Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Victoria
About us
Sometimes called the cryptic degrees the order of Royal and Select Masters is the vital link between the degree of a Master Mason and the ceremony of exaltation to the supreme degree of a Royal Arch Mason.
Nearly two hundred years ago the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master appeared.
Travelling 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. Biblical students and archaeologists know of the vaults or crypts beneath King Solomon’s Temple.
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.”
The degrees in this group are frequently referred to as ‘Cryptic Degrees’ but this description is not strictly correct, as only two actually refer to a crypt.
It is somewhat surprising to note that to many, these ceremonies constitute nothing more than interesting side degrees or a random collection of unrelated incidents in the story of King Solomon’s Temple, but to the serious and understanding Masonic student, they prove to be the essential link between the degrees of Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason.
Our Order
Qualifications for Membership
Master Masons who have been advanced to the degree of Mark Master Mason and also have been exalted to the supreme degree of the Holy Royal Arch are eligible for membership into the order.
Regalia of the order
Regalia of the order consists of a breast Jewel worn by each companion in the left pocket. Dispensation has been granted to Melbourne Council No. 2 to wear the traditional apron of the order and an example can be seen below.
Jewel of the order
Past Thrice Illustrious master Jewel
Apron of the order (Melbourne Council No.2 Only)
Select Master
The Degree of Select Master takes for its scenario the point where we are in to the fifth year of the building of the Temple (i.e. 969 BCE), and the Secret Vault is being constructed to house the sacred treasures and other important artifacts of the Jewish people, in order to keep them safe from attack by enemy forces.
Specially selected craftsmen carry out the construction of the vault and its approach tunnel, and only the three Grand Masters and those actually engaged in the work know of the existence of the vault.
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Royal Master
The second Council Degree, is conferred in two parts. In the first part, Hiram Abif talks to Adoniram about death.
In the second, a day after the death of Hiram Abif, King Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyre, cannot communicate the Master’s Word without him – not in the manner agreed. The dramas illuminate both the Master Mason and Holy Royal Arch Degrees.
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Most Excellent Master
The Degree of Most Excellent Master takes for its scenario the point where the Temple is being dedicated to the glory of God, and King Solomon determines to reward some his most skilful craftsmen with the rank of Most Excellent Master.
Super Excellent Master
This Degree was not originally part of the Cryptic Order, and is still not presented in all jurisdictions, yet it is one of Masonry’s best written rituals.
It deals with incidents during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar when Zedekiah, the last King of Judah, was conquered and carried captive to Babylon.
It dramatizes the lesson of fidelity.