7th Degree: Provost and Judge

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

This podcast episode explores the 7th Degree of the Scottish Rite, "Provost and Judge," focusing on themes of judgment, fairness, and self-reflection. The narrative of the degree is set in the time of King Solomon and revolves around the characters Uriah, Naboth, and Zabud. It highlights the challenges of fair judgment in a diverse community, and discusses the importance of impartiality  and the dangers of bias and corruption. It connects these Masonic teachings to broader philosophical and spiritual concepts, stressing the eternal consequences of actions, and the importance of mindfulness. 

David & Gene discuss the significance of the primary symbols of the degree: the Gold Key, the Ebony Box, and the All-Seeing Eye in the context of moral judgment and self-awareness, and they conclude by stressing the importance of introspection and personal growth in the journey of a Mason.

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:

• The Most Illustrious Delivers a key symbolic of the Masonic mysteries (Engraving by Pierre Mejanel, ca. 1887)

Overview

• Introduction (01:14)
• Mythological Setting (01:49)
• Morals and Dogma (05:39)
• Wrong and Injustice (08:30)
• Repentance and Restitution (11:12)
• Cause and Effect (11:59)
• Judge Righteous Judgment (13:35)
• Judge Only When Duty Mandates (17:17)
• Charity and Loving Kindness (18:51)
• Divine Judgment (20:19)
• Can You Escape Justice?  (21:25)
• The All-Seeing Eye  (22:05)
• What's in the Box?  (23:22)
• The Gold Key (24:51)
• Final Thoughts  (26:07)

Links:

• The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 1 (Amazon)
• The Creed of Christendom by William Rathbone Greg (Amazon)
• Discourses on Various Subjects by Orville Dewey (Amazon)
• Discourses on the Nature of Religion; And on Commerce and Business by Orville Dewey (Amazon)
• The Story of Elijah and Rabbi Joshua ben Levi (Wikipedia)
• Collective Unconscious (Wikipedia)
• Astral Light (Wikipedia - Levi’s Theory of Magic)