Rogue Council #23, Cryptic Masons of Oregon

Before petitioning to join the Council, a candidate must already have received the Three Degrees of Masonry in a Symbolic Lodge (often referred to as "Blue Lodge") These degrees are 1° Entered Apprentice, 2° Fellow Craft, and 3° Master Mason. For an explanation of these degrees please read our Description of The Symbolic Degrees. Additionally, the Candidate must be a Royal Arch Mason, or petition the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Council of Cryptic Masons simultaneously and receive the Capitular Degrees, including the Royal Arch Degree, before taking the Council Degrees:

8° Royal Master

In the Royal Master degree, the candidate steps into the role of a certain Fellowcraft named Adoniram who presents a piece of work—one of the Holy vessels of the Temple—for the inspection of Hiram Abiff. It is accepted, and after the Craft is called from labor to refreshment, Adoniram decides to linger behind and inquire of Grand Master Hiram Abiff to know when the secrets of a Master Mason will be given.

9° Select Master

In the Select Master degree the Candidate represents Zabud, a particular friend of King Solomon who is permitted to enter the Council Chamber within the Ninth Arch located beneath the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple and is there privileged to observe Solomon, King of Israel, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff as they furnish this newly completed chamber with the items which would be discovered 470 years later during the events depicted by the Royal Arch Degree.

How to Join

If you're already a Royal Arch Mason living in our area and you'd like to join the Council, please print and fill out this petition and mail it to: Recorder, Rogue Council #23 Cryptic Masons, 320 NW "E" St. Grants Pass, Oregon 97526. If you live elsewhere in Oregon contact the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Oregon, and if you're outside of the Oregon jurisdiction, visit YorkRite.org and find the Grand Council for your jurisdiction.

If you're a Master Mason and you'd like to become a Cryptic Mason, you'll need to begin with the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.

If you're not a Mason, did you know that in order to become one, a man must take the first step and ask? Maybe you're reading this because you're already interested? If you don't know any Masons to talk to, contact one of our officers, or visit the Masonic Grand Lodge of Oregon, or the Grand Lodge over your jurisdiction. If you make the decision, we wish you well and hope you find what you're looking for in Freemasonry. You have a long journey ahead of you before we'll see you in the Council, but when you are ready, don't forget to come back and visit us!