5 Ancient Practices of Freemasonry Still Applicable Today
Freemasonry has preserved a set of working tools and symbols from medieval stonemason guilds for centuries–but not physically. Many, including the Rough Ashlar, Trestleboard, Common Gavel, Winding Stairs, and Hourglass, remain central to Masonic teaching and offer practical lessons for self-improvement today.
Rooted in the practices of such medieval stonemasons, enlightenment philosophy, and Judeo-Christian tradition, the symbols of the Craft offer practical wisdom for living with integrity, purpose, and self-awareness.
What Is the Rough Ashlar and What Does It Symbolize?
An example of Ashlar Masonry in Cuzco, Peru, courtesy of Martin St-Amant.
In the first degree of Freemasonry, the Entered Apprentice candidates encounter one of the Craft's most important symbols: the Rough Ashlar. Freshly quarried stone, uncut and unpolished; it represents every new Freemason's potential for growth.
Just as a stonemason would shape rough stone into a precise, finished block, Freemasons today embark on a lifelong journey to refine their character. The Ashlar is a reminder that self-improvement isn't a destination — it's an ongoing process.
The Rough Ashlar remains one of the most recognized symbols in Illinois Freemasonry and Freemasonry beyond, representing what every Brother strives toward: becoming the best version of himself.
2. What Is the Trestleboard and Why Do Masons Use It?
Masonic 1st Degree Tracing Board
Before a single stone was set, master builders worked from a plan. In operative Freemasonry, that plan was called the Trestleboard: a design or map outlining the steps, milestones, skills, and resources needed to bring a building from vision to reality.
For speculative Freemasons today, the Trestleboard represents intentional living. It's a symbol of planning — whether for personal goals, Lodge programs, or a life well-built.
The Trestleboard reminds every Brother that a meaningful life, like a great cathedral, is built one deliberate step at a time.
3. What Is the Common Gavel and How Is It Used in Masonic Ritual?
Masonic Magic Lantern Slide - Working Tools - Entered Apprentice
When a man takes his first step into Freemasonry as an Entered Apprentice, he is handed the Common Gavel, a tool with a pointed end for chipping and a flat surface for shaping stone.
For stonemasons, the gavel removed rough edges and prepared stone for use. For Freemasons, it carries the same meaning applied inward: chipping away at faults, bad habits, and anything that prevents a man from living with integrity.
The Common Gavel is one of the working tools of the Entered Apprentice degree, and it's among the first lessons every new Brother receives. It carries a simple truth that Freemasons have understood for centuries: no man arrives complete. The work of becoming is lifelong, and that work is worth doing.
4. What is the Winding Staircase in Masonic Tradition?
Some Masonic historians theorize that the European craftsmen's guilds from which Freemasonry is thought to have derived were inspired by the story of King Solomon’s Temple, taking pride in the notion that such marvelous architecture was built by “them.” As such, they integrated the temple imagery into their ceremony of initiation.
The Winding Staircase is the central symbol of the Fellowcraft degree, the second degree of Freemasonry. In Masonic ritual, the Fellowcraft advances through a porch, up a winding flight of stairs, to a middle chamber to receive his wages. This imagery draws directly from the architecture of King Solomon's Temple.
But the stairs are more than a historical reference. Each step represents intellectual and spiritual advancement — a progression through knowledge, virtue, and understanding. The candidate doesn't arrive fully formed; he climbs. For Brothers of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M, the Winding Staircase is a reminder that growth is earned, not given.
5. What Does the Hourglass Symbolize in Freemasonry?
A Master Mason's Chart or Tracing Board that includes an hourglass illustration, c. 1800. Courtesy of SRMML.
The Hourglass has a surprisingly practical history. It became widely used in the 14th century on ships where water clocks were unreliable, in churches to time sermons, and in workshops to mark shifts. It was a fixture of the stonemason's world.
In American Masonic lodges, the hourglass is introduced during a lecture in the third degree, the Master Mason degree. Its message is straightforward: time passes. Life is finite.
The Hourglass is a call to action. It urges every Freemason to pursue Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth — not someday, but now, while there is still time to leave the world better than you found it.
The Road Ahead
These five symbols- the Rough Ashlar, Trestleboard, Common Gavel, Winding Staircase, and the Hourglass- have endured for centuries because they speak to something universal: the desire to grow, plan, improve, and make the most of the time we have, and deliver value to the people around us. The Wisdom of Ages, if you will.
Freemasonry didn't invent these ideas, but it has preserved and taught them with remarkable consistency. For men seeking a framework for self-improvement grounded in history and community, the wisdom of the Craft is as relevant today as it ever was.
Interested in learning more about Freemasonry in Illinois? Read about how to join.
For more information on Masonic symbols, check out our explainers on the Square and Compasses, Plumb and Trowel, or the Columns of Freemasonry.
FAQ
What is the connection between Freemasonry and ancient stonemasons?
Freemasonry traces its symbolic roots to the operative stonemasons of medieval Europe: craftsmen who built cathedrals and castles using the same tools Freemasons reference today. Modern, or "speculative," Freemasonry adopted those tools as metaphors for moral and personal development, preserving the lessons of the Craft long after the stone guilds themselves disappeared.
Are Masonic symbols the same across all lodges?
The core symbols, including the Rough Ashlar, Trestleboard, Common Gavel, Winding Staircase, and the Hourglass, are consistent across lodges in the United States and much of the world. While ritual details and degree work can vary by jurisdiction, the underlying teachings these symbols represent remain shared across the fraternity.
How do the three degrees of Freemasonry connect to these symbols?
Each degree introduces specific working tools and symbols tied to its lessons. The Entered Apprentice receives the Rough Ashlar and Common Gavel as symbols of beginning the work of self-improvement. The Fellowcraft encounters the Winding Staircase as a symbol of intellectual advancement. The Master Mason is presented with the Hourglass as a reminder of life's finite nature and the urgency to do good.
Is Freemasonry still active in Illinois today?
Yes. The Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. oversees hundreds of lodges across the state, with Brothers meeting regularly to practice the Craft, serve their communities, and support one another in personal growth. Men interested in learning more can find information about joining at ilmason.org/join-us.