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This is the first degree of the "Chapter of Rose Croix," which is composed of the 15th through the 18th degrees. The goal of these degrees is to reveal the solution of one of the great enigmas of Nature and the manifested world - the "Secret of the Reconciliation of Opposites".
The mythological setting of this degree is the destruction of the Temple and the Israelites' captivity in Babylon. A "Perfect Elu" named Zerubbabel travels to Babylon to plead with the Persian King Cyrus to free the Israelites and allow them to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel's journey and his interactions with King Cyrus, including his refusal to reveal the secrets of the Order of the "Perfect Elu" and his interpretation of King Cyrus's dream, form the core of the mythological narrative.
The degree teaches us how to "make advantage out of adversity". The sword and the trowel, which are key symbols in this degree, represent the need to protect oneself against external threats and the ability to cut through obstacles. The rebuilding of the Temple symbolizes the restitution of the "Primitive Truth" to man. The teachings of the degree are encapsulated in the quote, "The only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve; which could not happen unless we had commenced with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light".
This series on the Scottish Rite uses the following primary sources (which you are encouraged to read as well):
Diagrams:
Overview
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