Joppa
Council No. 46
Cryptic Masonry
The Council of Royal and Select Masters,
known as the Cryptic Rite, fills what would be a
significant void in the complete story of the York Rite. The degrees controlled
by the Grand Councils in the United States are: The Royal Master, The Select
Master, and The Super Excellent Master. The first two have been named The
Degrees of Preservation.
While Lodges, Chapters and Commanderies predate the 19th century, Councils
were not formed until the early 1800’s, and in the United States. The degrees,
however, have been conferred in Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters prior to the
organization of Councils.
The Council Degrees
Royal
Master
This is the first of the Council 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 met
for consultation and deliberation during the construction of the Temple. 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.
Select
Master
In the Select Master’s degree, which is the
second of the Council, the place of meeting represents a "Secret
Vault" or crypt beneath the Temple. The historical object of the degree is
to commemorate the deposit of an important secret or treasure which, after the
preliminary preparations, is said to have been made by our three Grand Masters.
Super
Excellent Master
This degree was not originally a part of
the Cryptic system, and is not in all jurisdictions as yet. It has one of the
best written rituals in Masonry. 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.
"The promise is fulfilled"