Music on this page is by Brother J.L.F. Mendelssohn.

THE MYSTICAL THEME

An important mystical theme is hidden beneath the superficial moral theme of the more important allegories, which are in the nature of the "Passion Plays" of the Middle Ages. The first allegory relates to a late stage in the construction of King Solomon's Temple, when several of the workers feared that they would not be given the modes of recognition and therefore would not be able to obtain work after the completion of the temple. When the principal architect was accosted he remained true to his vows and was slain, so that substitute modes of recognition had to be used thereafter.
The superficial story is that death is preferable to dishonour and that we must perform our allotted tasks whilst we can, believing that we will be a rewarded appropriately in a life hereafter. The esoteric message is that mortal death is only a gateway for the resurrection of the spirit, which can be achieved by steadfast faith in the Most High. The theme continues in a dramatic allegory in the cryptic degree of Royal Master, with the promise that the "True Word" will be preserved in a place of safety, esoterically signifying that the "True Word" transcends all mortal delinquency and can always be found through faith.
The second allegory connects the foregoing allegories, also relating to the construction of the first temple. In its various forms it relates to either the great cornerstone or to the keystone required to complete the arch of the secret vault. In the superficial story a diligent and faithful mason prepares a beautiful piece of stonework, essential to complete the structure. Because it can not be found on the plans it is rejected and work comes to a standstill. When the missing stone is recovered and work continues, the skilful craftsman receives his just reward. The esoteric meaning is that the acceptance or rejection of this life's work is not within the province of mortal man, the gates of victory being opened only through the grace of that living Stone which the builders rejected, but which became the chief cornerstone, as foretold in Psalm 118 and confirmed in I Peter 2.
A subsequent allegory relates to the period after the destruction of the first temple, when the captives in Babylon are released by the Decree of Cyrus and are instructed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The ceremony called "passing the veils" concerns three sojourners who journey to Jerusalem and present their credentials to the Sanhedrin, asking to be given work on the new temple. However, the veils allude to the Tabernacle erected by Moses and the Scripture readings refer to the Exodus story, replicating a ceremonial carried out every seven weeks by the Therapeutae Essenes of Qumran in the first centuries BC and AD, exhorting obedience to the Covenant until the second coming of the Lord. The moral is revealed in the allegory of the Royal Arch, when the sojourners are put to work to clear away the rubbish in preparation for the second temple. Through their diligence the "Lost Word" is recovered, teaching that all men are equal in the sight of God and that the lowest work will receive full and just reward if properly carried out. The esoteric lesson is that salvation can be found only through a complete faith in the "True Word", representing the present, future and eternal "I Am".

This paper was written by Brother Don. Falconer of Sydney, Australia and is copyright to him. Please respect this in any dissemination.

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