I thought I would post my second paper for the Master Craftsman I course for the Scottish Rite, just to give an idea of the types of things you learn in this course. If you are a mason and you have not yet signed up for this I highly recommend it. It really gives you a lot of knowledge that you normally would not get in one course. So, anyway, its a pretty short essay, but here it is:
The most interesting thing I learned while studying for this quiz was the application of the Kabala to Scottish Rite Masonry. The tree of life, which can be thought of as ten emanations from God supported by three pillars, can also be thought of as a visual manifestation of the characteristics of God. In A Bridge to Light by Rex R. Hutchens, he mentions that Albert Pike applies the three pillars of freemasonry, which are wisdom, strength, and beauty, as being the pillars supporting the tree of life. Strength is the pillar on the left and corresponds to the pillar of severity. Wisdom is the pillar on the right and corresponds to the pillar of mercy. The middle pillar is beauty, and results when equilibrium is achieved between the left and right pillars. Man is in the emanation of the malkuth at the bottom of the pillar of beauty, receiving the nine emanations from God. Albert Pike equates the other nine sephiroth as the nine Masonic virtues, divided into two inverted triangles, with the top triangle being right-side-up. The bottom triangle is Independence, which results when truthfulness and endurance are in equilibrium. The middle triangle is equity, which results when justice and mercy are in equilibrium. The top triangle is attainment, which results when silence and devotion are in equilibrium. Silence, justice, and truthfulness correspond to the sephiroth on the strength, or severity pillar. Devotion, mercy, and endurance correspond to the sephiroth on the wisdom, or mercy pillar. Independence, equity, and attainment are on the middle pillar, or pillar of beauty, which results when equilibrium occurs. Beyond the top sephiroth is the Ainsoph, or inexpressible source of all things, the Deity from who all things emanate.
This is interesting because it expresses the teachings of Scottish Rite Masonry in a systematic way, showing how man can be perfected and develop the divine characteristics within himself. It also sets the foundation on which all of the Scottish Rite degrees are based. These degrees teach duties that develop these traits in the candidate.
