The Fourth Degree emphasizes duty, fidelity, integrity, and the necessity for secrecy in all confidential relationships.

This Degree teaches that there are desert stretches in every individual life and in the history of every nation, which results in a breakdown of discipline and loss of faith.  This Degree is a clarion call to faith: faith in ourselves, faith in each other and faith in God.

This Degree teaches us to righteously judge, and that one law and one custom shall apply to all.  Let justice be impartial, tempered with mercy.

This Degree teaches that each new honor is meant to be a step toward perfection in our moral code. Each honor earned demands attention to a particular duty.

This Degree teaches that a mutual belief in a Supreme Power should bind all men together in a world-wide brotherhood.

This Degree teaches that a violator of his obligations and commitments will not go unpunished and further, that excuses, rationalizations, and other evidences of lack of repentance, will very likely increase the severity of the penalties.

This Degree dwells on good citizenship.  Evil doings should be punished.  Honesty and respect for others should be rewarded.  Be earnest; honest and sincere.

This Degree teaches the quality of mercy; that it is a spirit of compassion and a tenderness of heart which disposes us to overlook injuries and to treat an offender better than he deserves.

This Degree teaches that difficulties and dangers, however great, should not deter the true and faithful brother from progressing onward to perfection.  It teaches the great truth that the finest things in life come only as the result of constant and often painful effort.

In the Scottish Rite, this Degree is the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry.  As the crowning Degree of the Lodge of Perfection, its essence is the holiness of God and reverence for His Holy Name.  God will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

~ Officers - Lodge of Perfection ~