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As we move into November, Brother John
Clair is working on perfecting his degree work to make ready for the ensuing year. Grand Lodge is
November 8th – 11th in Richmond. Cherrydale will be hosting the canteen in the 54th District Hospitality
Room. Last month we were given the honor of listening to Worshipful John Dudley, Jr. and Brother Jim
Smith.
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Our first meeting in November will
have as our guest speaker, Brother S. Brent Morris, enlightening us on Masonic education and |
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the Scottish Rite. Brother Morris has written
eloquently on topics regarding Albert Pike and Albert Mackey, the letter “G”, landmarks and liabilities,
and many other interesting topics. He is also the author of several books including “The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry” as well as Masonic papers, who is currently the managing editor of the
Scottish Rite Journal. I am sure that his lecture at our first stated will be most interesting. |
The Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization
that continues a Master Mason’s education of the first three degrees. Other examples of Masonic
affiliated organizations are: The Shrine (Shriners); York Rite; Grotto; Eastern Star, DeMolay
International, Job’s Daughter’s, International Order of Rainbow for Girls and the Tall Cedars of
Lebanon. The Scottish Rite consists of the 4th through 32nd Degree and an honorary 33rd, which is
awarded for exceptional service.
The Scottish Rite has become today the largest and most widely practiced Masonic Rite
in the world. Its Degrees teach a series of moral lessons culminating in the 32°, Master of the Royal
Secret. The 33° is sparingly conferred on its members in recognition of their service to humanity or to
Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite continues the tradition of Masons around the world in improving
themselves and their communities.
The Degrees of the Scottish Rite are divided in this manner beginning with the:
Lodge of Perfection
4° - Secret Master
Duty, reflection and study are the gateway to opportunity, as such one
honors those relationships to God, family, country and Masonry. The apron of the 4th degree is white and
black, with a letter "Z" and all-seeing eye. The jewel of this degree is an ivory key with the letter
"Z" on the wards. The teachings: secrecy, obedience and fidelity.
Through the 14th degree of:
14° - Perfect Elu (Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason)
This degree teaches us to reflect and scrutinize oneself. We should strive to be true to ourselves and
our God. The apron being of white silk, bordered in gold, with the Ineffable Delta in the Center is
truly emblematical of the degree. The jewel of the 14th Degree is split; one being a quadrant (compass
open to ninety degrees) topped by a crown and with a nine-pointed star on the obverse, the other being a
five-pointed blazing star (with the Tetragrammaton) on the reverse. The compass is opened on a segment
of a circle, inscribed with the numbers 3, 5, 7, 9.
Continuing to the:
Chapter of Rose Croix
The Chapter of Rose Croix attempts to provide the candidate with a deeper understanding of religion,
philosophy, ethics and history though a variety of complex "historical degrees". The intellectual
challenges presented in these degrees are numerous, and at times overwhelming and can take years to
master.
15° - Knight of the East, of the Sword or of the Eagle
Fidelity to obligations and perseverance of purpose under difficulties and discouragement are the
lessons of this degree. The striking crimson velvet apron of this degree is edged with green, having a
bleeding head above two crossed swords, and a triangle (top point to the left) with three interlaced
triangles inside it. The jewel is three golden concentric triangles encompassing two crossed swords.
Through the 18th degree:
18° - Knight Rose Croix
This degree emphasizes that life and its strength come from God. The rose signifies the dawn and the
cross is a sacred symbol of antiquity in many cultures. One is also taught to be tolerant of others
errors and their faults. The apron worn is of white leather or satin, bordered in red, with a skull and
cross-bones, a red passion cross, and three red rosettes. The grand jewel is a gold compass open a
quarter circle. A rose-cross is between the legs of the compass and under it is a pelican, tearing its
breast to feed its seven young on the obverse and an eagle with wings extended on the reverse. On the
circle are the letters I.N.R.I.
Then the 19th – 30th degrees in the:
Council of Kadosh
The word "Kadosh" is a Hebrew word meaning Holy. Although Pike identifies the degrees of the Council of
Kadosh as chivalric and philosophical, they are all intensely mystical with respect to the lessons
conveyed and symbols employed.
19° - Grand Pontiff
We learn from the past and how it affects the present and the influence we live in the future in this
degree. We as mortals strive to endure, produce and improve the world as it surrounds us. There is no
apron, but the jewel is a gold "parallelogram" (rectangle) with a Greek Alpha on one side and an Omega
on the other.
Through the 30th degree:
30° - Knight of Kadosh or Knight of the White & Black Eagle
The lesson of this degree is to be true to ourselves, to stand for what is right and to be just in our
lives today with a belief in God, country and oneself. There is no apron, but the jewel is a gold
Teutonic cross, enameled in red, with a silver double-headed eagle, with wings spread pointing downward,
resting upon it.
The final degrees in the:
Consistory
The Consistory Degrees are very different from each other in form and content. The 31° reveals the
dynamic relationship that has existed for centuries between human law as a means of achieving justice,
and divine justice as an ideal. The 32° reviews the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection, the Chapter of
Rose Croix and the Council of Kadosh.
31° - Inspector Inquisitor
In this degree the apprentice learns prayerful self-examination. The mistakes today should not be
committed tomorrow. Simply, the daily look at ones self to learn to live with the future. No apron is
worn in the Supreme Tribunal, but the traditional apron displayed is of pure white lambskin with a
Teutonic Cross of black and silver embroidered upon the flap. The jewel is a silver Teutonic cross. The
jewel is suspended from a white collar, with a gold triangle with a "31" inside it.
32° - Master of the Royal Secret
The lessons taught in this degree are that genuine brotherhood requires mutual regard, opinion, esteem
and charity. We always look for the good in all, make allowances for others' shortcomings. We trust the
Supreme Architect to lead us to friendship, morality and brotherly love. The apron worn in this degree
is white, lined in black, with a double-headed eagle and a plan of the Camp of the Princes. The jewel
worn is a golden Teutonic Cross. In the center are the letters XXXII, surrounded by a green wreath. The
cap of a Master of the Royal Secret is black silk with a black band trimmed in gold. In the center front
is a double-headed eagle emblem with a rayed equilateral triangle above in gold. The triangle is red,
has 32° in its center, and is trimmed with gold.
Court of Honour
The Scottish Rite confers a number of honors upon members who have contributed extraordinary service to
the Rite, to Masonry in general, and to the world at large.
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Our second stated will be a joint
communication with Andrew Jackson Lodge in Alexandria, at the George Washington Masonic National
Memorial in the North Room, where Most Worshipful Stewart Wilson Miner will be receiving his 50 year pin
by the Grand Master. Our stewards along with Andrew Jackson’s stewards will be co-hosting a dinner to
begin at 6:00pm. |
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In follow up to Youth Night, we will be serving refreshments for the Job’s Daughters
at their November 20th meeting. The Rainbow Assembly has asked us to serve refreshments at their Movie
Night on November 30th. We are having a game night with the DeMolay, with that date being finalized with
the Master Councilor, Kahung Lai. The youth are having their annual Master Councilor-Honored
Queen-Worthy Advisor Ball at Kena Temple on Saturday, November 3rd, from 8pm – 11pm. This event is a
semi-formal event that is also open to any Masonic Youth and their friends.
Bethel 1’s Joe Corbi sale is going on with the deadline to submit orders on October
30th, also Bethel 1 is having their annual Lobster Dinner on November 17th at Cherrydale United
Methodist Church, these are fundraisers for the Bethel, both Worshipful Don Strehle and myself have more
information if you would like to support the daughters. Bethel 1’s Guide, Nathalie Spita will be
representing the bethel at the Miss Virginia Job’s Daughter’s Pageant in Williamsburg over the
Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
There will be another 54th Masonic District’s Blood Drive at AC Glebe Lodge on November 17th.
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