THE FOUR TASSELS

At the end of the first degree and at the end of the Junior Warden’s lecture he said, “Pendant to the four corners of the lodge are four tassels, which represent four cardinal virtues, namely:Temperance, Fortitude, prudence and Justice.” There was no explanation of the cardinal virtues, and when I was a Junior Warden I was told never to indicate which of the tassels were temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice. This has always left me with an enquiring mind so I decided to do some research to see if I could find which corners were identified as the four cardinal virtues and reached back to the operative masons to see if I could find an answer on THE FOUR TASSELS. In operative minds the four tassels that were suspended to the four corners of the lodge room represented guides which were used by the master mason to set out the four corners of the building and to assist a mason to maintain a just and upright life, whence was derived the four cardinal virtues that are traditionally temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice. Before considering in which four corners the tassels would have been suspended in an operative lodge room, let us review what the four cardinal virtues signify. The Thesaurus defines temperance as self-control or moderation, fortitude implies courage in endurance, prudence conveys an impression of cautiousness and justice implies fairness or rewarding what is due.

Operative lodges were oriented in the same direction as King Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem which is the reverse of speculative lodges; the entrance to the lodge was in the east and the master sat in the west. Operative lodges not only had a Master, but also a Junior and senior Warden who were seated similarly to those in a speculative lodge. In an operative lodge there was a fourth officer, a Superintendent of Work who was seated on the opposite side from the Junior Warden. The explanation of the location and symbolism of the four tassels pendent from the four corners was explained in this way. The tassel in the corner of the Master’s right hand side should represent justice, and that on his left hand side should represent temperance. The reason is that when ruling his lodge and managing his workmen the Master should rule with justice but tempered with mercy so as to ensure that he will provide good service and his workmen will receive their just wages. The tassel in the corner of the Superintendent of Work’s right-hand side should represent prudence and that on his left-hand side should represent justice. Like his Master whom he represents, the Superintendent of Work must not only be prudent in the use of his workforce and the materials they use, but he must also ensure the workmen are treated with justice and that they receive the wages they are entitled. The tassels in the right-hand side of the Senior Warden should represent fortitude and that on his left-hand side should represent prudence. The reason for this is that as the officer who exercises direct control over the workmen while they are at labour, he is responsible for overcoming the many difficulties while working and will therefore exercise fortitude over his workmen to protect their welfare. He must also exercise control over is men’s employment and the use of materials with the utmost prudence. The Junior Warden whose duty is to assist the Senior Warden, is responsible for the men’s welfare especially when they are at rest and refreshment. The tassel in the corner to the right- hand side of the Junior Warden should represent temperance. The tassel on the left-hand side of the Junior Warden should represent fortitude because he is supposed to represent Hiram Abif whose fortitude should always be emulated by ever Freemason. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the four tassels representing temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice, in that sequence, should commence in the south-east corner which is on the Master’s left-hand side and then proceed clockwise around the Lodge room.