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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. Sixth Degree Intimate Secretary
Photo: Oil painting by Bro. Robert H. White, 32° The story
of the Sixth Degree goes like this: King Hiram was not having a good day. Word
had just reached him in Tyre of the death of the Master Architect. He set forth
in haste to Jerusalem. As he was passing through some desolate country, one of
his courtiers informed him that the ruined towns they saw were the ones King
Solomon was giving to him. Incensed that he was receiving poor instead of rich
territories—and not really thinking—he stormed into Solomon’s audience chamber.
Then, just as he was hitting his stride in telling Solomon what he thought of
him, he found someone hiding and appearing to spy. It was more than an absolute
monarch ought to be called upon to bear. King Hiram
was wrong, of course. He judged quickly and from appearances. Solomon tactfully
refrained from pointing out that Hiram looked like a fool. Instead, Solomon,
acting the part of the peacemaker, allowed the monarch of Tyre to recover his
dignity and then resolved the problem. The apron
of the Sixth Degree is white lambskin, bordered with crimson. The crimson is a
symbol of zeal. And the Degree both commends zeal as a virtue and warns against
intemperate zeal, represented by the impetuosity and rashness of King Hiram. On the
body of the apron are the Phoenician letters B.N.S., initials of the
words Berith, Neder, Shelemoth, meaning, Covenant,
Vow, and Perfection. The two letters in the center spell the
Divine Name, Yah. On the flap is a triangle, and the triangle repeats in
the jewel of the Degree. The jewel is formed from the Tetractys (see page 33 of
A Bridge to Light by Ill. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°, Grand Cross) and contains
the triple delta. The deltas contain the symbols for the sun, the moon, and
mercury, or the sun, moon, and Master of the Lodge. Remember that in Blue Lodge
symbolism, the Master is assumed to be a combination of the sun and moon, being
a balanced man by virtue of possessing all characteristics in proper
equilibrium. The essential theme of the Sixth Degree is that duty is to be performed not mean-spiritedly but with zeal, just as life is to be lived with zest. But always there must be balance. And it further teaches the great lesson that we are always to be slow in judgment and quick to act as peacemakers. The Scottish Rite Journal - November 1996
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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