Ventura Valley Scottish Rite

 

Degrees 4th - 32nd

The regalia pictures and excerpts from the degree descriptions
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.



The Lodge of Perfection

5th Degree - Perfect Master

The apron is of white lambskin. The lining, border and flap are light green. Two crossed columns with three concentric circles and a golden cube superimposed form the center design of the apron. The outside circle is crimson, the center one blue and the inner one orange. There are two letters upon the top face of the cube; the one on the left black and the other white. The cube represents the finite universe and the three circles symbolize the wisdom, power and beneficence of God; the great trinity of His attributes. The letters are Phoenician and are the first two letters of the ancient name of God.

The jewel is the compasses, opened to sixty degrees, the points on a graduated arc. Masonic compasses are opened to sixty degrees because this is the number of degrees in each of the three angles of an equilateral triangle, always a symbol of Deity. It is suspended from a broad grass-green watered ribbon worn from the right shoulder to the left hip. This jewel, absent the square, indicates that the candidate is moving away from the earthly and toward the heavenly: "[The Square] ... is an emblem of what concerns the earth and the body; [the Compasses] of what concerns the heavens and the soul" (p. 11). The color of the ribbon symbolizes the attainment of this transition by renewal of virtue.





DUTIES
Be industrious and honest.


LESSONS
Life is uncertain; death may call at any time.
The noblest portion of humanity is virtue for virtues sake.


FOR REFLECTION
Can you measure your age, not by years but by good deeds?
Does a life well lived prepare one for death?


IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
Branches of acacia, coffin, the Master Hiram.

 

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