Begin Chapter 29 of Morals and Dogma

Greetings and welcome back as we begin chapter 29 of Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike.

 

  This time we will read about the virtues of knighthood and we will examine the importance in history of the cross of St. Andrew.

 

  There is a bit od personal history regarding St. Andrew for me where the main catholic church in my neighborhood in Detroit where I grew up was St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. Though I was not raised catholic, the majority of my neighborhood was catholic and attended that church every Sunday, and many of my friends attended St. Andrew’s Catholic School.

 

 St. Andrew’s Church in my old neighborhood held all sorts of festivals and events where the entire neighborhood would attend and were welcomed no matter what religious persuasion you were. I enjoyed many Halloween events there as a kid in their gymnasium as well as so many fall and summer festivals throughout the year.

 

  Because of my lack of understanding, I never knew until recent days and what is truly a lifetime later why, on the front of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church there was a bronze figure of a man crucified on an X shaped cross. I always thought it was strange to depict Jesus in that manner, as we always saw Christ on a T shaped cross.

 

  Then I learned that St. Andrew, an avid follower and proclaimer of Christianity during his martyrdom of crucifixion begged to be crucified on the X shape because he claimed he was not worthy of the same type of crucifixion of his Lord on the T shaped cross. 

 

  St. Andrew was paying homage the Christ even in his death. 

 

   And now, LET’S READ PIKE!

 

 

      

XXIX.

GRAND SCOTTISH KNIGHT OF ST. ANDREW.

A MIRACULOUS tradition, something like that connected with the labarum of Constantine, hallows the Ancient Cross of St. Andrew. Hungus, who in the ninth century reigned over the Picts in Scotland, is said to have seen in a vision, on the night before a battle, the Apostle Saint Andrew, who promised him the victory; and for an assured token thereof, he told him that there should appear over the Pictish host, in the air, such a fashioned cross as he had suffered upon. Hungus, awakened, looking up at the sky, saw the promised cross, as did all of both armies; and Hungus and the Picts, after rendering thanks to the Apostle for their victory, and making their offerings with humble devotion, vowed that from thenceforth, as well they as their posterity, in time of war, would wear a cross of St. Andrew for their badge and cognizance.

John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, says that this cross appeared to Achaius, King of the Scots, and Hungus, King of the Picts, the night before the battle was fought betwixt them and Athelstane, King of England, as they were on their knees at prayer.

Every cross of Knighthood is a symbol of the nine qualities of a Knight of St. Andrew of Scotland; for every order of chivalry required of its votaries the same virtues and the same excellencies.

Humility, Patience, and Self-denial are the three essential qualities of a Knight of St. Andrew of Scotland. The Cross, sanctified by the blood of the holy ones who have died upon it; the

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[paragraph continues]Cross, which Jesus of Nazareth bore, fainting, along the streets of Jerusalem and up to Calvary, upon which He cried, "Not My will, O Father! but Thine be done," is an unmistakable and eloquent symbol of these three virtues. He suffered upon it, because He consorted with and taught the poor and lowly, and found His disciples among the fishermen of Galilee and the despised publicans. His life was one of Humility, Patience, and Self-denial.

 

  It is often difficult to find these virtues in our modern era of selflessness, patience, humility and self denial. 

  We are too often guilty of seeing others as obstacles rather than as fellow human beings. In our daily routines we are inundated with too many tasks and not enough time, so that person ahead of us in line should be damned! No matter that person is elderly and needs extra time to see, hear or otherwise function, we have zero empathy for that. We are too often concerned about our own needs without a thought of the needs of others. 

This is not the virtues of a knight or of a Mason. This degree will remind us to be more of a servant to our fellow man than of the ego that inhabits each of us.

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The Hospitallers and Templars took upon themselves vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. The Lamb, which became the device of the Seal of the Order of the Poor Fellow Soldiery of the Temple of Solomon, conveyed the same lessons of humility and self-denial as the original device of two Knights riding a single horse. The Grand Commander warned every candidate not to be induced to enter the Order by a vain hope of enjoying earthly pomp and splendor. He told him that he would have to endure many things, sorely against his inclinations; and that he would be compelled to give up his own will, and submit entirely to that of his superiors.

The religious Houses of the Hospitallers, despoiled by Henry the Eighth's worthy daughter, Elizabeth, because they would not take the oath to maintain her supremacy, had been Alms-houses, and Dispensaries, and Foundling-asyla, relieving the State of many orphan and outcast children, and ministering to their necessities, God's ravens in the wilderness, bread and flesh in the morning, bread and flesh in the evening. They had been Inns to the wayfaring man, who heard from afar the sound of the Vesper-bell, inviting him to repose and devotion at once, and who might sing his matins with the Morning Star, and go on his way rejoicing. And the Knights were no less distinguished by bravery in battle, than by tenderness and zeal in their ministrations to the sick and dying.

The Knights of St. Andrew vowed to defend all orphans, maidens, and widows of good family, and wherever they heard of murderers, robbers, or masterful thieves who oppressed the people, to bring them to the laws, to the best of their power.

 

  In these paragraphs we learn that the Temple Knights were deternined to live a selfless existence taking vows of poverty and dedicating their life to the beneficience of others before themselves. 

 In contrast, how often do we find ourselves chasing titles for our own vainglory without any consideration of what the title we sought and obtains even means? 

  We tend to forget that to be a leader is to serve the needs of our subordinates, to seek out a just and level playing field for all, and to be humble when we are criticized in order to take the criticisms to better ourselves. 

Too often, we slave to our egos need to fill our heads full of power, and that power leads to sometimes a psychopathic determination to force our will on others whether our will is sensible or just. 

This is too often true whether we are in church leadership, lodge leadership, or career leadership.

We must be ever aware of the ego’s plight to control others in order to feed ego. We must always do what is just, especially if that means we are uncomfortable while administering justice, no matter where that injustice occurs.

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Thus CHARITY and GENEROSITY are even more essential qualities of a true and gentle Knight, and have been so in all ages; and so also hath CLEMENCY. It is a mark of a noble nature to spare the conquered. Valor is then best tempered, when it can turn out a stern fortitude into the mild strains of pity, which never shines more brightly than when she is clad in steel. A martial man, compassionate, shall conquer both in peace and war; and by a twofold way, get victory with honor. The most famed men in the world have had in them both courage and compassion. An enemy reconciled hath a greater value than the long train of captives of a Roman triumph.

VIRTUE, TRUTH, and HONOR are the three MOST essential qualities of a Knight of St. Andrew. "Ye shall love God above all things, and be steadfast in the Faith," it was said to the Knights, in their charge, "and ye shall be true unto your Sovereign Lord, and true to your word and promise. Also, ye shall sit in no place where that any judgment should be given wrongfully against any body, to your knowledge."

We should also seek out VIRTUE, TRUTH and HONOR in our own lives, and as Masons, we should be the shining light of these virtues.

Daily, we should renew our efforts to that end, and be a great example of the virtues that keep our societies civilized.

 

 And, this is where we will end for today. Thank you for joining me again, and for being patient while I have been working out new directions that Universal Freemason Research Society will be taking in the next few months and as we go beyond weekly studies such as this. 

 It is exciting what is on the horizon, I am hopeful you will continue this journey with me.

See you next time!