rough and perfect Ashlar

Ashlar rough and Ashlar perfect are not

just two pieces of stone but a clear

representation of what we’ve and what

we hope to be. They symbolize Man's

moral and spiritual life.

Ashlars are representation of the very

beautiful symbol. The rough and perfect

ashlars bear the same relation to each

other as ignorance does to knowledge,

death to life, and light to darkness.

Ashlar rough (rude, natural stone), which

masonically, is a symbol of men’s

natural state of ignorance and a symbol

the profane world. Ashlar perfect is

already prepared (hewed, squared,

polished and smooth) and as such it’s

used in the building. It’s a symbol of the

state of perfection attained by means of

education.

In essence, in Freemasonry, it means

that by means of education and the

acquirement of knowledge, a man, who

begins as Rough Ashlar (an imperfect

stone) improves the state of his spiritual

and moral being and becomes like

Perfect Ashlar and makes the final

journey to the Grand Lodge Above. He

may leave behind a reputation as a wise

counselor, a pillar of strength and

stability, a Perfect Ashlar on which

younger Masons may test the

correctness and value of their own

contribution to the Masonic order.