Fellowcraft tools
To reach this point in our masonic journey, we went thru the working
tools of an entered apprentice. We used
the 24 inch gauge to learn about time management, and the common gavel and
chisel to get rid of bad vices and issues that take away from becoming our best
selves. So in essence, the first degree
has given us a ‘clean slate’ to work with.
We have removed any ‘crap’ and made time to do what is important in our
lives.
Now we start the second degree with what to start filling our lives
with. The goal is to make ourselves
valuable members of society.
We have 3 working tools.
The square is morality. The
square is to square our lives. Square to
what? First is God’s Word, his
commandments, to live in brotherly love with mankind. It is to God that we must give and
account.
The level is equality. All
men are created equal. His sun shines on
all equally, there is no distinction. We
all are humans, we all partake of the same nature and share hopes for the
future. All are entitled to the same
regard and time. We all face the great
leveler and are reduced to the same state.
The plumb is justice and uprightness. It teaches us to walk justly and uprightly
before God and man. Not to go either
left or right from the path of virtue.
Not to be a slanderer of religion and not bend towards avarice,
injustice, malice, revenge, nor to be the contempt of mankind.
The Square-Morality is a
set of standards that allow people to live together in groups, and it's what
societies consider to be "right" and
"acceptable". Some say that living a moral life
involves being caring, compassionate, fair, and just, while also striving
to improve the lives of others and yourself. Here are some tips for living
a moral life:
- Be caring and compassionate: Do what you can to improve the
lives of others and all life on Earth.
- Be fair and just: Treat others how you want to be treated, and
don't discriminate.
- Pursue excellence: Always do your best and strive to improve.
- Take personal responsibility: Be accountable for your thoughts,
words, and actions, and understand that your circumstances are a direct
result of them.
- Set goals: Set written goals and keep a journal to track your
progress.
- Listen to your instincts: Follow your instincts and speak with
a therapist if needed.
- Practice random acts of kindness: Try to perform one random act
of kindness each week.
The Level-Treating people equally is a fundamental
part of human rights and involves treating everyone with respect, kindness, and
dignity, regardless of their circumstances. Here are some tips for
treating everyone equally:
- Listen: Respect others' opinions and what they want to say by listening
to them.
- Acknowledge: Acknowledge people in different situations to make
them feel respected.
- Be empathetic: Try to see things from other people's
perspectives and understand their views and opinions. Recognize when
others are facing difficulties and support them.
- Be aware of differences: Remember that people may experience
things differently due to their personal situation and background.
- Be fair: When making personnel decisions, such as promotions,
rewards, or punishments, try to be fair and not treat everyone the same
way.
- Be respectful: Use polite language and avoid gossip and teasing
- Use the golden rule
The Plumb- Since virtue is the path we should follow, I
have a book I recommend. “The book of Virtues”
by William Bennett. He provides historical
stories of different virtues that he identified that we should all pursue. They are:
Self-Discipline
Compassion
Responsibility
Friendship
Work
Courage
Perseverance
Honesty
Loyalty
Faith.
Each of these
virtues is a lifetime process, but areas we can all work on to improve.
I want to share one of the stories from the book called
“Boy Wanted” by Frank Cane.
This was a ‘want ad’ published in the early 1900’s.
Boy Wanted by
Frank Crane
A boy who stands straight, sits straight,
acts straight, and talks straight.
A boy who listens carefully when spoken to,
who asks questions when he does not understand, and does not ask questions
about things that are none of his business.
A boy whose fingernails are not in mourning,
whose ears are clean, whose shoes are polished, whose clothes are brushed,
whose hair is combed, and whose teeth are well cared for.
A boy who moves quickly and makes as little
noise about it as possible.
A boy who whistles in the street but not
where he ought to keep still.
A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile
for everybody, and never sulks.
A boy who is polite to every man and
respectful to every woman and girl.
A boy who does not smoke and has no desire to
learn how.
A boy who never bullies other boys or allows
boys to bully him.
A boy who, when he does not know a thing,
says, “I do not know”; and when he has made a mistake says, “I’m sorry”; and,
when requested to do anything, immediately says, “I’ll try.”
A boy who looks you right in the eye and
tells the truth every time.
A boy who would rather lose his job or be
expelled from school than tell a lie or be a cad.
A boy who is more eager to know how to speak
good English than to talk slang.
A boy who does not want to be “smart” nor in
anywise attract attention.
A boy who is eager to read good, wholesome
books.
A boy whom other boys like.
A boy who is perfectly at ease in the company
of respectable girls.
A boy who is not a goody-goody, a prig, or a
little Pharisee, but just healthy, happy, and full of life.
A boy who is not sorry for himself and not
forever thinking and talking about himself.
A boy who is friendly with his mother and
more intimate with her than with anyone else.
A boy who makes you feel good when he is
around.
This boy is
wanted everywhere. The family wants him, the school wants him, the office
wants him, the boys and girls want him, and all creation wants him.
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