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MARK MASTER The work on the Temple is continued as in the preceding degrees on the Blue Lodge. The candidate represents one of the workmen whose custom it was to have their work inspected at the end of each week. he presents a piece of work whose value is not appreciated at first, but later becomes "the head of the corner". An important lesson is then taught -- that we should never claim for ourselves the property of another. The degree lays still greater stress upon the dignity of labor; that we must all work and receive wages according to our desserts. |
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PAST MASTER This degree begins the preparation for the Royal Arch. In former times no one was eligible for the Royal Arch except actual or Past Masters of lodges; but this meant that very few could receive it, so the degree of Past Master was instituted whereby one might become a "Virtual Master" by means of the ceremony of the degree and thus be eligible for exaltation to the Royal Arch. The candidate is taught that he must first learn to obey before he can learn to rule and that he must learn to govern himself before he can govern others. |
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MOST EXCELLENT MASTER In this degree King Solomon's Temple is at last completed and is dedicated with imposing ceremonies to the service of the Most High God. King Solomon offers a sublime invocation and the fire comes down and consumes the burnt offerings and sacrifices. The brethren rejoice that their long labor is ended, lay aside their aprons, are greeted as Most Excellent Masters, and receive their reward. This ends the cycle of the degrees having to do with the erection of King Solomon's Temple and brings us up to the sublime story, spanning centuries of time, set forth in the Royal Arch degree. |
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ROYAL ARCH The candidates, three in number, witness the burning bush where Moses was given the command to return from Arabia to Egypt and lead forth the children of Israel from bondage, and where God imparted to him the Ineffable Name. They then witness the destruction of the beautiful Temple erected by King Solomon, and are carried away captives to Babylon. After 70 years of bondage, they are permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the House of the Lord. The toilsome journey is made along the river Euphrates, by Tadmor in the Wilderness, by Damascus, and southward near the Lebanon mountains. On arriving, they find themselves in the midst of ruins, make themselves known to the grand council--Joshua, Zerrubbabel, and Haggai--and are set at work to remove the rubbish of the old Temple in order to lay the foundations of the new. Amidst these ruins they make many valuable discoveries which had lain buried in darkness for ages, and which complete the knowledge gained in the Symbolic degrees. Thus are connected together in the most intimate way the work of the Blue Lodge and the work of the Chapter, neither being complete without the other. |
