Jim Tresner, 33°, Grand Cross
P.O. Box 70, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044-0070
The
jewel of the 26° is an equilateral triangle of gold. In
the center of the triangle, also of gold, is a flaming heart.
Engraved on the heart are the letters I.H.S. The side
of the triangle to the right of the heart is engraved with W.
The side of the triangle to the left of the heart bears an F.
while the bottom side of the triangle bears an H.
The flaming heart may be used to symbolize zeal
and devotion, but it may also symbolize religious or spiritual
commitment and inspiration. The letters I.H.S. may be
translated Iesus Hominum Salvator or In Hoc Signo,
or, as used by some denominations, In His Sign. It is not necessary
to make a Christian interpretation of the letters, however,
because they may also be taken to stand for Imperium, Harmonia,
Sapientia, giving the same meaning as the three letters
on the sides of the triangle, Power, Harmony, and Wisdom.
The jewel hangs around the neck on a ribbon of
watered purple silk.
The apron is scarlet, with a wide border of white.
In the center of the apron is a green equilateral triangle.
Within the green triangle is the jewel, embroidered in gold.
The effect then, as seen in the painting by Bro. Robert H. White,
32°, on the facing page, is to create a triple triangle-one
green, one scarlet, and one gold. The flap of the apron is sky
blue.
The cordon is a broad tricolored ribbon of green,
white, and red. It is worn from right to left. The colors of
the cordon give a key to the symbolism of the Degree. Green
is symbolic of the infinite wisdom of the Deity. Red is symbolic
of His unlimited power or force. White symbolizes divine harmony,
since it is produced by the presence of all colors in perfect
proportion.
The 26° takes us into the early Christian
mysteries just as the preceding Degrees have taken us into the
mysteries of other faiths. We are told that in the earliest
days, Christianity was taught by a series of initiations, echoes
of which still survive today in the Baptism of the Catechumens
and the Mass of the Faithful.
During the Degree, we are told of the basic beliefs
of many of the world's ancient religions and shown that the
idea of Trinity was central to most of them. Almost all religions
have conceived of the Deity as having the attributes of Wisdom,
Strength, and Beauty or of Harmony or Balance (the last three
being largely synonymous). Another way to say it is that God
must possess the Intellect to conceive a universe, the Power
to create it, and the sense of Harmony or Equilibrium to bring
that Intellect and Power together in such a way as to create.
While we may think of that idea as belonging to the Judeo-Christian
tradition, it is, in fact, difficult to find an ancient religion
which did not hold much the same view.
The lessons of the 26° are forgiveness and
toleration. Obviously, those ideas are closely linked. People
primarily offend against others through intolerance. Most of
the trespasses against you, which you are called upon to forgive,
are the result of intolerance of one form or another. Surely,
then, you have an obligation not to offend against others in
the same way.
The Degree also explores the symbolism of the
first three Degrees of the Blue Lodge and shows why Ignorance,
Tyranny, and Intolerance are the ruffians against which Solomon
must always send his forces. They destroy nations and cultures
as surely as they destroy individuals.
But a Prince of Mercy is armed for that battle. With Mercy,
Toleration, and a firm grasp of his own religious faith, he
is prepared to see more similarities than differences in the
faiths of his peers. With his understanding that the traditions
of all faiths have something of value to teach, if he will only
learn, he becomes, at last, the ultimate peacemaker.
 |
Jim Tresner
is Director of the Masonic Leadership Institute and Editor
of The Oklahoma Mason. A frequent contributor to
the Scottish Rite Journal and its book review editor,
Illustrious Brother Tresner is also a volunteer writer for
The Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason and a video script
consultant for the National Masonic Renewal Committee. He
is the Director of the Thirty-third Degree Conferral Team
and Director of Work at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple
in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as well as a Life Member of the Scottish
Rite Research Society, author of the popular anecdotal biography
Albert Pike, The Man Beyond the Monument, and a member
of the steering committee of the Masonic Information Center.
Ill. Tresner was awarded the Grand Cross, the Scottish Rite's
highest honor, during the Supreme Council's October 1997
Biennial Session. |
Scottish Rite Regalia Photos
And Prints
Illustrations of the Scottish Rite regalia paintings
by Brother Robert H. White, 32°, (Twenty-sixth Degree, Prince
of Mercy or Scottish Trinitarian, painting pictured inside front
cover of this issue) are available in two formats:
(1) individual 8" x 12" or 11"
x 14" color photographs and
(2) grouped photos in a color 22" x 33" poster.
To order individual photos, please contact Ill.
Bro. Bruce A. Dehlin, 33°, K.D. Enterprises, 10114 Farmington
Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030-2049. Credit cards accepted. Tel. (703)
591-5318; Fax: (703) 591-6026; e-mail: dehlinb@netzero.com
To order color posters picturing all the regalia
paintings, Fourth through Thirty-third Degrees, including the
K.C.C.H. and Grand Cross, use VISA or MasterCard or send a check
(domestic only) for $20.00 payable to The Supreme Council, 33°,
S.J., USA to: Grand Executive Director's Office, 1733 16th Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20009-3103, or visit the online store: www.srmason-sj.org.
