4° - Secret Master
Duty, reflection and study are the
gateway to opportunity, as such one honors those
relationships to God, family, country and Masonry. The
apron of the 4th degree is white and black, with a
letter "Z" and all-seeing eye. The jewel of this degree
is an ivory key with the letter "Z" on the wards. The
teachings: secrecy, obedience and fidelity.
5° - Perfect Master
The degree teaches Masonic honor;
that honesty and trustworthiness is the cornerstone of
the foundation of such. This virtue should be in all of
our undertakings with mankind. The apron of the 5th
degree is white and green, with a cubic stone and a
Hebrew YOD. The jewel is represented by a compass open
on a segment of a circle, to an angle of sixty degrees.
The teachings: honesty, sincerity, and good faith.
6° - Intimate Secretary
In this degree one should expand
their knowledge of duty, charity and toleration. We are
instructed to reshape ourselves and our thinking into
charity, self-control, and success i.e. to be a
peacemaker. The apron of the 6th degree is white and
red, with Hebrew letters YOD HEH in the center and a
small triangle containing the Hebrew letters (clockwise
from top) BETH, NUN, and SHIN. The gold triangle with
the same three letters inscribed is the jewel that
represents this degree.
7° - Provost & Judge
We learn that impartial justice
protects person, property, happiness and reputation. We
are instructed to judge with patience and impartially.
The apron of the 7th degree is white, edged with red,
with a key and five rosettes. The jewel is a golden key.
8° - Intendant of the Building
We should strive for perfection by
using the great principles of "God's inherent love,
charity, morality and kindness". The apron of the 8th
degree is white, with red and green, with a balance, a
nine-pointed star, and a triangle with the Hebrew
letters BETH (for Ben-Khurim), YOU (for Jakinah), and
ALEPH (for Achar). The jewel of this Degree is a gold
triangle with the same three letters.
9° - Elu of the Nine (Elected
Knight of the Nine)
Truth, candor and generosity; the
foundation of Scottish Rite Masonry is most reflected in
this degree. We should use these truths to shape our
lives and conduct. The apron of the 9th degree is white,
lined with black, and sprinkled with blood, with an arm
holding a dagger and a severed head held by the hair.
The jewel of this degree is a dagger, hilt of gold and
blade of silver.
10° - Elu of the Fifteen
(Illustrious Elect of the Fifteen)
This degree teaches us to be
tolerant and respect the opinions of others. Freedoms of
political and spiritual ideologies should be shared by
all. The apron of the 10th degree is white, with a black
flap, and with three arch-shaped gates - over each a
head on a spike. The jewel of this degree is a dagger as
in the 9th degree.
11° - Elu of the Twelve (Sublime
Knight Elect of the Twelve)
This degree teaches sympathy. We
should be compassionate to our brother Masons and to all
mankind as well. The apron of the 11th degree is white,
lined with black, with a flaming heart in the center.
The jewel being a dagger suspended from a black cordon
inscribed with the words "Vincere aut Mori" the pledge
"that you will rather die than betray the cause of the
people, or be overcome through your own fear or fault."
12° - Master Architect
This degree teaches faith in
morality and virtue and in God. "Life is what each man
makes of it; the optimist turns a trial into a blessing.
The apron of the 12th degree consists of a white outer
shell, lined with blue and gold (symbolizing the Craft
degrees), with a protractor, plain scale, sector, and
compasses. The jewel is a heptagonal medal of gold.
13° - Royal Arch of Solomon
(Knight of the Ninth Arch)
Liberty; in our mind and our
hearts, motivated by duty and honor are the lessons of
this degree. The apron worn is purple, bordered with
white, and with the "Enochian delta" (hexagram with
inscribed Tetragrammation) in the center. The jewel
comprises a circular medal of gold.
14° - Perfect Elu (Grand Elect,
Perfect and Sublime Mason)
This degree teaches us to reflect
and scrutinize oneself. We should strive to be true to
ourselves and our God. The apron being of white silk,
bordered in gold, with the Ineffable Delta in the Center
is truly emblematical of the degree. The jewel of the
14th Degree is split; one being a quadrant (compass open
to ninety degrees) topped by a crown and with a
nine-pointed star on the obverse, the other being a
five-pointed blazing star (with the Tetragrammaton) on
the reverse. The compass is opened on a segment of a
circle, inscribed with the numbers 3, 5, 7, 9.