Masonic education
What Do the Square and Compasses Mean?
The square and compasses commonly invite reflection on upright conduct and restraint.
The square and compasses commonly invite reflection on upright conduct and restraint.
Understanding the subject
These are tools for testing and drawing, which makes them useful ethical images. A standard is valuable when it corrects our preferred answer. A boundary matters when desire presses against it. These readings offer practical questions rather than a single compulsory interpretation. Ask whether you apply the same measure to yourself as to someone you dislike.
A practical reflection
For an everyday example, consider a disagreement over money. The square suggests checking the facts against a consistent standard. The compasses suggest limits on anger and self-interest. Neither image supplies the answer; both can improve the way a decision is reached.
Questions and answers
Are compasses a navigation compass?
No. Drawing compasses are a different instrument.
Is there one exclusive meaning?
No. Interpretations depend on the teaching context.
Sources and further reading
- The square — Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon
- The compasses — Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon