The earth produces all that ministers to the needs, comfort and luxury of man, while the Heavens produce the light and heat which gives the procreative and generative agents to allow the earth to produce.

        The Square is adapted for plane surfaces, which the ancients believed to be the shape of the earth and is appropriate to that branch of Geometry used to measure the earth. The Compass has relation to spheres and spherical Trigonometry, that branch of mathematics which deals with the orbits of the planetary bodies.

        The Square is a symbol of the earth and the Compass of the Heavens. As a candidate advances and receives more light in Masonry, he sees the changes in the configuration of the Compass to the Square, not merely as bare points, but as an elevation. Since the Square represents the earth it is symbolic of the material, sensual and base portion of humanity. The Compass, representing the Heavens is symbolic of the spiritual, intellectual and moral portion of humanity.

        Masonry teaches that we are capable of improvement and advancement and that life is a battle-to effect reason and moral sense to overcome the passions. Hence, the points of the compass elevate above the square teaching that Freemasonry is the subjugation of the human that is in man by the Divine.

Fraternally,
R. Dana Moser
Junior Warden