The Scottish Rite – Lodge Of Perfection Degrees

In Summary:
The 4th degree, known as Secret Master, is the first step into the inner sanctuary of the Spiritual Temple in the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. According to “Morals and Dogma” by Albert Pike, Masonry is a succession of allegories, the mere vehicles of great lessons in morality and philosophy. The degree aims to teach the moral codes of a Mason and to help the candidate to find truth. In this degree, the candidate is taught that Light and Truth are within the reach of every man that lives, would he but open his eyes and see. The degree is presented as a journey of self-discovery and spiritual development, with the goal of reaching a deeper understanding of the principles of the craft. The degree is allegorical, and its meaning is symbolic. It is meant to be interpreted by the candidate and not just taken at face value.

Initial Note:
Perhaps few of those who have ever labored, in the patience of secrecy and silence, to bring about some political or social change, which they felt convinced would ultimately prove of vast service to humanity, lived to see the change effected, or the anticipated good flow from it.

Regalia Notes:
The apron is white, edged with black, and has black ties. These two colors symbolize the grief suffered by the Masons upon hearing of Master Hiram’s death and the loss of the word. As well, they are illustrative of the dualist nature of the universe, containing light and darkness, good and evil, and truth and error.

The flap is sky blue with an open eye embroidered upon it in gold, denoting the sun as the great archetype of light, the Ineffable Deity. In its center is a ‘Z’ embroidered in gold and around it are the two crossed wreaths of laurel and olive.

The jewel is a small ivory key with a black ‘Z’ upon the wards. It is worn suspended from a broad Yellow ribbon edged in deep blue or black. The gold symbolizes light emerging from darkness. The initials C.a.M. denote ‘Clavis ad Mysterium’, the “Key To Mystery”. The jewel of the Master is a small equilateral triangle of gold emblazoned with the Greek letters: Iota, Alpha, and Omega at the apexes.

Pike tells us, “The Name of Deity, in many nations, consisted of three letters: among the Greeks, [Iota, Alpha, Omega];” (p. 632).

On its reverse are the Samaritan characters Yod, He, and Vau; these three letters, with He duplicated are used to form the Ineffable Name of Deity, called the Tetragrammaton, usually pronounced as ‘Yahweh’. Pike, though he uses the Hebrew forms, also explains their significance as representing three of the ten Sephiroth, or emanations from Deity, of the Kabbalah: Gedulah, Gevurah, & Tipharet; that is, Mercy, Justice & Beauty (p. 798).

The significance of the letter ‘Z’ is esoteric and thus is not proper to be discussed here. In the Hebrew numerology of the Kabbalah, its equivalent letter had the value of 7, a number familiar to all Masons.

Duties are:
• Practice silence, obedience, fidelity

For Reflection:
• May one command who does not know how to obey?

Lessons:
• The teachings of Masonry are not to be taken lightly. Learning far outlasts physical monuments. Duties are not to be performed expecting reward – but expecting personal satisfaction.

Important Symbols:
• The color black with silver tears, Adoniram, key of ivory, blazing star, a wreath of laurel and olive leaves, the great masonic camp, the three pillars, and the nine Masonic values.

---

Additional Notes:

DUTY IS THE ONE GREAT LAW OF MASONRY
And further, in the 4th degree ominous voices from three directions characterize duty as:

Inflexible as Fate and Exacting as Necessity, Rising with us in the morning and Watching at our pillows at night. Duty is with us always, imperative as Destiny.

Sources:
Purchase ‘A Bridge To Light‘ by Rex R. Hutchens
Purchase ‘Morals & Dogma‘ by Albert Pike.