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Libertyville Masonic Lodge Sesquicentennial Square
Libertyville Masonic Lodge Sesquicentennial Square
October 2016 marked the 150th anniversary of the chartering of Libertyville Lodge No. 492. As a member and officer of this fine Masonic lodge, I wanted to do something special for the occasion. As Freemasonry uses tools to convey allegorical lessons, and because tools are such an integral part of the work I do, I immediately felt a strong connection and knew I wanted this contribution to be tool-related. After much thought, I settled on a presentation set of tools which could not only be displayed but actually used in certain aspects of the Masonic rituals, and which are almost universally recognized as the symbol for Freemasonry: the square and compasses.
The compasses I purchased, and are a beautiful and well preserved set of user's wing dividers produced by W.M. Johnson of New Jersey around the same time the lodge was chartered (mid 19th century).
Not being able to find what I was looking for, I decided to make the square myself. I knew I wanted to make it from Acacia wood (which has a Masonic significance), that it needed to be actually accurate enough to be used in fine work (a truly functional tool) and that I also wanted to make it more than "just a square". I recalled seeing combination tools based around a square, and particularly rembered a fine old design which integrated a plumb line into one leg of the square, essentially creating an all-in-one square, plumb, and level. This was further appealing as all three of these tools have deep Masonic significance.
As the project came together, I also symbolically integrated three other Masonic tools into the design of the square to further its representation of the fraternity. My good friend Tommy and his wife Karrie came through for me again with a wonderful engraved plaque to affix to the square denotating the occasion.
More information about this project, and about the process, can be found in the blog.
October 2016 marked the 150th anniversary of the chartering of Libertyville Lodge No. 492. As a member and officer of this fine Masonic lodge, I wanted to do something special for the occasion. As Freemasonry uses tools to convey allegorical lessons, and because tools are such an integral part of the work I do, I immediately felt a strong connection and knew I wanted this contribution to be tool-related. After much thought, I settled on a presentation set of tools which could not only be displayed but actually used in certain aspects of the Masonic rituals, and which are almost universally recognized as the symbol for Freemasonry: the square and compasses.
The compasses I purchased, and are a beautiful and well preserved set of user's wing dividers produced by W.M. Johnson of New Jersey around the same time the lodge was chartered (mid 19th century).
Not being able to find what I was looking for, I decided to make the square myself. I knew I wanted to make it from Acacia wood (which has a Masonic significance), that it needed to be actually accurate enough to be used in fine work (a truly functional tool) and that I also wanted to make it more than "just a square". I recalled seeing combination tools based around a square, and particularly rembered a fine old design which integrated a plumb line into one leg of the square, essentially creating an all-in-one square, plumb, and level. This was further appealing as all three of these tools have deep Masonic significance.
As the project came together, I also symbolically integrated three other Masonic tools into the design of the square to further its representation of the fraternity. My good friend Tommy and his wife Karrie came through for me again with a wonderful engraved plaque to affix to the square denotating the occasion.
More information about this project, and about the process, can be found in the blog.
Click picture for more detail
Click picture for more detail