The degrees of the Council of Royal and Select Masters are necessary to fully complete your education in Ancient Craft Masonry. The degrees of our Masonic system are not chronologically arranged and in the degrees of Royal and Select Master, which many believe are the most beautiful and impressive of all, you learn of additional incidents in the building of the first temple.
During these degrees you represent the Master Builder, Hiram Abiff, and learn why the word was lost and the secret of its preservation and recovery. The Super Excellent Master degree, though having no connection with Ancient Craft Masonry, is a vivid dramatization of truth and fidelity and never fails to impress those who witness it, either for the first time or after many times.
Council completes a story, a Masonic allegory. Freemasonry is very philosophical and teaches its ideals by allegory or story. This philosophy is moralistic and religious however Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for one.
Ancient Craft Masonry centers around the story of the preservation, loss and recovery of the Word. The Word presents man's search for life's purpose and the nature of God. Symbolic Freemasonry, as in the Lodge, teaches of the loss of the Word and hope for its recovery. Royal Arch Masonry, as in the Chapter, teaches of its recovery. Cryptic Masonry, as in the Council, completes this story by teaching of the Word's initial preservation.
As in many of the Masonic degrees, the origins of the degrees of Cryptic Masonry are shrouded in mystery. Yet, they have attained a substantial growth and one out of every two Royal Arch Masons is a Cryptic Mason.
Nearly two hundred years ago the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master appeared. Traveling Masonic lecturers throughout the East were conferring them upon Masons, while engaging in instructing in Craft (Lodge) and Capitular (Chapter) degrees. Even one Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite included the degree of Select Master as one of its "detached" degrees. But, these beautiful degrees were not to remain detached for any length of time. The state of Connecticut bore the first Grand Council in 1819. In Virginia and West Virginia the degrees developed in the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons where they still remain. In the 1870's a General Grand Council was formed for the United States of America.
Biblical students and archaeologists know of the vaults or crypts beneath King Solomon's Temple. These vaults exist even at this late date. Masonic degrees were probably not actually conferred in these vaults.
However, such a legend does persist throughout Freemasonry. The legends, conveyed in this system of degrees, form a beautiful allegory or story. The Masonic author, Albert G. Mackey, writing of the vault, says: "The vault was, therefore, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave: for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found. Freemasons have adopted the same idea. They teach that death is but the beginning of Life; that if the first, or evanescent Temple of our transitory life be on the surface, we must descend into the secret vault of death before we can find that sacred deposit of Truth, which is to adorn our second Temple of Eternal Life." This teaching is not unusual in Freemasonry since as was stated previously the requirements for membership include a professed belief in God and one's eternal life.
The Cryptic Rite or degrees derives its name from the setting of the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master in the underground crypt beneath King Solomon's Temple. The word cryptic means hidden, hence its use in describing these degrees. The last of the series of Cryptic degrees is not cryptic because it does not comply with the requirement of a vault scene. It might be regarded as one of the Cryptic Rite's detached degrees for it has no connection either in history or symbolism with those of Royal Master and Select Master, as shall be discuss later.
The degrees of the Council of Royal and Select Masters are necessary to fully complete your education in Ancient Craft Masonry. The degrees of our Masonic system are not chronologically arranged and in the degrees of Royal and Select Master, which many believe are the most beautiful and impressive of all, you learn of additional incidents in the building of the first temple. During these degrees you represent the Master Builder, Hiram Abiff, and learn why the word was lost and the secret of its preservation and recovery.
The degrees of the Council will enable you to more fully understand your third degree of Symbolic Masonry and the degree of Royal Arch. An interesting side degree governed by the council is the 'Royal Ark Mariner' degree. It is conferred only upon Super Excellent Masters and in a Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners whose officers are those of the Council.
This is the first degree of the Cryptic Rite as conferred in the United States of America. Candidates who receive the degree are impressed with its dignified ritual and relevant teachings. It contains one section which is generally regarded as an outstanding display of symbolism and content of philosophy. The ritualistic presentations in the degree explain the articles contained in the Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple, including the Ark of the Covenant, a knowledge of which is essential to those who would fully understand the preceding degrees. It is conferred in a place known as the council chamber, which represents the private apartment of King Solomon’s Temple, where he and his two associates (Royal Assistants) met for consultation and deliberation during the construction of the Temple, and the drama portrayed in it sheds additional light on both the Master Mason and Royal Arch degrees. It and the following degree are essential to a clear understanding of the events of one section of the Royal Arch.
It teaches the great lessons of right living and the building here on earth of that superstructure necessary for the erection of our spiritual temple. The Holy Vessels are the proper symbols for this degree, for they were the work of one of the most skilled artisans of the day. They teach the necessity of having perfect bodies and minds to house man's immortal soul.
Select Master is the second in the series of three dramatic degrees conferred by the Council. the degree ends with the great tradition which runs all through Freemasonry, and constitutes and explanation satisfactory in all details as to certain traditional happenings, a knowledge of which is necessary for a proper understanding of the story of freemasonry.
The degree of Select Master has not always been associated with that of Royal Master. Jeremy Cross, a traveling Masonic lecturer, author, and educator of the early 1800's, is given credit by most writers for having combined the two degrees into one rite. There is strong evidence to support the theory that the degree came from a similar degree of the Scottish Rite called Intimate Secretary of Grand Tiler of King Solomon. Regardless of its origin the legend of this degree is old.
The scene of this degree is laid in the underground vault of King Solomon's Temple. The events which characterize the degree are stirring enough to make it one of intense interest. The historical object of the degree is to commemorate the deposits of an important secret or treasure which, after the preliminary preparations, is said to have been made by our three Grand Masters. The ritualistic presentations contain the story to "complete the Circle of Perfection" in Ancient Craft Masonry.
It teaches a wonderful lesson -- that of overlooking the failings of those who through ignorance or curiosity may often overstep the bounds of propriety. the Arc of the Covenant is the proper symbol of this degree. Its traditions, use, and symbolism are full explained to the recipient of the degree, and those who do receive the degree are truly Select Masters.
Super Excellent Master is referred to by many as the most dramatic, best devised, most beautiful and impressive of all the degrees of Freemasonry. Whether you agree or not, there is no question as to its historical and Masonic value, teaching a great lesson in Fidelity. While the scene of the degree is laid many centuries ago, the lessons portrayed are just as essential in the present age. The degree requires the largest cast of characters of any of the degrees, and ends with a climax never to be forgotten.
As we have stated, the degree of Super Excellent Master is not a degree of the Crypt, but it relates events that lead to the recovery of the lost Word. This degree beautifully tells of a period of history in which all Freemasons are interested, that period following the destruction of the first Temple. It is a vivid dramatization of truth and fidelity and never fails to impress those who witness it, either for the first time or after many times. It has one of the best written rituals in Masonry.
The essence of the degree is foretold in the presentation by the Principal Sojourner in the Royal Arch Degree when he makes reference "Zedekiah was one and twenty year old when he began to reign and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem, and he did that which as evil in the sight of the Lord his God," etc. It is most enlightening and relevant to one's daily life. In a display of exciting events, Biblical characters come to life exemplifying the historical drama of the Holy Bible. It deals with incidents in the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar when Zedekiah, the last King of Judah, was conquered and carried captive to Babylon. It enlarges upon the section of the Royal Arch having to do with the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonian King, and teaches in most dramatic fashion the lesson of fidelity. Here Nebuchadnezzar rules again; Zedekiah proves the results of his wicked life; Ezekiel and Jeremiah prophesy the promises of Almighty God.
It teaches that while men may continue to build the only permanent temple is that spiritual temple which each erects within himself. The degree has its emblems, which are the Square, the Circle, and the Triangle, the symbolism of which is fully explained to the initiate. The degree constitutes the perfect drama, exemplifying one of the most tragic events in the history of the Jewish people.