13th Degree: Royal Arch of Solomon

Way of the Hermit

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

In this episode, Gene and David, delve into the myth of the Royal Arch of Solomon degree, focusing on the Biblical Patriarch Enoch. In Enoch's dream, God reveals his "True Name" and shows him a vault of nine arched chambers, with the last one containing a triangular plate of gold bearing God's name. Enoch interprets this as a divine sign and constructs a similar vault to protect this treasure for future generations. The vault is later discovered during the construction of Solomon's Temple, leading to the revelation of the "True Name of God" to King Solomon and his conferral of the title of Masons of the Ninth Royal Arch to three individuals.
The episode discusses the ineffable name of God, the symbolism associated with it, and its interpretation across different cultures. It explores the concept of esoteric knowledge, which is defined as - personal, ineffable knowledge that can only be communicated indirectly. The conversation also touches on the symbolism of numbers in Solomon's Temple, particularly the Holy of Holies, and how the "True Name of the Deity," as revealed in Enoch's dream and inscribed on the cube in Solomon's Temple, is the Master Mason's Word.
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:

• "A Brother, Lowered Into a Subterranean Vault" (Engraving)

Overview

• 01:14 Introduction
• 01:49 Mythological Setting
• 06:05 Morals and Dogma
• 06:46 The Ineffable Name of God
• 10:44 Symbolism and the Name of God
• 13:26 Hebrew Monotheism
• 15:17 Masonry Includes the Communication of Esoteric Knowledge
• 17:40 Solomon’s Temple Represented the Universe
• 20:42 The Lodge Represents the Universe
• 22:50 Preserving Liberty
• 24:45 The Religion of Toil, Life and Society
• 26:35 On the Religious Nature of Masonry
• 27:47 On the Law of Retribution
• 29:49 Symbols of the Degree
• 31:05 The Philosopher's Stone
• 32:17 Finding the Stone
• 34:25 Childhood & The Flood
• 35:28 The Perfect Ashlar

Links:

• The Secrets of Enoch in the Masonic Tradition (Arturo De Hoyos)
• Tao (Wikipedia)
• Om (aka Aum - Wikipedia)
• Isaac Ben Solomon Luria (Encyclopedia.com)
• Primary texts of Kabbalah (Wikipedia.com)
• The Eight Gates of the Arizal (Safed.co.il)
• Jewish meditation (Wikipedia)
• Madonna - Isaac (YouTube)