Allegiance The Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, sitting in the Valley of Bakersfield, Orient of California, acknowledge the authority of and yield allegiance to The Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of Inspectors General Knights Commanders of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction, of the United States of America.

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Lodge of Perfection Degree Descriptions

The Degree description below is reprinted with the permission of the Scottish Rite Journal.

Eleventh Degree

Elu Of The Twelve, A Heart Aflame

Jim Tresner, 33°, Grand Cross

Photo: Oil painting by Bro. Robert H. White, 32°

The 11th Degree apron (right) is white, lined and bordered in black, and with a black flap. As before, black represents those negative qualities typified by ignorance, error, and intolerance. White represents purity of life and intention. On the apron is a flaming heart, a symbol repeated on the cordon. The flaming heart represents zeal and devotedness, especially the zeal and devotedness of those who, throughout the world's history, have sacrificed themselves for the good of their country or mankind.
On the cordon, above the heart, are the words Vincere aut Mori, "Conquer or Die."

The jewel is a sword of gold. It represents truth. The allusion is to Hebrews 4:12, "Truth is sharper than any two-edged sword."

All these emblems point to devotedness, activity, zeal—and they can be a little uncomfortable. After all, we're told to "keep our cool," to "chill out," to "relax and go with the flow."

And here is the Scottish Rite saying "be committed," "care deeply and passionately," "fight against the current." It's the difference between a comfortable life and a productive life. And the sad truth is that the productive life is seldom comfortable.

The Degree teaches that the Scottish Rite Mason must be actively involved in the government of his nation. Unjust taxes, governmental bureaucracies more concerned with self-perpetuation than with service, creeping limitations on the freedom of the people—in the name of expediency, or of conformity, or of "the greater good"—are not new. They have been recorded in virtually every government from antiquity to today. If we are truly to be the champions of the people (as the Rite calls upon us to be), we must be concerned with every miscarriage of justice, every unreasonable limitation of liberty, every arbitrary act of court or state house or capital.

Our special concern must be for those who do not have easy access to the courts, nor the ear of those in power, nor influence with city hall. Their very powerlessness creates a binding obligation on every Mason of the Rite. It would be far easier, and far more comfortable, to "chill out."

But our duty is to be aflame.

The Scottish Rite Journal - May 1999

Jim Tresner
is Director of the Masonic Leadership Institute and Editor of The Oklahoma Mason. A frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal and its book review editor, Illustrious Brother Tresner is also a volunteer writer for The Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason and a video script consultant for the National Masonic Renewal Committee. He is the Director of the Thirty-third Degree Conferral Team and Director of Work at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as well as a life member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, author of the popular anecdotal biography Albert Pike, The Man Beyond the Monument, and a member of the steering committee of the Masonic Information Center. Ill. Tresner was awarded the Grand Cross, the Scottish Rite's highest honor, during the Supreme Council's October 1997 Biennial Session.

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The Scottish Rite Creed

The cause of human progress our cause, the enfranchisement of human thought is our supreme wish, the freedom of human conscience is our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all people everywhere, the end of our contention.

Deus Meumque Jus - GOD AND MY RIGHT. Fiat Lux - LET THERE BE LIGHT. In Deo Fiducia Nostra - OUR TRUST IS IN GOD Lux a Tenebris - LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS. Spes mea in Deo est. - MY HOPE IS IN GOD. Virtus junxit, mors non separabit - WHOM VIRTUE HAS UNITED, DEATH SHALL NOT SEPARATE.

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