....The First Frame

The novice comes to the scene of Masonry as a layman, able to see the beauty and order of its manifestations.

The Master Mason reveals to him the significance of some of its symbols in that the novice will advance to the temple of knowledge and fulfillment by three steps of accomplishment centered about and embracing the three pillars of wisdom, strength and beauty; the journey beginning in the presence of, and under the guidance of, the infallible Holy Book on the altar of personal sacrifice of selfishness.

He learns that his way has been smoothed and beautified by his distinguished predecessors and that the course is well defined and limited against straying from the proven path of personal progress to an uplifted and embellished position as a man of the world.

His commitment to Masonry is of his free choice as a mature man, and as a Mason he must remember the priceless heritage of civil freedom of the individual and the corresponding personal responsibility to act positively in all things and at all times to prove and maintain his worthiness to freedom of the individual.

....The Second Frame

The perfection degrees are the temple degrees, basing the instruction to be given on incidents chosen from the construction of King Solomon's Temple; hence a basic portrait of that construction in progress. The candidate has advanced to Master Mason as symbolized by portraying him with a square, the tool of the Master in checking and passing the work of the apprentices and fellowcrafts, in his hand

He stands before the tracing board on which the plans and designs for the Temple are envisioned, considered, settled and formulated, reminding him that the course of life entails those elements as essential to create an acceptable and progressive personal position and standing in the community and in his chosen field of endeavour.

The Master Architect holds plans in his hands which he is about to entrust to the Mason of Perfection for due execution and completion.

We are symbolically reminded that in the accomplishment of anything worthwhile there must be a centre of planning of that which is the objective of accomplishment; there must be experience and knowledge to formulate sound plans. The final conclusions must be advanced from mental conception to a detailed exposition or plan that will enable all who may be introduced to the accomplishment of that which has been undertaken to completely understand all, and so enable them to guide their actions to attain an effective fulfillment of the objective.

....The Third Frame

The Rose Croix degrees are depicted by symbolic suggestions of a central theme portraying the Scottish Rite doctrine of the adulation of the Risen Christ as distinguished from the theme of some Christian congregations in the worship of the Crucified Christ.

The Scottish Rite epitomizes the empty Cross with its universal significance as symbolic of eternal life and the promise of man's divine heritage to turn defeat and humiliation into victory and triumphant ascendancy.

The basic guideposts of Faith, Hope and Charity are introduced; and as a reminder of the seven prime factors that can debase and degrade humanity to a great darkness and the seven factors that can elevate and create an environment of light, knowledge and progress, the seven branched candlesticks are mute testimony. The scene reminds us that only in deep, impregnable convictions of the mind and soul can an undeviating path of progress in the person be accomplished in spite of what may seem to be impossible obstacles, and only in deep meditation and prayer can that transcendent attitude of mind and soul be accomplished.

....The Fourth Frame

The Consistory degrees being designated as the Chivalric degrees, the depiction assumes at large that subject matter, and will direct memory towards that central theme while at the same time in symbolic portrayal reminding that even in these ultimate degrees the candidate has not progressed beyond constructive instruction; he finds himself among the leaders of human endeavour and learns the elements of the personal attributes of those who rise to accept leadership and the responsibilities that are inherent in that eminence.

The cryptic symbols of DeMolay significance remind him that there have always been those who, in the name of worthy objectives, have carried out acts of violence and savage cruelty, and that moral leadership must recognize this danger and suppress it. Here are seen symbolic portrayals of those cardinal factors that will demean and defeat mankind unless there is active enlightened, unselfish leadership to, without respite, combat and ultimately eliminate their existence in the accomplishment of the ultimate of an acceptable plane of existence for all mankind, freed from the machinations of the unworthy ambitious and heedless opportunist.

Thus alone a man may by instruction and contemplation assume and discharge creditably, leadership and authority among his fellowmen.