7°  PROVOST and JUDGE

Prologue

The drapes in the East in this Degree are Red, the first occasion this colour has been used in the Intermediate Degrees, and signifying the start of a new phase in the Hiramic legend.

On the Altar in the centre of the room is a VSL. It is opened at 1 Kings 5,16 which reads “Besides the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought the work”.

Also on the Altar is a sword, the “Sword of Justice” and a pair of scales the “Scales of Equity”. Suspended over the VSL on a triangular structure is a Triangle, the symbol of the Deity, and on it the letter Yod, also representing the Deity.

This degree deals chiefly with the injunction given to the Overseers of a Mark Lodge together with emphasising the necessity for strict and impartial judgement.

The reason for seeking admission is the desire to do good and to live as becomes a Mason. Having expressed this desire, we are warned of the difficulties, dangers and responsibilities of overseers and judges
The pitfalls are made clear. We are warned to consider them carefully. The responsibility of duty laid down for us in the fourth degree is again emphasised.

In assessing the work of both ourselves and others, it is difficult to avoid making excuses for our own shortcomings and no doubt harder still to assess our own merits at their proper values. This of course is not easy. In arriving at an estimate of our own deeds we must be able to assess results with due regard to capabilities and neither fall into the error of condoning or of unjustly condemning. Yet it is essential that we do so, and the importance of this is the real object of this degree.

From these points of view, it would be impossible to lay too great a stress on the teachings of the seventh degree.

Epilogue

I remind you of the interesting pronouncement by the Junior Deacon early in the ceremony, taken from Psalms 75,6 “promotion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South”. These three points are analogous with Wisdom, Strength and Beauty and hence promotion, more specifically advancement, must come from the only remaining direction, the North, the acknowledged source of Knowledge.

You will doubtless have realised by now that the second phase of the Hiramic Legend culminated in the 6°. With the appointment of an Intimate Secretary in that degree, work on the Temple could proceed. The 7° starts to present how that reorganisation was made.

So far then in the Intermediate Degrees from the fourth to the seventh, we have undergone what might reasonably be termed a post graduate course in the following virtues:

Acquisition of Wisdom and Knowledge

Duty and its responsibilities

Discretion in speech

Faithful observance of all promises and undertakings

Avoidance of impetuousness and rash conclusions

To be a peacemaker

To judge impartially

It may fairly be admitted that anyone who has zealously and continuously adhered to these obligations and precepts is well on the way towards qualification for Perfection.

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