16th Degree: Prince of Jerusalem

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com.

This episode explores the mythological and historical context of the "Prince of Jerusalem" degree, which begins with  the story of Zerubbabel, a direct descendant of David and Solomon, who is entrusted by God to return the "holy fire" to the new temple in Jerusalem, and the challenges that the Israelites faced in rebuilding the templem from those who did not believe in the "One True God".

David and Gene also discuss the moral and spiritual implications of the story, emphasizing the importance of justice, equity, and labor. They highlight the idea that all Masonry is work and that labor, when rightly understood, is both noble and ennobling, intended to develop man's moral and spiritual nature. They also discuss the concept of seeing the whole world as a Temple of God and the importance of being honest and just in all relationships.

The episode concludes with the idea that there is a secret in the simplest things, and that a world of spiritual objects, influences, and relations lies around us all... though most remain unaware of this spiritual world.

This series on the Scottish Rite uses the following primary sources (which you are encouraged to read as well):

• Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition
• Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide
• A Bridge to Light

Diagrams:

• Hebrew Letters

Chapters:

• 01:14 Introduction
• 01:32 Mythological Setting
• 06:04 Morals and Dogma
• 07:47 Justice and Equity
• 10:13 Labor is Noble and Ennobles the Spiri
• 16:02 There is a Secret in the Simplest Things
• 19:54 Mankind is Endowed with Noble Virtues
• 22:11 The Degree Apron
• 24:40 Cordon of the Degree
• 26:10 Jewel of the Degree
• 27:57 Conclusions

Links:

• Discourses on Human Life (Amazon)
• Second Temple (Wikipedia)
• Kings of Judah (Wikipedia)
• Kingdom of Israel (Wikipedia)
• Kingdom of Judah (Wikipedia)
• Cyrus The Great (Wikipedia)
• Zerubbabel (Wikipedia)
• Darius The Great (Wikipedia)
• Nehemiah (KingJamesBibleOnline)
• Maat (Wikipedia)
• Lady Justice (Wikipedia)
• Work as a Spiritual Practice (Amazon)