The Cryptic rite - The Masonic Trowel

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CHAPTER XIII.
The Select Deorek—Its Officbks and Colouks—The Legend and
Symbolism ok the Degree.
HE Degree of Select Master, the second in tlie series
of the Cryptic Rite, is the ninth degree in
the American System, conferred in a Council of
Royal and Select Masters. Many of the Councils
in the United States make the Select the last of the
two degrees conferred, while we in Canada add the Super
Excellent. 'I'he officers of the Degree consist of a Thrice
Illustrious Master ; Illustrious Hiram of Tyre ; Principal
Conductor of the Works. These three represent respectively
the three Grand Mastsrs of the first Temple. The other officers
are the Treasurer, the Recorder, the Captain of the
Guards, the conductor of the Council, and Steward. The
colours of the degree are, like those of a Royal Master, black
and red, the symbolism, however, being different. The black
is significant of silence, secrecy and darkness, in which the
Select Masters, perform their labours ; and the red, of their
fervency and zeal. The apron and collar of a Select Master
should be black, lined and edged with red. As in the Royal
Degi-ee, the apron should be triangular in form, in allusion
to the sacred delta. In some Councils it is decorated with
nine stars, three placed within each angle of the apron, and
in the centre the letters L.*. 8.". The jewel of a Select Master
is a silver trowel within a triangle of the same metal,
and this is worn suspended from the collar by every officer
and member. A candidate is said to be " chosen as a Select
Master." A Council consists of twenty-seven members,
neither more nor less. Nine members, however, in Council
assembled may proceed with business. Dr. Mackey, in his
Lexicon, in writing the history of this Degree says :
" The historical object of the degree is to commemorate the deposit
of an important secret or treasure which, after the preliminary preparations,
is said to have been made by Hiram Abif. The place of meeting
represents a secret vault beneath the Temple. A controversy has
sometimes arisen among ritualists as to whether the degree of Select
Master should precede or follow that of Royal Master in the order of
conferring. But the arrangement now existing, by which the Royal
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