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Visit the New "Kern River Valley Masonic Lodge Website"
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Lodge of Perfection Degree Descriptions The Degree description below is reprinted with the permission of the Scottish Rite Journal. Fourth Degree Secret Master
Photo: Oil painting by Bro. Robert H. White, 32° Black and
white. That’s the first thing to strike the eye in the apron and cordon of the
Fourth Degree. Its creation of harmony by the balance of opposites is the first
statement of the great theme of the Scottish Rite the essential
philosophical and moral lesson of equilibrium. White is
the color of purity and light; black is the color of mourning and death. And the
Rite tells us that we should never forget we are always in the midst of death,
that we should never postpone making amends, never leave disputes unresolved,
never fail to do a kindness. But neither should we be morbid and focused on
death. Death borders what we know of life, but life is still good and filled
with joy. The fact that life is transitory makes it all the more precious to us. Again, the
secret is equilibrium. Life is precious, but it must never be so precious that a
Scottish Rite Mason accepts dishonor, or loss of integrity, or the sacrifice of
others as an acceptable price of living. To shrink from death is natural, but we
must never let that natural impulse make us fearful or cowardly. The blue
of the apron’s flap represents the heavens, and the eye in the sunburst
represents not only the eye of Deity, Who sees and knows all things, but also
the sun, the source of visible light and the provider of physical energy to the
earth. Heaven
represents the goal and hope of every Mason, and the eye of Deity reminds us
that everything we do, even in our most unguarded and frustrated moments, is
done in the immediate presence of God, even as its second meaning, that of the
sun, reminds us of the warmth and love of God, which so many ancient cultures
have typified by the physical light of our star. The wreath is made of olive
and of laurel, symbols of peace and of victory. The victory, as always in the
Scottish Rite, is not victory over others, but victory over ourselves—for that
is the only victory which brings peace as its reward.
The ivory
key which hangs from the yellow cordon is a symbol of secrecy, and the letter
“Z” which appears on both the wards of the key and the center of the apron is
the initial of the password of the Degree. The C.a.M. embroidered on the
cordon stands for the Latin Clavis ad Mysterium, the Key to the Mystery.
The lessons of the 4° are secrecy, obedience, and fidelity. But
secrecy must be understood in its Masonic sense. It is not the secrecy of
conspiracy, the concealment of motives and activities, or “deeds done in
darkness.” For a Mason, secrecy is the ability to keep a confidence. Great
systems of philosophy have taught through the ages that such ability is the
first step in developing self-discipline and self-control. And there
is more. The greatest need in the lives of most people is for a friend in whom
they can confide with no fear that what they say will be repeated. Each Scottish
Rite Mason should strive to be such a friend. Certainly,
duty is the “great law” of Masonry and central to this Degree. Nowadays, many
people think of duty as doing the minimum required in a situation. But duty, for
a Scottish Rite Mason, is a positive virtue, not a negative requirement. It is a
joy to be fulfilled eagerly, not a task to be performed grudgingly.
Duty and
secrecy are the foundations not only of the Scottish Rite but of creative
living. A man or woman who can be relied upon to do what is right and to respect
the confidentiality of a friend’s private hopes and fears and doubts and dreams
is well along the path of becoming an honored and honorable human being. The Scottish Rite Journal - February 1995
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Upcoming Events Stated Meeting 2ND TUESDAY MONTHLY 6:15 Dinner 7:00 Stated Meeting E-mailor call 323-5234 to RSVP dinner.
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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.
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Jim Tresner