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17°
through 18°
Chapter of the Rose
Croix
The Chapter of Rose Croix
attempts to provide the candidate with a deeper understanding of religion,
philosophy, ethics and history though a variety of complex "historical
degrees". The intellectual challenges presented in these degrees are
numerous, and at times overwhelming and can take years to master. A
thorough reading of the chapters related to them in Morals and Dogma
and in Legenda and Readings is essential to achieve even a basic
comprehension of their true meaning.
| 17°
Knight of
the East and West
Lessons
The lessons of the 17°
are to work, reflect and pray; to hope, trust
and believe; to teach the truths that are hidden in allegory and concealed by
the symbols of Freemasonry.
Description
The lessons of this degree are that
loyalty to God is man's primary allegiance, and the temporal governments
not founded upon God and His righteousness will inevitably fall. The
apron is of yellow satin, with crimson and gold, and with a sword and
Tetractys (of the Tetragrammaton) on it. The jewel is a heptagon of
silver and gold, with crossed swords on a balance on the obverse, and a
lamb on the Book of Seven Seals on the reverse. The jewel is hung from a
double order -- one black (left-to-right) and one white (right-to-left),
representing good versus evil. A gold coronet is also presented.
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| 18°
Knight of
the Rose Croix
Lessons
The lessons of the 18°
are to practice virtue; to labor to eliminate
vice; to purify humanity; to be tolerant of the faith and creed of others.
Description
This degree teaches that life and
it's strengths come from God. The rose signifies the dawn and the cross
is a sacred symbol of antiquity in many cultures. To be tolerant of
others errors and faults. The apron is of white leather or satin,
bordered in red, with a skull and cross-bones, a red passion cross, and
three red rosettes. The grand jewel is a gold compass open on a quarter
circle. A rose-cross is between the legs of the compass, and under it is
a pelican, tearing its breast to feed it's seven young, on the obverse,
and an eagle with wings extended, on the reverse. On the circle are the
letters I.N.R.I.
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