6°INTIMATE SECRETARY
Prologue

The drapes in the East in this degree are black strewn with tears.
On the altar besides the V.S.L. are two swords representing Faith and Hope. There is also a skull the meaning of which will become self evident. The hourglass symbolises the start and end of epochs.

The VSL will be opened at 1 Kings 9, 11-13, which reads “Now Hiram the King of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees and with gold according to all his desire, that then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. And when Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities, which Solomon had given him, and they pleased him not. And he said what cities are these, which thou hast given me my Brother? And he called them the land of Kabul unto this day”. Kabul is a Hebrew word meaning “of no worth”.

The Thrice Illustrious Master represents Solomon, the Thrice Illustrious Warden, Hiram King of Tyre. The candidate represents Zabud who was the son of Nathan and according to 1 Kings 4, a friend of King Solomon, although in this degree he is portrayed more as a servant.

This degree marks the opening of another phase in the Hiramic legend. It indicates the confusion and misunderstanding consequent on the death of Hiram Abif, and then proceeds to the action taken to allot one of his duties to another Brother. You will note that the two Kings enter formally, the sword being carried before them as a symbol of power.

The ceremony emphasises the necessity of keeping strict guard over our thoughts, words and deeds - a lesson taught to us very early in our Masonic career and stressed whenever we make progress. It is here presented in a new light with an even greater force.

The short absence of Hiram of Tyre following the opening is intended to represent a fairly long interval, the purpose of which will become apparent as the ceremony develops.
There is still no third Principal officer, but the deficiency will be corrected. At the very outset the folly and danger of jumping to conclusions is brought home very forcibly to both the Warden and the candidate.

The degree is quite unusual and quite out of character from what one would expect in a Freemason’s Lodge, but the animosity subsides, dignity is recovered and it ends on a quiet and very significant note.

It has a far deeper significance than the mere reconstitution of the Lodge and resumption of progress. Lodges are ruled by three representing the three temporal virtues. Without the complete trio of these essential virtues man cannot hope to live fully and effectively and consistently with the ideals of Freemasonry.

Particularly note in the obligation, the duty of following a good example is again stressed and the assumption of the role of peacemaker furnishes another example of good issuing out of evil. The scout’s law of a “daily good deed” is held out as being a Masonic duty also.

I also draw your attention particularly to the unusual and beautiful ceremony of closing the degree which reminds us to be ever mindful of the injunction of St Paul in his letter to the Church at Ephesus “Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath”.

Epilogue

In this degree differences are healed by generosity and misunderstanding, accusations and animosity are ended, the work will thereafter proceed on a constructive and optimistic basis.

We have seen King Solomon with Wisdom to build the Temple and King Hiram of Tyre hopeful of retaining the goodwill of Solomon lending his strength to the enterprise by means of men and materials.

But the third Grand Master, a common man, but one of knowledge and understanding and no doubt also of compassion is no more. His artistry and craftsmanship were the means of ornamenting the Temple, and so he typifies to us the virtue of Beauty. With his absence, dissension followed and progress ceased. Just as the work of development of man’s character cannot advance without the essential third virtue of understanding combined with compassion - that is Charity in its widest and deepest sense.

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