7 minute read
5th Degree - Perfect Master
by Mark C. Roth, 33°, Grand Lieutenant Commander and Active for New Hampshire
Perfect Master, the 5th degree, fits nicely into the repertoire of degrees of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. A candidate witnesses Builder, the 4th degree, to begin his Scottish Rite journey. The 4th degree is not a cliffhanger. We know how it ends. But there is anticipation of what comes next! In the degree lineup, it is Perfect Master. But what we see today as the 5th degree was not always the 5th degree. In the historical notes of the 5th degree, we read this paragraph:
“The [Rituals and Ritualistic Matters] Committee had deemed it appropriate to transfer the Old Testament lessons, as exemplified in the 1930 Ritual of the 23°, to the 5°. Accordingly, this degree now teaches that impure thoughts and selfish, unworthy ambitions are corruptive and destructive, and that a man who forgets his duty to family, country and God will be morally and spiritually destroyed.”
Today we are less concerned with the chronological order of degrees than our Brothers of previous centuries. They experienced Scottish Rite in a different way. As originally intended, the 4th through 14th degrees of the Lodge of Perfection were conferred in order so that each degree prepared the candidate for the full unveiling of the Name of God in the 14th Degree (see “Whom Virtue Unites” McIntosh, M. T. The Northern Light, Spring 2022). If this order would be observed in today’s Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, the 5th degree would be seen after the 4th and followed by the 6th and so on. While a Valley may choose to follow this order, it is not a requirement. But the 4th degree is required to be the first degree witnessed by a candidate, and the road to the 32nd degree runs through a minimum of three other degrees of the NMJ. Just as your GPS will give you alternative routes to reach your destination, so does the Scottish Rite. That is, the three degrees leading to the 32nd can be any of the degrees in any order. The next degree on your Scottish Rite journey may not be Perfect Master. In fact, analysis of passports reveals that the 5th degree is one of the least viewed degrees. For those who have not seen it, I encourage you to check the schedule of degrees on scottishritenmj. org/degree-dates and make plans to witness it.
The story that is told in the 5th degree is biblical and conveys the Core Values of Reverence for God, Justice, and Integrity. The degree exemplifies diligent labor, wisdom, skill, and love as faithful service and true worship which is rewarded. In contrast, jealousy, deceit, and self-service result in death. A discussion of this degree leads to a consideration of leadership values.
The degree is placed in the early period of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. The construction of the Tabernacle and all its furnishings are complete according to specifications directed by God. The precise building of the Tabernacle and the construction of its furnishings are evidence of the deep respect and awe for the Lord held by Bezaleel and Aholiab. When Moses and Aaron come to consecrate the Tabernacle and its Sacred Furniture, they are impressed with their workmanship that demonstrates the wisdom, understanding, and skill given to them by the Lord. Their faithful service to God is honorable and worthy of praise and is seen as a form of worship. Who could create so great and beautiful a sanctuary other than those who truly love the Lord? Moses is so excited that he proclaims a new order—The Order of Perfect Master. Moses lifts up Aholiab and Bezaleel as examples to be emulated, because their diligent work and service is an expression of their Reverence for God.
The scene is now set. Bezaleel and Aholiab are consecrated Perfect Masters, charged to guard the sacred place. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron the Priest, witness the glory given to workers who are not of their own priestly tribe. Jealousy and greed consume them. Nadab and Abihu cannot subdue the dishonorable passions that well up within them. They covet personal power and believe that it is their right to be King and High Priest simply because they are the sons of Aaron. They are certain that “…all the powers of Heaven shall not prevail against us.”
Nadab and Abihu may hold the title of Priest but fail to grasp the meaning of their work—their service to God. They are so consumed with arrogance, greed, and ambition that they ignore their duty in spite of the repeated warnings to watch the Sacred Fire. They allow the Sacred Fire, the presence of the Lord, to slowly diminish and finally go out. To make matters worse, when they realize what they have done, they try to fool Moses and Aaron. They use “strange fire” to rekindle the flame just as they would use “Egyptian magic” to trick the people! But they are wrong. God cannot be fooled. Lying and deception are not tolerated. Nadab and Abihu pay the penalty! Justice is served.
We do not need to search far to find the lesson of Integrity in the 5th degree. Bezaleel and Aholiab serve as examples of sincerity and honesty—men of integrity. They labored with love to fulfill the law of the Lord. They praise each other for the respective jobs well done. Nadab and Abihu, on the other hand, are just the opposite. They lack integrity and serve only themselves. They dream of ruling with an iron hand. They deceive and cajole to gain power and riches. They have no problem lying to Moses and Aaron and disrespect their service to God.
Perfect Master clearly illustrates the Core Value of Reverence for God. We find it in the superior skill and intellect that led to noble work in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, in the devotion of the priestly duties of worship and prayer, and in keeping the presence of God alive. The 5th degree makes clear that justice will be rendered to those whose greed and self-centeredness cause them to think only of serving themselves thereby turning away from God. It condemns those who fail to live by the principles of truth, honesty, and service.
After viewing the degree, ask yourself, “Who are the leaders in this degree?” Are the leaders Moses and Aaron who come in official capacity to consecrate the Tabernacle? Are the leaders Bezaleel and Aholiab who use their skill and labor in love to serve the Lord? Are the leaders Nadab and Abihu who plot and plan to use their positions against their people for their own glory and power? Who are the servant leaders in the 5th degree? Who are the leaders who illustrate Reverence for God, Justice, and Integrity?
In writing this review of Perfect Master, I thought of the following passage from the Ceremonial of Open Installation of Officers of Subordinate Bodies.
“The possession of a title indicates no superiority unless accompanied by superior knowledge and greater capacity for doing good. Only that which one learns and does in Masonry makes him superior to his brethren and that superiority can be one of intellect and moral character only.”
Watch the Sacred Fire, my Brothers!
