THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

FIFTH SERIES: AREOPAGUS, CHAPTER OF KNIGHTS KADOSCH --
HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DEGREES (19th - 29th)
"The Eleven degrees of the Areopagus ... most beautifully unfold the
errors and frailties of humanity, and most thoroughly instruct us how
to overcome them and advance toward that most perfect state hoped for
by mortality."
19. GRAND PONTIFF, or SUBLIME SCOTCH MASON
Mysteries of time are taught in this degree, under the symbolism of the
Apocalypse and the New Jerusalem. The Temple was built not by one man,
but my successive generations, and destroyed swiftly. Patience is stressed,
along with the three virtues of the previous degrees, and that the greatest
accomplishment is the creation of something which will "outlast their own
day and generation." Those that exhibit this patience, equity, and purity
will surely be one of the chosen 144,000 whose name is inscribed in the
apocalyptic Book of Life.
The Lodge is divided intow two apartments. The first, the Chapter Room,
is lit from the East by the triple interlaced triangle, with a sun in the
center. Behind a curtain in the East is an image of the New Jerusalem,
and an empty salver is in the center of the room. The second apartment
is a plain dark room, with only a single chair. The officers wear long
white robes, and fillets of sky-blue satin, with twelve gold stars, around
their foreheads. There is only one Warden.
Battery: [3-3-3-3]. The Chapter Room is first hung in black, and the sun
is turned to blood. After the Reception and Prayer, the Room is hung in
blue, with stars of gold, and the sun is made bright. There is no apron,
but the jewel is a gold "parallelogram" (rectangle) with a Greek Alpha
on one side and an Omega on the other.
20. GRAND MASTER OF ALL SYMBOLIC LODGES, or MASTER AD VITAM
("GEORGE WASHINGTON DEGREE")
"The duties, powers and privileges of a Master in opening and closing
a Lodge and conducting the work are herein defined." The Master Ad
Vitam (for life) must keep in mind the three requisites of a Master,
Toleration, Justice, and Truth, and as Master of a Lodge, he must
"dispense light and knowledge to the brethren." The proliferation of
degrees and religious sectarianism is to be avoided, and Masonry must be
restored to its "primitive purity." The existing degrees are, in actuality,
constant lessons, and titles such as "Knight," "Prince," and "Pontiff"
represent the lofty goals of morality and justice, of which the holders
of such titles should be reminded.
The Lodge is hung in blue and gold, and a throne is in the East, ascended
by nine steps. Over the East are the words "Fiat Lux" in a glory surround-
ing a triangle. A triangular altar is in the center, and the Lodge is
lit by nine yellow candles (in three concentric triangles), positioned
between the altar and the South.