Master Elect

by Mark Roth, 33°, Grand Lieutenant Commander, Member, Committee on Ritualistic Matters

The story told in the 10th degree, Master Elect, is the story of King Solomon. Its source is the Bible—I Kings and Ecclesiastes. Masons reading these books will readily recognize this familiar story.

When King David dies, Solomon, his son, ascends to the throne and asks God for a special relationship with Him and the Kingdom of Israel. For his promise of obedience to Him, God grants him the wisdom to rule and judge his people and to know right from wrong. The most famous example of King Solomon’s remarkable wisdom and judgment is the story of the two women who asked Solomon to resolve their terrible dispute over a baby boy. Soon after two baby boys were born, while the mothers slept, one baby dies. The mother of the dead son takes the live baby and places her dead son beside the second woman. Who is the real mother of the surviving infant? This is the question posed to Solomon who resolves the controversy by ordering the live infant to be cut in two and each woman given half. The first woman agrees but the real mother pleads with Solomon not to kill the baby but to give him to the first woman. The wise Solomon orders the baby to be spared and to be given to the second woman knowing that the true mother would want her son to live.

As children, most of us attending religious education classes learned about the wisdom of King Solomon through this dramatic story. Even now, I can see the iconic illustration of the great King Solomon, a baby dangling from one hand and a sword ready to strike in his other hand as he makes his shocking judgment and ends the dispute. His obedience to God has given Solomon amazing wisdom, great wealth, and the reputation as the “greatest king.” His reputation spreads throughout the world prompting foreign rulers to pay him homage, bask in his greatness, and to ally themselves with him providing peace and security for Israel.

But what is the whole story and meaning of Solomon’s life? Nothing was said in my Sunday School class about his 700 wives and 300 concubines, although this part of Solomon’s story is necessary to understand the story of the “greatest king” and his legacy.

The 10th degree emphasizes that King Solomon’s passion for wealth, power, and women did not go unnoticed by his closest advisors. The King was the subject of ridicule and mockery among his own guards. His alliances and intermarriages with foreign heathen women brought foreign gods and the erection of temples and altars to worship these gods. Solomon ignores his promise to God not to worship foreign gods in order to secure peace for Israel and enhance his own reputation as a great king. Objections and warnings from Solomon’s closest and most trusted friends were not enough to deter the king from breaking his promise to God—to follow Him and obey His commands. Solomon rebukes his advisors when they warn him that he is disobeying God by allowing other gods to be worshipped in Israel. He dismisses their warnings and tells them that there will be chaos if he follows their advice. In his judgement, Israel would be lost.

But this is not the whole story. Solomon admits to himself that the wealth, the acclaim, and the women who flatter him have led him astray, but he cannot give up his overwhelming sense of self-importance and pride.

He is addicted to adoration, praise, and power and does not take responsibility for his own actions. Solomon cannot admit that he has sinned and abandoned his promise to God. He does not recognize that doing the wrong thing for the right reason is disobedience.

The story of Solomon does not end well. God’s judgment is realized. Solomon’s disobedience destroys the Temple and leads to the ruin of the Kingdom—not during Solomon’s lifetime but during that of his sons. All was lost to them.

When the king is old and near death, he admits the wisdom and courage of his friends who warned him of his disobedience to God even when threatened by King Solomon. To honor their loyalty to him and devotion to God, Solomon creates a new order, Master Elect, that celebrates loyalty, valor, courage, and devotion.

I hope that you have the opportunity to witness the 10th degree, Master Elect, and to think about the Core Values it communicates: Reverence for God and Justice. These are values that are valid in the lives of Scottish Rite Masons in today’s world: reverence and obedience to God, courage to speak up, the wisdom to give good counsel, the responsibility to do the just and right thing while holding to our values, and taking responsibility for our own actions. Ask yourself if you know anyone who is like Solomon in this degree? Is there a Solomon in each of us? Would you have the courage to speak against great authority or power? Would you have the wisdom to do the right thing? Like Solomon, the choice is ours.