Olive Grove, IL -- Bobby Jones was made a Master Mason at Mount Olive Lodge No. 342 last month. At the next meeting, he showed up wearing the ring that he had inherited from his grandfather, who laid down his own working tools some years ago.
As the men congratulated Bro. Bobby, some of the old Past Masters recalled his grandfather, and told him a few stories. When the evening ended, several of the brothers complimented his ring, and everybody went home.
It was only later that WM Fred Barnes realized his lodge's horrific mistake--that not one member cautioned Bobby on how to wear his ring.
The Mount Olive Past Master's Association hopes to rectify the situation at the next lodge meeting, he said.
“I don't even remember which way the points were facing,” Barnes explained. “We were just talking to the boy, and wishing him well. It's like everyone forgot about the most important part of being a Master Mason. Well, outside of the pancake breakfasts, that is.”
-Bro Conte Calvino Gliostro
Ummm . . . oh, nevermind.
ReplyDeleteI never realized this was any sort of actual issue till recently overhearing it's discussion one evening, post meeting social hour.
ReplyDeleteI would like to throw out that I was always instructed to wear mine CTTC.
My nickles worth of input...
Found this on the Web. My 2 cents.....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/weararing.htm
THE PROPER WAY TO WEAR A
MASONIC RING
The following from Temple Topics (Illinois) is now being quoted with approval by other Masonic papers.
"What is the proper way to wear a Masonic ring? Should the points of the compass be toward or away from the body?
"If you were hanging the American flag, would you put the stars down? The same holds true of the ring. Usually it is a gift, and has sentimental value for the wearer. It should look right side up to him. Rings are therefore worn with the points of the compass toward the wearer."
This subject is one on which Grand Lodges have made no regulation and popular opinion is divided. We must therefore reason from analogy. When the emblem of the square and compasses is displayed on a building, pennant, button, watch charm etc., universal custom requires the points of the compass point downward. When displayed on the Altar they point away from the Master. As the Master from his station views the compass from the Altar of his lodge, the points are from, not towards him. As the wearer of a compass watch charm views it, the points are down and away from his eyes. In a similar way as he views the emblem on his ring the points should be down or away from his eyes.
The square is the symbol of earthly, the compass of heavenly perfection. As a combined emblem the ends of the square point up as a symbol of man's aspirations toward God; the points of the compass are down to represent heavenly qualities coming down from God to earth. Therefore it would seem that the proper way to wear a ring would be that is which its symbolism is best expressed; namely, that in which, when the hand is held in its usual position the points of the compass are towards the earth and away from the wearer's eyes.
Thus it will be seen that our conclusion does not agree with the writer in Temple Topics. He truly says that in hanging an American flag we would not put the stars down, but in hanging a compass or a square and compass, he surly would put the points of the compass down. The same rule holds when worn as a ring or button or a watch charm; namely, they would be worn the same way with the points down. When so worn they all serve the same purposes, and by no means the least of these purposes is to announce to the world the proud wearer is a Mason. -- Iowa Masonic Bulletin.