A Lodge has six jewels; three of these are immovable and three movable.
The Immovable Jewels are the Square, Level and Plumb. The Square inculcates morality; the Level, equality, and the Plumb, rectitude of conduct. They are called immovable jewels, because they are always to be found in the East, West and South parts of the Lodge, being worn by the officers in their respective stations.
The Movable Jewels are the Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar and the Trestle-Board.
The Rough Ashlar is a stone, as taken from the quarry, in its rude and natural state. By it we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature.
The Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen, to be adjusted by the working tools of the fellow craft; and reminds us of that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God.
The Trestle-Board is for the master workman to draw his designs upon. By it we are reminded that, as the operative workman erects his temporal building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the master on his trestle-board, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe, in the great books of nature and revelation, which are our spiritual, moral and Masonic trestle-boards.
How Situated.
A Lodge is situated due east and west, because King Solomon's Temple was so situated; and also because, when Moses crossed the Red Sea, being pursued by Pharaoh and his hosts, he erected a Tabernacle by Divine command, and placed it due east and west to receive the first rays of the rising sun, and to commemorate that mighty east wind by which the miraculous deliverance of Israel was effected.
