Sixth Degree, Confidential Secretary
Sun, Moon, and Master

Jim Tresner, 33

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 Phoenician initials of words which translate "Covenant," "Vow," or "Divine Law." 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 Rex Hutchens) 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 Degree teaches 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 to act the peacemaker.

Scottish Rite Regalia Photos And Prints
Illustrations of the Scottish Rite Regalia paintings of Bro. Robert H. White, 32 (6th Degree painting pictured above) are available in two formats: (1) individual color photographs and (2) grouped in a color poster.

1) Each 8" x 12" photographic print costs $6.75. Each 11" x 14" photographic print costs $16.25. There is a shipping/handling charge of $2.95 per order for 1 to 10 photos; $4.50 per order for 11 or more prints. A portion of each sale will benefit the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., USA. Please order photos directly from Bro. Bruce A. Dehlin, K.D. Enterprises, 10114 Farmington Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030-2049. Make checks payable to K.D. Enterprises. Please send a check with all orders.

2) Color posters picturing all the Regalia paintings are also available (unframed 22" x 33"; framed 28" x 39"). See the exterior cover of the February 1995 issue for an illustration of the poster which pictures the 4th through 33rd and includes the K.C.C.H. and Grand Cross. As a service to the Brethren, the poster is available at cost: unframed $20.00; framed, glazed, and double-matted $125.00 (S/H included). To order, send a check payable to The Supreme Council, 33, S.J., USA to: Grand Executive Director's Office, 1733-16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009-3103. Please allow six to eight weeks for UPS delivery of the framed print.

To see all the paintings, go the the Hall Of Scottish Rite Regalia

 

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