History

The Grand Council of Illinois under the leadership of Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Charles Jones introduced these Degrees to the Jurisdiction of Tennessee in April 27, 1996. At that time, there were over one hundred and eleven (111) Royal Arch Companions receiving the degrees, it was noted as one of the largest mass degree Greetings in history. With the guidance of Illinois Grand Council for two years, Tennessee was Chartered a Grand Council on April 3, 1998 and recognized as a concordant grand body by Grand Master William E. Blevin Sr. This
acknowledgement validated the Grand Charter of “The Most Illustrious Charles F. Williams Grand Council” thereby, recognizing it as the only Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal & Select Masons to operate in the Jurisdiction of Tennessee.

Since that time the Charles F. Williams Grand Council has had the opportunity to assist in the guidance and establishment of three (3) Grand Councils, Washington State in February 1999, Mississippi April 13, 2007 and Texas September 24, 2016.

The council degrees are largely an elaboration and explanation of the Royal Arch Degree and to a lesser extent, the Master Mason degree. The degrees of the council of Royal and Select Masters are necessary to fully complete the education of Ancient Craft Masonry. The degrees of our Masonic system are not chronologically arranged and in the degrees of Royal and Select Master, which many believe, are the most beautiful and impressive of all, offers additional incidents in the building of the first temple. During these degrees the representation of the Master Builder, Hiram Abiff, we learn why the work was lost and the secret of it preservation and recovery. The first council degree, the Royal Master, develops more fully the story of recovery of the word and the Holy of Holies of the Temple of King Solomon. The Royal Master degree further explains the Master Mason degree by telling of a Fellowcraft, a workman in the quarries, who in true humility asked, “Grand Master Hiram Abiff, when do I receive the Master & Word?” After patiently listening to the explanation of why he may never receive it, he returns to his place in the quarries.

The last degree is that of Super Excellent Master, and tells the story of the Babylonian Captivity, and of Zedekiah and his deceit. Council Masonry is also referred to as “Cryptic Masonry” in allusion to the continuance of the vault, or crypt. Although the Super Excellent Master degree has no connection with Ancient Craft Masonry, rather it is a vivid dramatization of truth and fidelity that becomes impressionable to those participating.

The degrees of Royal and Select Masters were introduced into this country in approximately 1783 in Charleston, S.C and placed under control for conferring degrees by the Council of Princes of Jerusalem. In various states and at various times in their history, the two degrees have been under various authorities and those authorities were responsible for the conferring of the degrees. They have been under the jurisdiction of Grand Councils, Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons and Supreme Councils of the Thirty Third Degree A.A.S.R., which in the
early days of this degree, participants made a pledge of allegiance to the Supreme Council of A.A.S.R. was taken while conferring the degrees. However, once most states established their own Grand Councils, the pledge was dropped.

Today, the Cryptic degrees are considered to be the eighth, ninth and tenth degree of the York Rite ladder. The gathering is referred to as a Council of Royal and Select Masters, which business and two degree work are performed, and candidates are said to be greeted. On the grand level of the state the gathering is called a grand Greeting.

The Grand Thrice Illustrious Masters of Tennessee:

1998 - 2004 Willie I Tabors
2004 - 2010 Rev. Adlai Coffee
2011 - 2013 Raymond H. Washington
2013 - 2017 Rev. Kenneth E. Brown
2017 - 2018 Marlon T. Pate Sr.
2018 – 2021 Archie Fowler
2021 – 2024 Andre Kemp
2024 - To Date Felix Griggs