Solomon Council #222, Allied Masonic Degrees

The Council controls ten degrees which historically were detached Masonic side-degrees. Whether the ritual of these degrees is actually worked (performed) or not is up to the individual council to decide. Solomon Council #222 worked the Architect degree during 2007, and plans to work more of them in the future.

If you are a member of AMD, you might want to Download a printable .PDF of these Degree Summaries to share with the members of your Council.

As the degrees themselves were previously detached, they do not have a particular order to them, but for the purpose of convenience we have numbered them here in chronological order according to the setting of the legend of each degree:

I. Royal Ark Mariner

The story of this degree contains events before, during and after the Biblical Flood. The apron and emblems of this degree are easily recognizable by the ark and rainbow motif, although the degree itself claims the original apron to have been made of unfinished lambskin.

The historic prerequisite to be made a Royal Ark Mason is to be a Mark Master Mason, however, the degree has no connection symbolically or otherwise to the Mark degree.

Earlier in AMD history, this Degree was conferred in separate Royal Ark Mariner Lodges which were “moored” to a Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees. There are still a few surviving RAM Lodges moored to Councils, but warrants are no longer issued for new RAM Lodges. Other than those remaining Lodges, the Degree, if worked today, is worked directly by the Council upon their own AMD members. In Canada, it is conferred by a Council of Royal & Select Masters (Cryptic Masons), bringing the number of Degrees worked by R&SM in that country to four (the third being Super Excellent Master.) Overseas, RAM Lodges are moored to Lodges of Mark Masters which work under a separate Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons.

II. Secret Monitor

A degree of Brotherly Love, demonstrated through the example of David and Jonathan. This degree is important because it symbolically demonstrates that the Masonic principles which survived the flood with Noah were yet alive among the children of Israel, providing a link between Antediluvian Masonry and the "Solomonic" Masonry which is commonly known to us.

Originally, this degree was conferred by any Mason who received it. In England, there was a Grand Council of the Order of the Secret Monitor formed in 1887. Until 1894, the Grand Council and AMD disputed over right to confer the degree. In 1931, the Grand Council was given control of this degree and it was removed from AMD in Europe, but it remains part of AMD in the USA.

III. Masters of Tyre

This most impressive degree commences in the Court of Hiram King of Tyre, who receives a request from King Solomon for assistance in building the Temple. Hiram of Tyre composes a congratulatory letter in return, and sends the requested assistance along with a skilled craftsman named Hiram Abiff. This degree is unique in being from a Tyrian perspective such that Hiram King of Tyre presides in the East. The second section of this degree takes place in a quarry near Jerusalem, and bodies of this degree are styled Quarries.

Events that take place after the death of Hiram Abiff are also included in this degree, and it is so interwoven with the time-line of the Master Mason degree, that it almost seems as though one is observing the Master Mason Degree from a different person's perspective.

In commemoration of Hiram Abiff, who was a Tyrian by habitation, but an Israelite by birth (his mother was of the tribe of Naphtali), Hiram, King of Tyre founds a new order, the Masters of Tyre, to memorialize our departed Grand Master.

IV. Grand Tylers of Solomon

This degree is staged in a subterranean vault. Its meetings are composed of 27 members. It features the number 9, and the drama involves an unwitting intruder's entrance into the vault. This degree teaches us not to make hasty judgments and emphasizes the importance of being properly Tyled (guarded).

All of the traits just listed are also present in the first half of the Select Master Degree of Cryptic Masonry. Scottish Rite’s 6°, Intimate Secretary, is also very similar. It is possible that one of these degrees was a source of inspiration for the others, or perhaps they were originally the same degree and have drifted apart slowly owing to a long separation of time and distance.

The vault in this degree is called the "Mystic Chamber" and the degree itself was for a while conferred as a Side-Degree by the Scottish Rite, and was then known as the "Select Masons of the 27."

Unlike the Select Master Degree in Cryptic Rite, Grand Tilers of Solomon does not explicitly mention the Nine Arches (however, the number 9 does come up in other contexts), neither does it make any deliberate connections with the story of the Royal Arch Degree. It is my opinion that this degree was the source upon which was grafted the story of "the Deposit of the Word" in order to formulate the Select Master Degree and complete the circle of perfection in Ancient Craft Masonry.

V. Architect

This degree occurs after the death of Hiram Abiff and requires the candidate to profess his abhorrence of the crime committed against Hiram before being admitted.

It is the first in a series of three degrees, all under the control of AMD, which tell a continuing story about the advancement of skilled craftsmen for the ultimate purpose of completing the Temple.

In this degree the candidate is made an Architect to furnish plans for the second elevation of the Temple and to participate in the construction of the tomb for Grand Master Hiram Abiff.

VI. Grand Architect

While attempting to complete the third elevation of the Temple the work is at a standstill because only a Grand Architect possesses the skill to erect structures in the air.

A Master Architect comes forth claiming to have drafted plans for the third elevation (the like of which are unknown to him.) He presents them, and owing to his skill and ability, they are taken under consideration by the two Overseers and subsequently adopted!

This degree is significant because it shows that man, by his creativity and intelligence, can exceed beyond the level of his instruction. The third elevation of the Temple must have been a daunting task in its day. The similar prospect of building a vehicle that can travel in outer space comes to my mind, a way in which today's man has clearly exceeded the level of his instruction, and triumphed.

This scenario also gives an example worthy of emulation in that the Overseers, being clearly of a higher seniority than the Architect, are nonetheless willing to consider the ideas of their less experienced brother and adopt them if they are found worthy.

VII. Superintendent (Chief Architect)

The structure of the Temple is completed, and only the sacred utensils remain to be completed. (Utensils here includes furniture, including the table of shewbread, lampstand, incense altar, etc.)

Having proven himself capable, by way of the plans presented in the preceding degree, the candidate is now recognized for his achievement by being made Chief Architect, thus becoming the successor to Hiram Abiff.

Thematically, this degree feels similar to the Capitular degree of Most Excellent Master, in that it also acknowledges the completion of the Temple.

The Cryptic Mason will find particular interest in comparing this degree to the Royal Master Degree, in which is given a different (and presumably conflicting) story of the appointment of Hiram Abiff's successor.

VIII. Excellent Master

This story of this Degree tells of the return from the Babylonian Captivity, and includes a historic variation of the ceremony of "Passing of the Veils" with which York Rite Masons are already familiar from the Royal Arch Degree.

The Veils referred to are a series of curtains which were, according to Masonic tradition, set up at the entrance to the Tabernacle during the rebuilding of the Temple. The first, or outermost veil is Blue, followed by Purple, Scarlet, and then White. The Blue veil represents Universal Friendship and Benevolence, and is the principal color of Ancient Craft Masonry from whence the term "Blue Lodge" derives. The Purple is a symbol of union between Ancient Craft Masonry and the Royal Arch. Scarlet represents fervency and zeal, and is particularly characteristic of the Royal Arch Degree. White is a symbol of purity. Albert Mackey, in describing the veils, refers here to the scripture "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." White is, therefore, the appropriate color to mark the candidate's admission into the place where he shall receive the long sought object of his journey.

In Ireland, the "Passing of the Veils" is worked in the Royal Arch Degree just as we do here in the USA, but in Bristol and Scotland a variation of this Excellent Master Degree is separately conferred upon Mark Masters in preparation for the Royal Arch Exaltation ceremony. In England, and elsewhere, this portion of the Royal Arch ceremony has been reduced so that only the fourth, or white veil, remains.

IX. Saint Lawrence the Martyr

St. Lawrence, a Spaniard called to Rome by the Pope was martyred by order of the Roman Prefect, August 10, 258 C.E. Fifty years later, Constantine had a Basilica built over St. Lawrence’s grave which became one of the seven major churches in Rome.

St. Lawrence was tortured to death by being slowly roasted on a grid-iron, but having confidence in his status before God, Lawrence responded by telling his torturers "This side's done," and, "turn me over and have a bite." ["Assum est, inquit, versa et manduca."] It is therefore said that he "bested the heat of the flames with the might of his spirit."

This degree requires the candidate to undergo a test of his own courage, after which he is obligated and taught the history of St. Lawrence and the significance of the symbols of this degree.

X. Knight of Constantinople

This Degree shows the way in which Emperor Constantine taught a lesson in humility and equality to the arrogant nobles of his time.

Aside from the Red Branch of Eri (awarded to AMD brethren in recognition of their service) this is the only Chivalric Order under control of AMD. Brethren of this order are addressed “Sir Knight.”

This ceremony reinforces in a very strong manner the great moral lesson taught by the Level, one of the principal Working Tools of the Symbolic Lodge’s Fellowcraft Degree.