14° Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Master

Prologue:

In the East are hung red and white drapes alternately, the white representing pillars. The Candidate represents Guibelum.

You will note the Menorah in the North East. It was placed in the Jewish Temples in the Holy Place behind the twelve pieces of Shewbread, to illuminate that symbol which was emblematic of the Twelve Tribes and also of life itself.

The Censer, with its fragrant incense, symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to the Throne of the Almighty.

In the East is a symbol consisting of interlaced triangles, that with the point up symbolising man striving to ascend, and that with the point down representing light descending from Heaven to mankind. The VSL will be opened at Psalms 43, 4“Then I will go unto the altar of my God, unto God my exceeding joy”.

The lights arranged in groups of 3, 5, 7 and 9 corresponding to the knocks to be given from the Chair at both the opening and closing of the Degree. The significance of the numbers will be elaborated on later in the ceremony when the Candidate is invested with the Girdle.

In this Degree, the Mason on the road to Perfection must prove himself qualified in all the preceding Degrees, also in his pursuit of Truth and his sincerity of purpose and of pure intent. He lays aside ignoble passions and unworthy desires, renews his vows of Brotherly Love and is permitted to look upon the letters of the Ineffable Name - that which may not be uttered.

This means that one who faithfully and steadfastly pursues the path of Truth and Righteousness will be permitted, as were the ancient patriarchs, to glimpse, for a brief instant only, the Almighty Himself.

Epilogue to the 14°

Our seeker has been rewarded by the discovery of the Ineffable Name and has again renewed his vows of Love, Honour and Duty. But even now only substituted names can be communicated, the true pronunciation cannot be revealed, he must do more.

He is told that this is the Sacred and Ineffable Name of He who has all the attributes of that Supreme Being whom he desires to know and with Whom he must be at one.

He must learn that the real essential is not to be able to pronounce the Word, but to be the Word.

To attain Perfection means that one is able, if only for the briefest moment, to be at one with the Almighty. Only the Perfect can be merged in Perfection and can return, for an instant only in this world of Time, yet in reality in eternity, to its original source.

The Mason being now a Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Master, is ready for his next stage in the search, which will be one of further trial - a period of bitterness and frustration.
But in persisting in his task of rebuilding the Temple, that is his, character as a man and a Mason, he will overcome those obstacles.
He will go on to even greater heights of attainment, leading him to the unique Seventeenth Degree, and so eventually, to the Degree of Perfection.

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