'Power' 'Wisdom'

Flanking the entrance are two Sphinx like granite lions with women’s heads, the neck of one entwined by a cobra and decorated with the “ankh” (the Egyptian symbol of life and deity) Adorning the neck and breast of the other is the image of a woman, symbolic of fertility and procreation. In the pavement, just in front of the tall bronze doors, are two Egyptian swords with curved, serpentine blades and, between the two swords, brass letters set into the stone saying “The Temple of the Supreme Council of the Thirty third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite” Over the tall, bronze doors, cut into the stone, is the statement, “Freemasonry builds its Temples in the hearts of men and among nations”

High above the entrance, partially concealed by stone columns, is an elaborate image of the Egyptian Sun God, backed with radiating sun and flanked by six large golden snakes.

Inside is elegance: polished marble floors, exotic wood, gold and statuary. There are offices, a library, dining room, kitchen, Council Room, “Temple Room” and a large meeting room. This room is like a luxurious theatre, rather elegantly furnished and decorated. The ceiling is dark blue, with lights set into it to give the appearance of stars. These lights can even be made to twinkle like stars in the sky. There is a stage, well equipped, and it is all nicely done. But the thing that is most noticeable is the way the walls are decorated with serpents. There are all kinds; some very long and large. Many of the Scottish Rite degrees include the representation of serpents, and I recognised them among those decorating the walls.

It was all most impressive and gave me a strange mixture of the sensations of being in a Temple and a tomb - something sacred but threatening.

I saw busts of outstanding men of the Rite, including two of Albert Pike, who is buried there in the wall.

The second day was the day of the actual initiation, held in the theatre-like meeting room. Those of us who were receiving the degree were seated and the ceremony was “exemplified” (acted out in full costume) before us, in the same way that we had performed the lesser degrees of the Scottish Rite all those years. The parts in the exemplification were played by men of the 33rd Degree.

The representative candidate was dressed in black trousers, barefooted, bareheaded and draped in a long, black robe that reminded me of very long, black raincoat. He had a black cabletow around his neck but was not hoodwinked. During the initiation he was led around the stage, conducted by two men with swords, as the degree was performed for us.

Instructions and signs were given. Upon the altar were four “holy books” (the Bible, the Koran, the Book of the Law and the Hindu Scriptures). At one point the “candidate” was told to kiss the book “of your religion” and, representing us all, he leaned forward and did so.

I remembered the First Degree initiation, when I was told to kiss the Bible, and at that moment something came full cycle. It was the final such kiss to be a part of my life.

When it was time for the final obligation we all stood and repeated the oath with the representative candidate, administered by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General. We then swore true allegiance to the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree, above all other allegiances, and swore never to recognise any other brother as being a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry unless he also recognises the supreme authority of “this Supreme Council.” One of the Conductors then handed the “candidate” a human skull, upside down, with wine in it.

With all of us candidates repeating after him, he sealed the oath, “May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me, as the Hemlock juice drunk by Socrates, should I ever knowingly or wilfully violate the same” (the oath).

He then drank the wine. A skeleton (one of the brothers dressed like one - he looked very convincing) then stepped out of the shadows and threw his arms around the “candidate.” Then he (and we ) continued the sealing of the obligation by saying, “And may these cold arms forever encircle me should I ever knowingly or wilfully violate the same.”

The Sovereign Grand Commander closed the meeting of the Supreme Council “with the Mystic Number,” striking with his sword five, three, one and then two times. After the closing prayer, we all said “amen, amen, amen,” and it was over.

There were some extremely prominent men there that day, including a Scandinavian King, two former presidents of the United States, an internationally prominent evangelist, two other internationally prominent clergymen, and a very high official of the federal government, the one who actually presented me with the certificate of the 33rd Degree. Some made only brief appearances; others stayed much longer.

However, they didn’t do much mixing or socialising with us, except for those whom they already knew. Even though these celebrities weren’t extremely “brotherly,” it was still quite an experience for me just to be associated with them. It was easily the largest gathering of such prominent and influential men of which I have ever been a part.

The third day there was a banquet to celebrate our becoming “Grand Inspectors General, 33rd Degree.” The banquet was a little anticlimactic, at least for me, and I was anxious to get it over with so I could return home. It was good to be a 33rd at last. But it wasn’t as exciting or fulfilling as I had thought it would be during all those years in the Craft. I guess this was because of the profound changes going on down deep within me.

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