masonry teaches us that we will receive the light that we are each CAPABLE of receiving, when we are capable of receiving it... Viewed in this light, it seems to me that as you grow and learn as a man, your ability to receive will change (hopefully in a positive manner), which naturally alters your perception of your "moral compasses".

In the bible (Romans 14), this is expressed by saying that (i'm paraphrasing here) a "beginner" needs black and white rules to follow, but once you have begun to understand more fully, there comes a point when you begin to follow the SPIRIT of the teachings, as opposed to just the letter. It's just this concept that Jesus referred to when he was called up on charges of working on the Sabbath (he was winnowing wheat with the disciples, also something worth thinking about...)

so our compasses will necessarily morph, depending upon our situation and our moral climate at the time, as well as our understanding of our various duties as a man.

i'll close in saying that from an operative standpoint, a set of compasses that isn't adjustable would be unfit for work. the compasses need to be able to adapt to the project you are working with. Operative masons would also have had more than one set of compasses, each for a different purpose... just something to think about.

 

[Duncan1574]

[SNIP] Operative masons would also have had more than one set of compasses, each for a different purpose... just something to think about.

Excellent summary, in my personal life and experience I have different compasses/gauges: as a pilot I have a small one, as a data network engineer a large one, as a Customer Order Specialist one similar to the network one, as a moral man a different one that is part of all the others as my morality and ethics have a hand in selection and use of all the others.

 

[PatrickWilliams]

So a truer question is how is the length of our personal compass arms determined?

Oh, that's an easy one: (n.b. - the following is NOT a violation of secrecy in Wisconsin. If it is in your jurisdiction, or if you are concerned that it might be, please do not read it.)

In one of the 1st degree lectures, you were told that in every "Lodge there is, or ought to be ... a certain Point within a Circle". Go find and/or remember that lecture segment (p 54 of the Blue Book). The arms of your compass should be long enough so that the circle they describe touches upon St. J the B, St. J the E, and the VSL. Now ... why?

You were also told, at the end of that same lecture (p. 58), that:

"There is nothing freer than chalk ... Nothing more fervent than charcoal ... Nothing more zealous than clay". These are also allusions to the items touched upon "In passing around this circle": Everything is in the VSL, but there is also St. J the B (zealousness) and St. J the E (fervency).

Okay, so where is freedom? Freedom is the circle thus described (the length of the arms of your compasses). How long are the arms? Long enough to touch on the limits of your own zealousness, fervency, and the rules set down in the VSL. But wait, that sounds like a limit, not freedom! YOU ARE PERFECTLY FREE TO STAY WITHIN THE CIRCLE OR STEP OUTSIDE OF IT. How will anyone but YOU know? After all, it's your fervency, your zeal and your understanding of the VSL that limit your circle. It's sorta like calculus that way.

 

[BukeyeJackson]

Each and every Brother here who chimes in on these dicussions is an inspiration. In my Lodge we have an LEO and have 4 required education dicussions a year and we often have more. Recently we touched upon the "What came you here to do?" topic and I found it quite encompassing.

The topics posed here are making me take a much deeper interest in the meanings of the symbols beyond what's said in our lectures. I, recently having become the MM Lecturer for my Lodge, have found this alone gets me to study the moral applications of our degree work and it uses. I am truly looking foward to presenting some topics to our soon to be 3rd term (not back to back) WB SW and WB LEO and see if we can present them.

In only two years as a MM I have begun to take an approach that it seems few who are attending lodge have traveled. Thank you all for your light. I think that is one of our truer secrets of Brotherhood.

 

[CoachN]

Some thoughts to perpend:

Completing the First Degree Work Raises one *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is internally directed. It encompasses Values, Morality, Standards, Boundaries, Emotions, Strengthening (Virtues) and Change.

Completing the Second Degree Work Raises the other *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is externally directed. It encompasses recognizing, understanding and utilizing Symbols as they appear as Words and Numbers and how these two groups of Symbols help us understand and Build in our World.

*** ****** represents the physical. The ********* represents the spiritual. The Work of each of the first two Degree brings our manner of internal and external choice above the physical and into the spiritual.

The degree of "safe" seperation -- as in, how far the two safely stretch out into the world -- that Masons see between the two ***s of the ********* is governed by the Work Masons have done in the first two degrees. If the Work was done properly and completely, the degree of seperation will be determined by the situation before them. Whether the ********* are set to measure or set to scribe (establish) a boundary, standard, moral, guideline, law, rule or action, trained Masons will set this WT properly and govern themselves accordingly.

F&S,

Bro. Coach N

 

[DavisB]

Oh, that's an easy one: (n.b. - the following is NOT a violation of secrecy in Wisconsin. If it is in your jurisdiction, or if you are concerned that it might be, please do not read it.)

In one of the 1st degree lectures, you were told that in every "Lodge there is, or ought to be ... a certain Point within a Circle". Go find and/or remember that lecture segment (p 54 of the Blue Book). The arms of your compass should be long enough so that the circle they describe touches upon St. J the B, St. J the E, and the VSL. Now ... why?

You were also told, at the end of that same lecture (p. 58), that:

"There is nothing freer than chalk ... Nothing more fervent than charcoal ... Nothing more zealous than clay". These are also allusions to the items touched upon "In passing around this circle": Everything is in the VSL, but there is also St. J the B (zealousness) and St. J the E (fervency).

Okay, so where is freedom? Freedom is the circle thus described (the length of the arms of your compasses). How long are the arms? Long enough to touch on the limits of your own zealousness, fervency, and the rules set down in the VSL. But wait, that sounds like a limit, not freedom! YOU ARE PERFECTLY FREE TO STAY WITHIN THE CIRCLE OR STEP OUTSIDE OF IT. How will anyone but YOU know? After all, it's your fervency, your zeal and your understanding of the VSL that limit your circle. It's sorta like calculus that way.

Excellent post. Very well said.

 

[Duncan1574]

Excellent post. Very well said.

Patrick is an amazing lecturer, I had the priviledge of having him present one of my lectures at my MM.

 

[PatrickWilliams]

Patrick is an amazing lecturer, I had the priviledge of having him present one of my lectures at my MM.

Oh, pish & tush. The only thing a person has to do to be an amazing lecturer is to understand what he's saying and say it like it means just that. I was the one privileged: I got to stand with my Brother while he was being raised. And I was invited to be there. Now THAT is an honor!

 

[Gary]

I had forgotten all about this thread. I'm glad to see it's still useful. I took my lumps over it, but I even managed to get Bro. Patrick to participate.

 

[PatrickWilliams]

I had forgotten all about this thread. I'm glad to see it's still useful. I took my lumps over it, but I even managed to get Bro. Patrick to participate.

I just haven't had the time to be online much recently. Otherwise, getting me to participate is not such a big deal. I have lotsa opinions and I'm not shy about inflicting them on others!

 

[Gary]

Some thoughts to perpend:

Completing the First Degree Work Raises one *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is internally directed. It encompasses Values, Morality, Standards, Boundaries, Emotions, Strengthening (Virtues) and Change.

Completing the Second Degree Work Raises the other *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is externally directed. It encompasses recognizing, understanding and utilizing Symbols as they appear as Words and Numbers and how these two groups of Symbols help us understand and Build in our World.

*** ****** represents the physical. The ********* represents the spiritual. The Work of each of the first two Degree brings our manner of internal and external choice above the physical and into the spiritual.

The degree of "safe" seperation -- as in, how far the two safely stretch out into the world -- that Masons see between the two ***s of the ********* is governed by the Work Masons have done in the first two degrees. If the Work was done properly and completely, the degree of seperation will be determined by the situation before them. Whether the ********* are set to measure or set to scribe (establish) a boundary, standard, moral, guideline, law, rule or action, trained Masons will set this WT properly and govern themselves accordingly.

F&S,

Bro. Coach N

Bro. Coach,
As always, you never cease to provide an interesting take on Masonic topics! This being no different. Well done.

I just haven't had the time to be online much recently. Otherwise, getting me to participate is not such a big deal. I have lotsa opinions and I'm not shy about inflicting them on others!

Bro Patrick, Well...get some time will ya! I've been missing the harassment from, er...conversation with you Brother!

 

[DavisB]

Some thoughts to perpend:

Completing the First Degree Work Raises one *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is internally directed. It encompasses Values, Morality, Standards, Boundaries, Emotions, Strengthening (Virtues) and Change.

Completing the Second Degree Work Raises the other *** of the ********* above *** ******. The Work is externally directed. It encompasses recognizing, understanding and utilizing Symbols as they appear as Words and Numbers and how these two groups of Symbols help us understand and Build in our World.

*** ****** represents the physical. The ********* represents the spiritual. The Work of each of the first two Degree brings our manner of internal and external choice above the physical and into the spiritual.

The degree of "safe" seperation -- as in, how far the two safely stretch out into the world -- that Masons see between the two ***s of the ********* is governed by the Work Masons have done in the first two degrees. If the Work was done properly and completely, the degree of seperation will be determined by the situation before them. Whether the ********* are set to measure or set to scribe (establish) a boundary, standard, moral, guideline, law, rule or action, trained Masons will set this WT properly and govern themselves accordingly.

F&S,

Bro. Coach N

Coach...you should write a book about all this...

 

[CoachN]

Coach...you should write a book about all this...

Ya know, Brother, ya never know!

Inspiration comes from many different directions -- in this case, from our Brother Gary. (Thank you Brother Gary!)

I'm currently perpending a huge montage of S&Cs info that I've already "alluded" to in my first four books but never put together in one piece. Fleshing it out, this is a gem of an addition that I could run with for quite a few pages. It will most likely be the basis for a talk that I'm going to give on July 18th in Maine's scheduled Convocation.

F&S,

Bro. Coach N

 

[mdonahue66]

Really a lot of neat viewpoints on the compass. Although it perplexes me, as a working tool with so much visibility and so key to our fraternity, it get's much less "billing" than the square... In our MN ritual, it's used a little in the 1st, almost not at all in the 2nd, and a little in the 3rd. It's not even a "working tool" that's presented in our degrees. Why does an instrument with so much importance get so little billing?