The beginning of our Scottish Rite experience starts with the 4th degree: Secret Master, and happens chronologically right after the death of Hiram and at a time when the temple was only partially rebuilt.
King Solomon, after this tragedy, selected seven of his most devoted and talented Master Masons and designated them the title of Secret Master. These seven men were the guardians of the Sanctum Sanctorum and all of the treasures within.
As many masons, and those who study the esoteric will recognize the number seven as a very important number within the mysteries, which reflects throughout the universe. Seven days of the week, seven planets, seven colors of the rainbow, seven days of creation, seven laws of Noah, seven cardinal virtues, etc.
The alchemical transformation within this degree begins as does all alchemical transmutations in negredo…the dark phase of alchemy, which is the longest and most painful of the three phases. It represents the breaking down of those things we’ve come to falsely believe or rely on. It forces us to surrender aspects of our life in order to reveal our true nature and to reduce ourselves to our bare essence…all the impure and unnecessary dross must be removed…burnt away leaving only the bones. The shell of the holy temple that remains represents this phase and the potential for the rebuilding of something new and grand upon the bones of the old.
The ancient alchemists call this process of going through negredo: Mortification or “Facing the dead part”
For the mason and spiritual alchemist alike this means we must face those things about ourselves, which make us the most uncomfortable…Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, shame, lust, addiction, etc. We must confront those things most repugnant to ourselves, those things we hide from the outer world which are held in the deepest recesses of our psyche.
This introspection symbolized in the 4th degree is represented by the “Ivory Key to self knowledge”. The letter “Z” on the key is the first letter in the password of this degree and given its secrecy will not be discussed in this paper. The letters “CaM” on the cordon represent “Clavis ad Mysterium” meaning “the key to the mysteries.”
As you might recognize after seeing this degree there really is no distinct plot…this is purposefully done. The premise of the degree is not to illustrate any specific chivalry or virtue but rather to lay the cornerstone of the entire system of our Scottish Rite degrees.
We find that we must learn to work for the sake of work itself without the expectation of awards or praise and that real understanding is that knowledge which allows one to discern truth from falsehood, to attain wisdom rather than folly. Therefore, our duties in the Scottish Rite are not to be done in an effort or expectation of worldly distinction or Masonic honors but rather in the pursuit of coming into contact with that part of ourselves that is made in the image of God and thereby creating a relationship with that divine spark within us.
The 4th degree bestows upon us three duties to begin this divine transformation: Silence, Obedience and Fidelity.
Silence: Is one of the main disciplines we must undertake in our pursuit of this symbolic reconstruction of God’s temple within ourselves.
“Be still and know that I am God…”
Palms 46:10
“But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him”
Habakkuk 2:20
“And He [Jesus] withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed”
Luke 5:16
One of the greatest lessons we can learn is how to get in touch with the spiritual center of ourselves. Deep within each of us is an abundance of knowledge and guidance. When we enter into silence we come into direct contact with the sacred and in that silence dwells our true and higher self. In this place there is no time, only the present moment. It is that part of us that is connected to the cosmic consciousness…to that divine spark of God that is within us all. It holds the answers to all questions…the solutions to all problems.
If we as Scottish Rite masons are to pursue and truly understand the “Royal Secret” we should take time out everyday in a quiet place and commune with the divine.
You may have noticed that the altar of this degree has no working tools upon it because, in silent contemplation and prayer, God has given us all the tools we require to begin are Masonic journey of self discovery. The ivory key of this degree tells us that all that is needed to opening the door to discovery is now in our possession. The wreaths of laurel and olive symbolize the hopeful expectation of success in this quest.
We are all reminded of the importance of silence in our Masonic progression by the obligation taken and by the placement of the candidate’s right hand on his lips in the sign of Greek deity Harpocrates the god of silence, secrets and confidentiality.
Obedience: The second duty Obedience does not mean that we blindly adhere to viciousness or tyranny but rather the submission of our individual wills to the necessary demands of a well-governed society or community.
Fidelity: The final duty assigned in this degree was in ancient times one of the highest virtues one could attain. The mason that can always keep faith in God and his Masonic brother is a mason that is well on his way to discovering the royal secret and intimate knowledge of the lost word.
“The word of a Mason, like the word of a knight in the times of chivalry once given must be sacred…” Albert Pike: Morals and Dogma (p. 112)
Our recent, newly made 32nd degree Scottish Rite Masons and even our most adept brothers should contemplate heavily upon the three duties of the 4th degree, for they are the compass that points to true north and will always lead us back on the right path if we find ourselves lost in our Masonic travels.
I wish you well in your Masonic journey my worthy brothers.
Larry Roberts 32° KCCH, Portland Valley Personal Representative. Member of Modesto Lodge 206, Esoterika Lodge 227 and Research Lodge 198.