Ventura Valley Scottish Rite
Degrees 4th - 32nd
on the following pages are from the book,
" A Bridge to Light" by Ill. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°.
Copyright 1988, 1995, 2006 by the
Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
Southern Jurisdiction of the USA.
Chapter of Rose Croix
18th Degree - Knight Rose Croix
The apron is white satin bordered with crimson on one side and black on the other. On the white side is embroidered the pelican side of the jewel. On the black side is a large red passion cross.
The cordon, worn from left to right, is of velvet or silk, crimson on one side and black on the other; it is plain on the crimson side. A red passion-cross is embroidered on the black side and worn over the heart. The colors of the cordon and apron, white and crimson, are symbols of light and the dawn of day and represent Faith, Hope, and Charity.
The jewel is the compasses
with points opened to sixty degrees and resting on the segment of a
graduated circle. On the lower part, on one side, is an eagle, with his
wings extended and head lowered. Among the Egyptians the eagle was the
emblem of a wise man because his wings bore him above the clouds into
the purer atmosphere and nearer to the source of light, and his eyes
were not dazzled with that light. Since the eagle also represented the
great Egyptian Sun god Amun-ra, it is a symbol of the infinite Supreme
Reason or Intelligence. On the other side is a pelican, piercing its
breast to feed its seven young in a nest under it. The pelican
symbolizes every philanthropist and reformer who has offered up his
life for the benefit of humanity, and so teaches us an exhaustless
munificence toward all men, especially the needy and defenseless. It
also represents the large and bountiful beneficence of nature, from
whose bosom all created things draw their sustenance. Thus, the pelican
and eagle together are symbols of perfect wisdom and perfect
devotedness. There is a crimson cross showing on both sides; at the
intersection of its arms on the pelican side, is a crimson rose in
bloom. The cross, pointing to the four cardinal directions, and whose
arms, infinitely extended would never meet, is an emblem of space or
infinity. The cross has been a sacred symbol in many cultures from the
earliest antiquity. The rose was anciently sacred to the sun and to
Aurora, Greek Goddess of the dawn. As a symbol of the morning light, it
represents resurrection and the renewal of life, and therefore
immortality. Together the cross and rose symbolize immortality won by
suffering and sorrow. On the summit of the compasses is an antique
crown. On the segment of the circle, on the pelican side, is the word
of this degree in special cipher. This jewel is of gold; the pelican
and eagle upon it of silver.
DUTIES
Practice virtue that it may produce fruit.
Labor to eliminate vice, purify humanity.
Be tolerant of the faith and creed of others.
LESSONS
We should have faith in God, mankind and ourselves.
We should hope in the victory over evil, the advancement of humanity,
and a hereafter.
Charity is relieving the wants and tolerating the errors and faults of
others.
FOR REFLECTION
Do evil and calamity exist to provide an opportunity for the practice
of virtue?
Do your attitudes and actions reflect faith, hope and charity?
IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
The constellations called Faith, Hope and Charity, the punishments and
terrors of Hell, the rose, the cross, the pelican, the eagle.