Letter of the month: January 1998

Message-Id: <34B946B1.AFB0FEB1@cybertron.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 17:24:50 -0500
From: Thomas Hughes <hugs@cybertron.com>
Reply-To: hugs@cybertron.com
To: dryfoo@MIT.EDU
Subject: masonic ring square & compass

When a mason wears his ring with the points of the compass facing him, what does this signify? Most masons I have encountered wear their rings with the points of the compass facing away from their body suggesting they are open for masonic interaction or fellowship.

To: hugs@cybertron.com
Subject: Re: masonic ring square & compass 
In-reply-to: Your message of "Sun, 11 Jan 1998 17:24:50 EST."
             <34B946B1.AFB0FEB1@cybertron.com> 
--------

} When a mason wears his ring with the points of the compass facing him,
} what does this signify? Most masons I have encountered wear their rings
} with the points of the compass facing away from their body suggesting
} they are open for masonic interaction or fellowship.

It might signify that he is reminding himself to keep the "most valuable tenets of our institution", or perhaps some particular private matter, "between the points of the compasses".

It might signify that he likes to look at the square and compasses right-side-up.

It might signify that he doesn't know the local folklore about wearing a Masonic ring.

I'm open to other suggestions.

fraternally,

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Gary L. Dryfoos <dryfoo@mit.edu>| Ocean Lodge AF&AM, Saugus, MA (PM)
| P.O.Box 425400, Camb, MA 02142  | Mt. Scopus Lodge AF&AM, Malden, MA (PM)
|                                 | Richard C. Maclaurin Lodge, MIT, MA
|  "A Page About Freemasonry"     | Internet Lodge #9659, E. Lancs UGLE   
|  http://mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/ | 32~; MPS; B'hood o/t Blue Forget-Me-Not 
|                                 | RWG Rep.GL Russia near GL Massachusetts 
| "...one sacred band, or society of Friends and Brothers, among
|  whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention,
|  or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree."
+===========================================================================