Three Great Lights of Freemasonry 

The Three Great Lights of Freemasonry are:

    1) Volume of the Sacred Law or VSL.

    2) Square
 
    3) Compasses

These a Mason is better enabled to see by the aid of the Three Lesser Lights of Freemasonry.

During a meeting of an Open Lodge the Square and Compasses are placed upon the left hand page of the opened Volume of the Sacred Law as viewed from the West while looking toward the East.  The Volume of the Sacred Law is opened such that it can be read from the West while facing East. (Of course if you have mastered reading upside-down you can also read it from the East facing West.)

The Volume of the Sacred Law is placed upon the Altar, and opened, at all official meetings of a Lodge.