Sunday, September 11, 2005
ORDER OF MELCHIZADEK - YORK RITE MASONRY
http://www.yorkrite.com/degrees/
Scroll down approximately a third of the way. There is an illustration of the symbol representing the degree. I think that is the ephod, or more specifically the breastplate, in the center of the symbol.
The "Chair Degrees" of York Rite masonry, so called as the candidate must be the installed or a past presiding officer of the respective York Rite body. They may also differ somewhat in name or character from one jurisdiction to another.
Order of High Priesthood -
A chair degree conferred upon installed or past High Priests.
Sometimes referred to as the Anointed Order of High Priesthood.
In antiquity, this degree was known as the Order of Melchizadek.
Robert McCoy's Dictionary of Freemasonry describes the Ephod:
A vestment worn by the Jewish high-priest over the tunic and the robe. It was without sleeves, and open below the arms on each side, consisting of two pieces, one of which covered the front of the body and the other the back, and reaching down to the middle of the thighs. They were joined together on the shoulders by golden buckles set with gems, and two large precious stones set in gold, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six on each stone, according to their order. The material of which the ephod was wrought was extremely costly and magnificent; gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with rich embroidery. A girdle or band, of one piece with the ephod, fastened it round the body. Just above this girdle, in the middle of the ephod, joined to it by golden chains, rings, and strings, rested the square oracular breastplate, originally intended to be worn by the high-priest exclusively. Ephods of an inferior material were in use among the ordinary priests. Even David, when bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, was "girt with a linen ephod." The Jews had a peculiar superstitious regard for this garment, and employed it in connection with idolatrous worship, and held that no worship, true or false, could subsist without its presence. (p. 138-139)
Pictures of the Ephod/Breastplate:
Judaism.com
Saratoga Chabad
Kohenim Breastplace
Garments of the High Priest (Scroll way down)
Pope Paul VI
York Rite Masonic Jewel
From the Dictionary of Freemasonry, entry for Melchizedek:
Pontiff-king of Salem, and prototype of Christ. The name and his history are referred to in the Order of the High-Priesthood; also, in the 5th degree of the Asiatic Brothers, and in the Order of the Illuminati. (page 247)
