Great Is Truth and Mighty Above All Things

by Nick Graff, 33°, Active for Illinois; Member, Committee on Ritualistic Matters

At the beginning of the month, I received a congratulatory email from the Scottish Rite recognizing me for yet another year of membership in our Fraternity. The email read something like, “Congratulations, Brother, on getting another year older. Have you turned into one of those grumpy old guys yet?” In my mind, I can distinctly hear the members of my Valley yelling “YES” in unison as they read this. I often wonder if our traditions from the past are relevant in today’s Scottish Rite or just the musings from yet another old member closely resembling the ones I used to complain about myself not long ago.

When I began my Scottish Rite journey, my Valley would publish a reunion program book that would include, among other information, a list of the degrees being presented. Under the title of the degree, there would be a tagline that highlighted an important lesson contained in that degree. For example, under the 32nd degree would appear the tagline, “My Hope is in God.” I found myself fascinated by the idea that just a few words could accurately summarize a 50 to 60 minute degree.

I believe our degree taglines are slowly disappearing from our lexicon. These gems need to be dusted off and reshared with our Fraternity. Today, if you walk up to any active Scottish Rite Mason and say, “My Hope is in God,” both of you immediately visualize Constans in the allegory of the 32nd degree. There are several other Scottish Rite taglines that are as equally impressive and have influenced me on my Scottish Rite Journey. For the remainder of this article, as required by my obligation as a Past Sovereign Prince, I would like to focus on the two taglines from the degrees of the 15th degree, Knight of the East, and the 16th degree, Prince of Jerusalem. These degrees have the Core Values of Reverence for God and Integrity, reflected in the philosophy of “Loyalty to conviction, fidelity to duty, and devotion to truth.”

The prologue for these degrees is: “A Council of Princes of Jerusalem presents two degrees, the Fifteenth and the Sixteenth. These degrees are called “Historical” because they deal with events connected with the closing period of the Babylonian captivity of Israel, the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the temple.”

Our main character in these degrees is Zerubbabel, a leader of the Jewish exiles born in captivity. In the 15th degree, Zerubbabel is tempted by King Cyrus to violate his Masonic obligations in return for certain treasures that had been looted from the captives’ homeland. The tagline of the degree is taken from a scene between Zerubbabel and one of King Cyrus’ henchmen when Zerubbabel says, “Life without friends is worthless.” Hearing that tagline immediately makes me pause and think about my life and how important friends are – particularly those Brothers I’ve met through the Rite. Without a doubt, some of my closest friends are Scottish Rite Masons.

The 16th degree builds on the events of the 15th degree. The 15th degree closes with Zerubbabel and his people being set free by King Cyrus with directions to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and temple.

The 16th degree opens at the site of the temple which is still in ruins. Almost two decades have passed since King Cyrus issued his order freeing the captives and allowing them to return to their homeland. In the intervening time, King Cyrus died, and King Cambyses succeeded him. Cambyses believed the former captives were a threat to his kingdom and ordered construction of the temple to cease. The Jewish people, still led by Zerubbabel, endured constant attacks from supporters of Cambyses. They were forced to labor with the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other – constantly ready for work or for combat. Cambyses has now died, and Darius is King. Darius is familiar to the Jewish people and is aware of King Cyrus’ order to free the Jews. Zerubbabel takes a group of Knights and goes to meet with Darius to remind him of Cyrus’ decree.

The meeting between Darius and Zerubbabel occurs in Darius’ council room, as he and several of his knights are preparing for a feast. Zerubbabel and his entourage interrupt the festivities but are welcomed by Darius and asked to join in the revelry. It would seem the purpose of this gathering was to allow the group to ponder a soul-searching, and perhaps self-serving, question from King Darius. The King promises “great gifts to whose answer shall be wiser than the rest.” What follows in response to the King’s question are three orations that contain some of the most philosophical words found in any of our degrees. All the responses are logical, filled with temptation, and still carry meaning in today’s world.

The degree reaches its climax when Zerubbabel responds in anger to Darius and his now raucous court, calling the King “wicked.” Zerubbabel’s rebuke could have drawn the wrath of the King, ending all that he and his people were hoping to accomplish. Instead, Darius carefully reflects on Zerubbabel’s words. Darius then tells Zerubbabel to “ask what you will, and we will give it because you are the most wise, and you shall sit next to us.”

During the dialogue between Zerubbabel and Darius, the tagline of this degree is proclaimed first by Zerubbabel and then repeated by Darius: “Great is the God of Truth and mighty above all things.” I have intentionally omitted any discussion of the question being proposed by King Darius or any of the answers proposed by members of Darius’ Court from this article. If you have witnessed this degree, you know what those are. If you have not yet seen it, I encourage you to do so.

The drama ends as you would expect. Zerubbabel and his Knights all receive the title of Prince of Jerusalem and are permitted to return and complete their temple.

I have seen this degree presented in two different ways, and each has its benefits. Some Valleys have been successful in presenting this degree as part of a Valley meal. At some point during the meal, Zerubbabel and his party join King Darius and his court with everyone, including the audience, eating together. At a predetermined point, the story begins – hopefully at a time when the audience can pay attention to the drama.

I prefer a standard stage presentation. Having directed this degree many times, I feel the director has more control when it is presented in a traditional format. (Also, you can completely avoid having an errant Brother interrupt the actors by asking someone to pass the salt.)

Another peculiarity with this degree is its similarity to degrees used by other appendant Masonic bodies in addition to the Scottish Rite. I have witnessed this story as part of an initiation process for two other Masonic organizations I belong to. One of these bodies even refers to fellow members as cousins –wording that, at one time, was in our 16th degree.

As I continue my path forward in Scottish Rite, I strive to live by the taglines of the 32nd, 16th, and 15th degrees:

My hope is in God! and Great is Truth and mighty above all things! and Life without friends is worthless!