What is The Royal and Select Masters and how to Join

I do hope that after exploring this site, and if you are a member of the Craft, Royal Arch Chapter, and Mark Degrees that you will consider joining us. 

I can assure you that it will be well worth while ! 

Gary Peard

District Grand Master

No rite of Freemasonry has come into its own so much as the series of degrees known as the Order of Royal and Select Masters ; its popularity is well deserved for there are no more beautiful or meaningful degrees in all Freemasonry than those conferred in a Council of Royal and Select Masters.

One reason for its popularity is that it completes the story involving a vault or Crypt  (hence the popular term for the Order – The Cryptic Degrees) where certain treasures were hidden beneath King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

Biblical students and archaeologists know of the vaults or Crypts beneath King Solomon's Temple. However Masonic degrees were probably not actually conferred in these vaults, but the legend still persists throughout Masonry, and they do form a beautiful story.

Each Council is led, as in the Chapter, by three Principals, and also the District has three leaders – the District Grand Master, his Deputy, and a Principal Conductor of the Work.

The Missing Link.

We are all aware that the building, destruction, and rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem form the cornerstone of our Masonic ritual and that these legends and, in particular, the search for the Master Word are allegorical representations of the search for Truth, the essence of our Masonic philosophy.

In the Third Degree, we are informed that the Word, or more precisely, the form of its pronunciation, was deemed to have been lost, following the death of Hiram Abif, only to be rediscovered in an underground vault by the Sojourners preparing the ground for the foundation of the Second Temple some 470 years later.

The Order of the Royal and Select Masters, often known as the Cryptic Degrees, is open to those who are both Royal Arch Masons and Mark Master Masons and consists of four highly dramatic Degrees. These outline the initial steps taken during the building of the Temple to preserve copies of the Holy Vessels and Sacred Treasures in a secret vault, the burial of the word by the two surviving Grand Masters after Hiram's death, the completion and dedication of the Temple and finally the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar and his army. It can be seen, therefore, that the Cryptic Degrees form a vital and interesting link between the Craft and Royal Arch, making the Connection much more logical and completing the Legend of King Solomon and his Temple something truly special.

There are four degrees in this Order, Select Master, Royal Master, Most Excellent Master, and Super Excellent Master, and are taken in the following order.

Select Master, when you are introduced into the Order and are "chosen” as a Select Master. The Degree tells of the preparation of the Temple, commenced in the Mark. Degree, and is set in the secret vault beneath the temple; the events which characterise the degree are stirring enough to make it one of intense interest.

Royal Master In this degree a candidate is Honoured With the work on the Temple almost completed, many of the Overseers are anxious to receive the Masters word, and one of the overseers seeks to enquire when they will receive the word. The reply he receives must be one of the most moving and emotional pieces of ritual a Mason will experience in all of his Masonic life.

Most Excellent Master. In this degree you are received and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master, We have now moved on to the completion and dedication of the Temple to the Most High, and also to honour the builders who have now completed their work. To mark the magnificent work carried out by the builders a distinguishing mark of approval is instituted for many of King Solomon’s  most skilful workmen.

Super Excellent-Master For this degree you are again received and acknowledged. This degree deals with the imminent destruction of the Temple; Nebuchadnezzar and his army lays siege to Jerusalem, the Temple is  destroyed, and the word is lost, the King, and his family and principal citizens, are taken into captivity to Babylon, leaving the citizens to defend what is left of the Temple.

The Regalia of the Order consist of a Breast Jewel which is awarded after taking the Select Masters Degree, and the Companion is invested with his apron on completing all four degrees.

If you have any questions, comments or want further information on how to proceed in joining us, use our contact page and we will respond as soon as possible