TRAPPED IN A MASONIC WORLD

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which had been purposely prepared for it, and where centuries afterward it was found. And this amended
form of the legend is more in accord with the recognised symbolism of the loss and the recovery of the
Word. [3]
I could go on forever, [some might say I do], showing you the different levels of degrees and about the
Swedish Rite, Egyptian Rites, Rosicrucian Rites and the Rite Hermetique etc., and have only included a
few examples to help give you an idea as to how massive this all is and how serious it‘s all taken. - 19°
Grand Pontiff: The lesson of this degree is the difference between good and evil and the conflict therein.
The sworn Knight of Justice, Truth and Tolerance is admonished to be patient and to work. 20° Master ad
Vitam: Toleration, Justice and Truth, taught in the previous degree, are returned to in the 20th, where the
candidate is further taught that the right to govern a lodge is not only by selection, but also by intelligence
gained through patient labour. [4]
21° Patriarch Noachite: The story of this degree is that of the crusading knights who sought to shield the
innocent and hold guiltless anyone until convicted. 22° Prince of Libanus Libanus is another name for
Lebanon and the story of this degree tells of those who cut cedar from the forests of Lebanon in order to
build Noah‘s Ark. The underlying lesson is that labour is honourable and that we should strive to improve
the condition of those who labour.
23° Chief of the Tabernacle: The candidate is taught to labour incessantly for the Glory of God. The
ritual retells the story of the Tabernacle and its ancient ceremonies. 24° Prince of the Tabernacle: The
lesson of this degree is the importance of symbolism and how symbolism has been used since time began -
a universal language of ancient theology. 25° Knight of the Brazen Serpent: This degree tells the story of
the Children of Israel‘s 40th year in the desert, when they pitched their tents at Punon after the death of
Aaron. The newly made Knight of the Brazen Serpent is taught to purify the soul of the alloy of
earthliness and to restore his faith in God.
26° Prince of Mercy: Domitian, Emperor of Rome, in his persecution of the first Christians caused them
to meet in catacombs. The ritual of this degree depicts the mysteries of these first Christians and further
teaches that Freemasonry belongs to no one age or era. 27° Commander of the Temple: A degree
dedicated to the Teutonic knights of the House of St. Mary of Jerusalem. This order founded in the time of
Saladin fought that warrior and his men by day and nursed the sick by night. The candidate for this degree
is taught the five qualities practiced by that order - Humility, Temperance, Chastity, Honour and
Generosity.
28° Knight of the Sun: This is the last of the philosophical degrees of the Scottish Rite and its material
is derived from the Kabbalah. It looks at science, reason and faith as seen through the consistency of
nature. 29° Knight of St. Andrew: As a climax to the theory of universal religion, this degree inculcates
equality and toleration with the knight representing the notion of truth.
The 30° Knight Kadosh degree along with the two degrees of the consistory [congregational governing
body of Christianity], was originally the Templar degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite [AASR].
The candidate is taught that he should apply himself practically as a defender of the Temple of the Most
High God, and while he may be armed with steel on the outside, he is armed with Faith and Love on the
inside. - Faith in God. Love of his fellow man. It‘s said of the Knight Kadosh degree or ceremony of
initiation in which the third most powerful Grand Master points to the papal tiara and declares: ―This
represents the tiara of the cruel and cowardly Pontiff. It is therefore the crown of an imposter... that we
trample it under our feet.‖ He asks if the candidate is willing to do this, and then all trample on the Pope‘s
crown, brandishing sharpened daggers and shouting; Down with Imposture! - All above degrees [4]
As I state elsewhere, there are a factor of the Black Nobility group of families who sided with the
Papacy under Pope Pius IX after the House of Savoy family-led army of the Kingdom of Italy entered
Rome on the 20th September 1870, and overthrew the Pope and the Papal States, and that for the next 59
years, the Pope confined himself to Vatican City and claimed to be a prisoner within it, then you can
perhaps see why such an initiation oath exists. [5]
The 1918 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia purported to have been written by Albert Pike, who also
said: ―That men of all races and creeds may take the Scottish-rite degrees without compromising their
beliefs?‖ - Earlier in the 30th degree ritual, the prospective candidate who performs the Knight Kadosh are
counselled; ―And, finally, keep aloof from uniting yourself with any sectional, political, or sectarian
religious organisation whose principals can in any way bias your mind or judgment, or in the slightest
degree trammel with obligations the vows you have just made‖. We feel justified in doubting the faith of
any Catholic who would insult the emblem of the pope's authority in a lodge ritual. [6]