Grand Lodge of New York: Grand Master’s Labor Day 2025 Message
A Labor Day 2025 message from the Grand Master of Masons in New York, honouring the dignity of work and the Masonic tradition of the working tools.
Working Tools
Working tools of a Master Mason (3rd)
I now present to you the working tools of a Master mason. They are the Skirret, Pencil and Compass. The Skirret is an implement which acts on a centre…
The Working Tools of the Social Mason – FUN AMONG THE MASONS
By the Worshipful Master’s command I now present to you the Working Tools of the Social Mason. They are the Fork, Knife, and Tumbler. The Fork is an…
The Man in Masonry
It is my task to review, or examine, with you the character of the mature mason. To do so we must first ask ourselves: What is maturity? No definition can better that of the dictionary — “the state of being, complete, perfect or ready.” Let us consider the aspect of completion
First Degree Initiaton – The Northeast Corner
The N.E. corner lecture is unequaled by any other portion of our finely phrased ceremony. The first degree has all the charm of novelty and surprise. As a rule the uninitiated knows nothing of our Ritual, and is in a state of total darkness as to our order of service.
THE FELLOWCRAFT’S HANDBOOK by W.Bro. J.S.M. WARD
In this little volume W. Bro. Ward justly emphasises the importance of the 2 degree. In former times it was no mere passing stage of a Mason’s career. In…
THE ENTERED APPRENTICE’S HANDBOOK by W.Bro. J.S.M. WARD
W. Bro. Ward is one of the most able and earnest of Masonic students. He brings to bear on the task of research the mind of a scholar, enriched by…
Nine Working Tools
Each of the nine tools has a moral significance: the Twenty-four Inch Gauge, the Common Gavel and the Chisel of the First Degree are the tools of preparation; the Square, Level and Plumb Rule of the Second Degree are the tools of proof; the Skirret, Pencil and Compasses of the Third Degree are the tools of plan.