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.
Council of Kadosh
28th Degree - Knight Commander of the Temple
In the Liturgy, Pike describes the apron thus: "The APRON is square,
of scarlet-colored lambskin, lined and edged with black.
The
flap is white, and on it is a Teutonic Cross described as a cross
potent sable, charged with another cross double potent or,
surcharged with an excutcheon of the Empire, the principle Cross
surmounted by a chief azure, seme of France; ...". He is using the
terminology of heraldry: 'potent' is a word used to describe a cross
with cross pieces at the ends, 'double potent' means two cross
pieces at the ends; 'sable' is black; 'or' is gold; 'charged' means
superimposed upon; 'chief' means on top of; 'azure' is blue; 'seme'
means strewn or scattered. In the middle of the apron is a black key
and around it a wreath of laurel. The laurel symbolizes the good
opinion our brethren have for us.
The order is a white, watered ribbon edged with red, worn as a collar, from which the jewel is suspended.
The jewel is the Teutonic Cross shown on the apron.
There are also gloves and a scarf among the clothing of a Knight
Commander of the Temple. The colors of these, as well as of the
apron and order, are white, red and black. The last of these is
symbolic of the death of one who will be revealed at a later degree.
DUTIES
Be devoted to truth, honor, loyalty, justice and humanity.
LESSONS
Masonry is practical and requires its members to be actively
involved in life.
Virtue and duty have been the same in all times.
FOR REFLECTION
It is nobler to err and make amends than never to err at all. Is
this statement
contrary to the virtue of prudence?
IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
The colors scarlet and black, garland of laurel, circles and globes,
swords drawn
and extended to a central point.