Our Orders
Royal & Select Masters
The Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters of England and Wales and its Districts and Councils Overseas
About the order
Often called the Cryptic degrees, because several ceremonies take place in a vault beneath the Temple, the order links the stories of the Mark and the Royal Arch.
The Grand Council was constituted on 29 July 1873 by four councils first chartered from New York. There were more than 250 councils by the end of 2024.
The degrees
Degree 1
Select Master
Degree 2
Royal Master
Degree 3
Most Excellent Master
Degree 4
Super-Excellent Master
Meeting at Franklin Rooms
1 council meets at Franklin Rooms.
Golden Jubilee Council No. 239
Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters
Meeting details change — please confirm with the lodge or chapter before visiting. Listings last reviewed 29 September 2026.