Ashlars in the lodge.
The first Ashlar located in the northeast corner is referred to as the “Rough Ashlar”. The
second Ashlar located in the southeast corner is referred to as the “Perfect Ashlar”.
The Rough Ashlar, a stone that symbolises an uninitiated Freemason prior to his discovery
of understanding. If you look at the edges of the stone, you see that is has been squared
in a fashion, partially smoothed and has apparent strength and solidarity. This stone
processes all the qualities needed to be made into a perfect stone for the use of the
construction of the Temple, however needs the skills and hands of a perfect Craftsman to
bring about that result. As a person’s time and efforts progress, they begin to shape
themselves into being something better. The rough Ashlar is in a sense a perfect stone,
although needs to be polished in order to become what is known as the perfect Ashlar.
The Perfect Ashlar, a stone that is represented as an allegory to a Freemason who,
through Masonic education, works to achieve an upstanding life and carefully strives to
obtain understanding. It also represents a dressed stone by the use of the working tools,
the common gavel and chisel. It is moreover told that the perfect Ashlar is the work of an
expert workman who “tries” to adjust his tools on.
In conclusion, the Ashlars are not just any two pieces of stone. They represent what we
have been and what we hope to be. This duty is up to each individual Mason to adjust his
tools accordingly and pass his own judgement on himself, so when the time comes, he
lays down his tools, making the final journey to the Grand Lodge Above, a reputation of a
wise councillor may be left behind, a pillar of strength and stability, a Perfect Ashlar on
which younger Masons after him may test the value and correctness of their own
contributions towards the Masonic order.
By Bro. Amadeus Hertel