This independent guide explains publicly available structure and context without reproducing ritual. Requirements and local practice can change, so official sources remain authoritative.
The short answer
Royal and Select Masters is often called Cryptic Masonry because of its vault setting and its role in connecting episodes around the Solomonic story. In England and Wales it requires Craft, Mark and Royal Arch foundations. [1] [2]
It is not simply a higher rank above those bodies. It is a separately governed Council system whose value lies in narrative connection, not personal seniority.
Why the prerequisites matter
The prerequisites are not decorative. Craft, Mark and Royal Arch each contribute language, symbolism and story-world to the Cryptic degrees. Without those foundations, the connecting purpose would be harder to understand. [1] [2]
A prospective member should therefore ask whether he already values all three foundations, rather than treating Royal and Select Masters as a destination to hurry toward.
Structure and degrees
The system is commonly described through four principal degrees in England and Wales, worked through Councils under Grand Council. The experience is more connected than a miscellaneous collection but still different from a single repeating degree. [1]
Ask a local Council which degrees it expects to work in the coming year and how quickly new members are likely to encounter each part.
Meetings and commitment
Councils often meet only a few times each year, but a multi-degree programme can involve rehearsal, visiting and office. The meeting count alone does not reveal how active the Council expects members to be. [1] [2]
Because Royal and Select Masters sits after several other commitments, calendar fit matters. A good candidate can support the Council without thinning attendance in Craft, Mark or Royal Arch.
Regalia and identity
Purple and cryptic or vault-related imagery give the system a recognisable visual identity. As with other orders, regalia should be checked locally because first-year requirements may differ from later office requirements. [1] [2]
The visual identity is part of the appeal, but it should not replace the central question: do the connected Temple narratives genuinely interest you?
Who may value it
Royal and Select Masters may suit someone who enjoys seeing Craft, Mark and Royal Arch themes interlock. It may not suit someone looking for a first additional order or a body with only one prerequisite. [1] [2]
The better fit is a Companion and Mark Mason who already values narrative detail and wants a Council setting with room for sustained participation.
Why the prerequisites are part of the meaning
Royal and Select Masters draws together material associated with the Temple, preservation and discoveries that sit around the Royal Arch narrative. In England and Wales, the Mark and Royal Arch qualifications therefore provide context rather than acting as arbitrary hurdles. A candidate who has rushed through either foundation may understand the diagram but miss much of the order's distinctive appeal.
Ask the local Council which ceremonies it works in an ordinary year, how much travel is involved and whether new members take active parts. The order may suit someone who enjoys linking narrative gaps and revisiting Temple symbolism from another angle. It may be a poor fit for someone seeking a first order beyond Craft, a primarily social body or an experience unrelated to Royal Arch and Mark.