By David L. Gray, Past Master

Wilberforce Lodge #21 F&AM PHA (Xenia, Ohio)

(This Paper was Originally Written in 1994 and Revised on 12/16/99)

It has been said that the Speculative Freemason operates in a Spiritual sense, by employing the tools of an Operative Mason’s Art as symbols, and using veiled allegories to convey a hidden meaning. When applied correctly to ones life, Speculative Freemasonry can be used as a science of perfection. If the Most High only had one purpose of Man, it must have been for Man to be a caretaker of the Earth.

Nature has the incredible tendency to tend unto itself, by the constant process of death, re-birth and self-healing. Man, in a constant battle with nature, tends to take more from than give to, thus deviating from the original plan. If everything in life has a dual purpose, then the first of Nature would be for it heal itself, and the second, to heal the mind of Man.

When the Young Freemason first enters his Apprenticeship, he realizes all his working tools are composed from elements of nature. Immediately, he discovers that his true and absolute working tool is the soil beneath his feet, and the Sun is his forge.

The Master says to the Young Apprentice, "Walk though the meadow with me. Take notice of the fallen leaves about that tree there yonder. As an operative mason, I could take those leaves and beautify the trimmed lawn around and about my cottage. For the leaf, in itself, contains rich vitamins that grass needs to grow strong. Although as a Speculative Freemason, in that one leaf, I see the three stages of life - Youth, Manhood and Old Age. The leaf is in its’ Youth in the Spring, and at first bud. It then reaches its’ Manhood and strength in the middle of summer, for it takes the strongest yank to pull that leaf from its’ stem. In the Autumn, that leaf begins to wither and lose strength – This is symbolic of Old Age."

"Look over there at that wild grass." The Master says to the Young Apprentice Freemason. "I could take that wild grass – Dry it and contrive a roof or covering for my cottage. Although once I examine it further, that wild grass reminds me of my first perfect point of entrance – The Guttural, which alludes to Temperance. Grass uncut and untamed, becomes wild and unfit as a tool of beautification. A young apprentice like yourself is much like grass and must be frequently edged, and shaped – Tempered, or he also will become unstable – Out of control, and hard to temper again. Here, take this gavel and begin the long process of breaking off the vices and superfluities of your spiritual edifice, but before you begin I must direct your attention further to that puddle of mud to the right of your feet."

"Mud mixed with water, squared and dried can become the foundation and wall of any edifice, but examine it further . . . Mud is symbolic of the Entered Apprentice in his rude and ignorant state. As mud is put into a squared block, and caused to shape itself, so is the Freemason put on the square and caused to mold himself and live by it. As mud is hardened by the Sun, resulting in it becoming a perfect square – Square enough to fix into the building of King Solomon’s Temple, so is the Freemason."

The Earth spins on its’ axis at the rate of 91,666 feet per minute, 1,041.05 miles a hour and circles around the Sun at the rate of 66,000 miles an hour. The Sun and Earth work together to create of perfect gravitational force, to manage day and night and the return of seasons together with the variety of scenes which each season displays to the discerning eye. Therefore, Nature nor Man could survive without the Sun. Masonry, the art of building, could not exist without the Sun. The Sun is the Forge of our Working Tools, but be careful – The Freemason must not worship the Sun nor does he, but he must pay due reverence to the Most High, who is the creator of the Sun and all of which it illuminates.