7 minute read
13th Degree - Master of the Ninth Arch
by Anthony Cracco, 33°, Active for Illinois Member, Committee on Ritualistic Matters
Henry Francken originally wrote the 13th degree in 1783. At the time, it was titled Royal Arch. Over the years, many distinguished Masons have modified it. The ceremonial section was eliminated in the latest edition titled Master of the Ninth Arch (2004). At that time, while still retaining the dramatic theme of the degree, extensive stylistic changes were made to the dramatic section.
When I began my journey in Freemasonry, one thing that I always took away was the valuable lesson that each degree presented and exemplified. It embodied the quality of life that Freemasonry puts forward. These lessons started for me in my blue lodge and have continued throughout my journey through the Scottish Rite. I have tried to live my life practicing these lessons in the hope that I can make myself a better man and Mason. I have not always succeeded, but I still continually strive to improve myself. The prologue of the 13th degree states, “Freemasonry is a continuing journey.” Let us remember that on this road of life, we are striving toward the goal of perfection.
What is perfection? According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is the action of improving something or someone until it is flawless or as flawless as possible. We, as Scottish Rite Freemasons, have the opportunity to best achieve this state through the lessons taught in our degrees. So, let’s review the allegory of the 13th degree, Master of the Ninth Arch.
The degree opens with the arrival of three workmen, Amos, Jeroboam, and Jethro, into the audience chamber of King Solomon. These three workmen are pivotal in unfolding the lessons taught in the degree. Upon entering, they find King Solomon explaining to his officers the mission of these workmen: to dig through the ruins of the Temple of Enoch and build a foundation for the Temple.
King Solomon further explains that they abandoned the site because it was thought to be a place devoted to the worship of false idols and instead selected a site on Mount Moriah to build a temple to our God. King Solomon reveals that they have since discovered at the abandoned excavations much valuable treasure which has been collected for use in the Holy Temple. King Solomon then asks the workmen to continue to look for treasures at the abandoned site.
Amos reports that through the many weeks of searching, they found a stone with a metal ring which they raised with much difficulty. Upon raising the stone, they found a deep cavern. Amos tried to enter but could only go so far because of the stagnant air. King Solomon asks if they would return and resume their search. Amos responds, “Even at the risk of our lives.”
My dear Brethren, I have spent quite a bit of time on the opening scene, because it sets the tone for what is to follow. When Amos tells King Solomon, “Even at the risk of our lives,” do you believe he is speaking for the other workmen or just himself? Do Jethro and Jeroboam have some trepidations going forward? As the story continues, let us see what unfolds between the three workmen.
The next scene, while short, is one of the most powerful in the degree. It takes place at the campsite of the three workmen on a rocky hillside near the ruins of Enoch’s Temple. They are discussing how best to prepare for the descent into the cavern. After much debate, Amos agrees to be the first to descend. During their discussions, Jethro talks to the others about his fears regarding their mission. He expresses all that is on his mind. It looks like he has many concerns. Amos and Jeroboam try to ease his fears by telling him that God has guided them and that He will continue to protect them in their mission. These Brothers are telling Jethro that his faith in God will guide him. This is a lesson for us all: rely on our faith in God to allay our fears!
As the third scene begins, we are back in the audience chamber of King Solomon, where the officers of the court are discussing the dangers that the three workmen might face. Like all great rulers, King Solomon is concerned about his subjects’ welfare. He goes on by telling his officers of the legend of Enoch. Enoch had a vision where God told him to follow Him. Enoch was transported to a mountain, where he learned the true name of God and was forbidden to utter it to any man. In his vision, he was transported from the mountain into the bowels of the earth through nine underground apartments. In the ninth apartment, he saw a triangular plate of gold; in the center of it, was the same ineffable word that he saw on the mountain. After having this vision, Enoch, with the help of his son Methuselah, found a mountain in Canaan where they excavated nine apartments, just as he envisioned. It was believed that Enoch hid many treasures in these vaults.
In scene four, we find that Amos again succumbs to the foul air in the vaults and is recovering at their camp. Jeroboam and Jethro once again discuss the hazards and Jethro’s fears about descending into the caverns. When his two colleagues fall asleep, Jethro sneaks away from their camp.
The final scene takes place back in the audience chamber of King Solomon. As the scene begins, there is news that the three workmen are returning from their quest. Everyone is happy that they are alive. Again, King Solomon gives thanks to God for watching over the workmen. Amos reports to King Solomon the dangers that the three workmen have faced and gives praise to God for protecting them. Amos tells King Solomon how Jethro overcame his fears and descended into the cavern alone and passed out. Amos and Jeroboam then descended into the ninth arch of the cavern, where they found Jethro. As the fresh air finally found its way to the deepest part of the cavern, he rallied quickly. They then continued their search and found a cube with strange characters engraved on a plate of gold. They could not decipher it and returned with it to the surface. They brought it to King Solomon who proclaimed that they had found the most precious symbol of their faith. God had made a promise that was fulfilled through these three workmen. The sacred name was recovered!
In conclusion, my dear Brethren, if we learn one lesson from the 13th degree, it is that we must find that inner strength necessary to descend into the deepest part of ourselves and press forward. We must look deep into our own lost vaults and seek perfection. We all face fear in our lives; it is how we deal with those fears that will define us. Do not let your fears detract from your journey toward perfection!
