THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES: THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CARPENTERS AND OTHERS

The square and compasses has been used as a symbol by several organizations. The oldest organization to use the symbol is probably the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, founded in London more than 700 years ago.

The first written reference mentions of a "Master Carpenter" in the City of London’s records dated year 1271. It was originally a medieval trade guild, set up to look after the welfare and interests of carpenters living and working in London. The Carpenters received its first Royal Charter in 1477, and in 1515 was ranked 26 in order of precedence out of the 48 City Livery Companies then existing. The Carpenter's motto is "Honour God". 

Founded in 1724, the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia was modeled after the Worshipful Company of Carpenters. Both associations have close ties with each other.

During the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, the Worshipful Company of Carpenters’ links with the craft of carpentry weakened and the number of members directly related to its trade declined. Majority of the members were no longer carpenters. However, the Carpenters Company continued its ceremonial and business functions, selling and purchasing land and maintaining its charitable activities.

A Master Carpenter holding his compass in 1698.

Working tools of a Master Carpenter

The Carpenters is no longer a craft guild but still exists today as a livery company and a non-profit charitable organization. In addition to preserving and maintaining Carpenters’ Hall, the association serves as an important forum for cooperation among prominent architects, building contractors or structural engineers. They also offer a scholarship program supporting students pursuing careers in Architecture, Structural Engineering, or Construction Management or Engineering. In some way, membership is very exclusive because there is a maximum number of members allowed. In order to join, the candidates for membership must be nominated and elected by current members.

The Most Worshipful Company of Carpenters own and manage a magnificent "Carpenters Hall" at Throgmorton Avenue in London, United Kingdom. 

There are also several other organizations that use the square and compasses often with an additional symbol, to wit:

1.     The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners, which adds a "pruning knife" within the square and compasses. A record in London shows that a Fraternity of Gardeners petitioned the Lord Mayor to sell produce in front of the church of St. Austin in the year 1345. The oldest documented Free Gardeners Lodge in Scotland dates back in the year 1676. In 1715, a Free Gardeners Lodge was founded in Dunfermline, supported by two members of the local aristocracy, the Earl of Moray and the Marquess of Tweeddale. Surviving Lodges and newly-established Lodges recently formed the International Order of Free Gardeners.

2.    The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, otherwise known as Freemasonry, which adds the letter “G” within the square and compasses. Masonic historians trace the origins of the fraternity in a series of similar documents known as the Old Charges, dating from the Regius Poem, in about 1425. The first Grand Lodge in England was founded in 1717. The current United Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1813. There are now several Grand Lodges and factions around the world that do not necessarily recognize each other.

3.     The Incorporation of Wrights and Masons - Edinburgh Trades, use of the seal by this association dates back in 1475. They are NOT in anyway associated with Freemasonry.

4.     The Independent United Order of Mechanics, which adds "three hammers" within the square and compasses. This fraternal organization was first founded in Lancashire, England, in 1757.

5.     The Royal Black Institution, which adds the letter “G” within the square and compasses. This is a Protestant fraternal society first formed in Ireland in 1797.

6.     The Order of United Mechanics, which adds an arm-and-hammer within the square and compasses. It was first founded in Philadelphia in 1844 as "Union of Workers." The Junior Order of United Mechanics was created as a youth auxiliary of the OUM in 1853, but this group seceded and became an independent adult organization in 1885.

NEW BOOK IN PROGRESS

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. The Encyclopedia of Philippine Fraternities and Sororities (Still in progress).

PUBLISHED BOOKS WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR:

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows: Rediscovering More Than 200 Years of History, Traditions, and Community Service (KDP Amazon, 2019).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows Manual: Modern Guide to the Origin, History, Rituals, Symbols and Organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (KDP Amazon, 2020).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Ancient Rites of Odd Fellowship: Revisiting the Revised Ritual of the Order of Patriotic Odd Fellows, 1797 (KDP Amazon, 2020).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows Encampment: Brief History and Introduction to the Degrees, Symbols, Teachings and Organization of Patriarchal Odd Fellowship (KDP Amazon, 2020).

About the Author

Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento finished his Associate in Health Science Education in 2007; Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Certificate in Human Resource Management and Certificate in Women’s Studies in 2010; Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2013; and Juris Doctor (law) degree in 2020.

 

He is instrumental in re-establishing Odd Fellowship in the Philippines. He is a Past Grand and Past District Deputy Sovereign Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is credited for connecting thousands of members from various countries when he created and managed the first social media groups and pages of the “Independent Order of Odd Fellows” and "Odd Fellows International" from 2009-2019. He is also credited for writing and creating most of the modern literature and infographics about Odd Fellowship on the internet at a time when the organization had almost zero presence online, including the first YouTube videos and the wikipedia entries about the Odd Fellows. Because of his contributions, he was appointed as Public Relations Coordinator and member of both the Communications Committee and the Revitalization Committee of the Sovereign Grand Lodge from 2012-2015. He spent more than six years visiting hundreds of Lodges and several Grand Lodges across the United States and Canada to read hundreds of journals, records and books; observe Grand Lodge sessions and meetings; and conduct interviews to be able to write books about the Odd Fellows.

 

He is an advocate for the preservation of historical fraternal organizations, service clubs and civic associations. He is a member of all branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), including the Rebekah Lodge, Encampment and Patriarchs Militant. He is also affiliated with the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (GUOOF); Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS); Noble Order of Muscovites (Muscovites); International Order of DeMolay (IOD); International Order of Free Gardeners (IOFG); Universal Druid Order (UDO); Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH); Knights of Rizal (KOR); The Fraternal Order of Eagles - Philippine Eagles (TFOE-PE); and Tau Gamma Phi or Triskelion Grand Fraternity (TGP). As a hobby, he writes articles and collects books and artifacts related to fraternal organizations, service clubs and other civic associations.

BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE ON AMAZON, CLICK LINKS BELOW:

1. Odd Fellows Rediscovering More than 200 Years of History, Traditions and Community Service (Odd Fellows history and its relationship with world history)

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851208

Black and White: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851224

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q8DKFJZ

 

2. Odd Fellows Manual: Modern Guide to the Origin, History, Rituals, Symbols and Organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (brief history, organizational structure, and generally-accepted internal rules and principles)

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851259

Black and white: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851283

 

3. Ancient Rites of Odd Fellowship: Revisiting the Revised Rituals of the Order of Patriotic Odd Fellows, 1797

Black and white: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851232

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHDG17S

 

4. Odd Fellows Encampment: A Brief History and Introduction to Patriarchal Odd Fellowship

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851275

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LZQQDWM

 

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