Rough Ashlar

In Freemasonry this term represents crude matter, like an unfinished stone, or the non-Mason or new Mason who has not yet learned the Craft.  Freemasonry attempts to turn the rough ashlar into a smooth, or Perfect Ashlar.  The rough ashlar can be considered to be similar to the Base Metal of Alchemy, and the Perfect Ashlar is similar to the Gold of Alchemy. (See "Cracking the Freemasons Code" by Cooper page 42)

The Rough Ashlar may also be symbolically considered the same as the Water that was later turned into wine by Jesus Christ or even the Dead being Raised to the Living.