Montgomery County York Rite Royal Arch · Cryptic · Templar

Degree & Order Histories

The degrees and orders of the York Rite, and the history behind each.

Each body of the York Rite confers its own degrees or orders, and each of them carries a story drawn from the building of Solomon’s Temple, its loss and restoration, and the traditions of medieval chivalry. The pages below give a short public history of each.

Chapter of Royal Arch Masons

Royal Arch Masonry is the first part of the York Rite system of the Masonic degrees. Royal Arch Masons meet as a Chapter, which confers four degrees. About The Chapter →

  1. Mark Master Mason
  2. Past Master
  3. Most Excellent Master
  4. Royal Arch Mason

Council of Cryptic Masons

Cryptic Masonry is the second part of the York Rite system of Masonic degrees, and the last found within the Rite that deals specifically with the Hiramic Legend. About The Council →

  1. Royal Master
  2. Select Master
  3. Super Excellent Master Conferred as an honorary degree in many Councils

Commandery of Knights Templar

The Knights Templar is the final order joined in the York Rite, modeled on the historical medieval order to carry on its spirit. About The Commandery →

  1. The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
  2. The Passing Order of St. Paul Also called the Mediterranean Pass
  3. The Order of the Knights of Malta Or simply the Order of Malta
  4. The Order of the Temple

A note on these histories

These pages describe the generally documented history of each degree and order as it is publicly presented in the York Rite. They do not disclose ritual ceremony, and they do not claim origins that remain matters of tradition rather than documented fact; where scholars differ, the pages say so.