Mark Master Degree

Historically, the Mark Master Degree was once a part of the Master Mason degree. It teaches the importance of earning wages through the display of skill in the quarries. Each craftsman designs his individual “mark” that is used to bond Master Masons. The degree also teaches a lesson on obedience even when disagreeing. The painting has multiple scenes that reflect the various lessons contained in the degree.

This painting was made on three canvases clamped together to maintain paint color consistency; the canvases were then separated and framed individually using the existing wall molding as a guide for making compound frames. The painting captures three themes: the inspection of a Mason’s craftmanship during the construction of King Solomon’s temple, the payment of wages (in the Senior Wardens unfinished chamber), and the wages of workmen from the quarries. The scripture text for this degree is from the book of Matthew chapter 20; since this Biblical references are separated by a millennium, the artist chose to conceal this fact by printing the scroll text using Masonic code that can only be read correctly by the craftsmen in the painting. Keystone RAC#58 Companions volunteered as costumed models in the paintings for which the artist is truly grateful… and he is also thankful for our Chapter photographer, Companion Bill Bond, for posing the workmen in the photos for all of the paintings.

Past Master Degree

The Past Master Degree satisfies the ancient custom that only those who have presided over a Lodge could receive the Royal Arch degree. A candidate receives a “Virtual” Past Master title after he learns lessons regarding the difficulties, rights and responsibilities of serving as Lodge Master.

This painting takes place in King Solomon’s chamber… King Solomon stands before the throne and is giving a lesson to an uncomfortable candidate sitting in the East. A ballot box sits on a pedestal and the other first Grand Masters occupy the other seats in the chamber. Historical texts describe the temple walls as having palm trees, cherubim, and other images, e.g., lions, etc. The artist used as a model for cherubim a stone carving thought to be from an early period. See comments on cherubim description in section on “Royal Master degree”.

Select Master Degree

These two degrees are sometimes included separately in Grand Jurisdictions and not included with the other four Royal Arch degrees; regardless, the artist included them in his paintings for completeness. These degrees are called “cryptic” because they either take place in a secret underground chamber or refer to a secret conversation that takes place on the evening prior to the death of one of the first three Grand Masters.

The Select Master degree painting takes place in an underground chamber while guarded, constructed and visited by the first three Grand Masters. Its dimly lit corridors have certain requirements for passage.

Royal Master Degree

The Royal Master degree painting is also dimly lit and reveals 7 Fellowcraft presenting Hiram Abif with their stone carved Holy vessels for inspection. An important discussion takes place here and the degree candidate learns of the leader of a plot to extort certain secrets and why this conversation caused him to recant. Can you identify the leader? The room they are in is the Temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum; it is decorated with lions, palm trees and cherubim. Biblical text describes the wings of the two cherubim as touching each other’s wings and as touching the side walls of the room, and their touching wings were also centered over the arc of the covenant. The artist chose to place the cherubim on pedestals rather than suspend them from the ceiling. For centuries, artist have painted cherubim and ancient text describe them in many ways … the truth is nobody knows what a cherubim looks like other than that they (like seraphim) are described in ancient text as winged creatures. (Aside NOTE: Angels don’t have wings!) Hence, the artist chose to paint cherubim from behind so as not to have to detail their facial features and leaves to the viewer of the painting the task of describing what a cherubim looks like.

Most Excellent Master Degree

The Most Excellent Master degree painting depicts the events surrounding the dedication of King Solomon’s temple. The painting shows King Solomon kneeling with uplifted arms praising God; the ancient text describes King Solomon on a “brazen” scaffolding… this term means “brass” scaffolding and it caused the artist considerable headache. Hence, if the scaffolding looks like a brass bed frame with coverings between the brass frame posts depicting lions it is because images of brazen scaffolding are hard to come by.

Another “change” from the artist original concept drawing was the depiction of the priest carrying the arc of the covenant up steps into the Temple. The artist learned that whenever the arc of the covenant was transported it was covered by a blue cloth and it was transported by carrying poles on the shoulders of the priest not at waist level. This new knowledge helped authenticate the dedication ceremony but was not a welcome change to the artist original sketches.

The fun part of this painting was inserting various Chapter Companion models into the crowds and band (see “blue man group” on temple porch) playing period instruments (e.g., trumpet, cymbals, harp and shofar). There are about 104 people in this painting; so, finding a face in the crowd may not be easy…especially when some have their backs to the viewer. (Hint: models were used multiple times in different poses). Since the artist also painted the 3 degrees in Freemasonry hanging on the walls of Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60, his depiction of the Temple front and courtyard is consistent between Lodge and Chapter room paintings.

Royal Arch Degree

This Degree involves three Most Excellent Masters returning from Babylonian exile to assist in rebuilding King Solomon’s Temple. While clearing away rubbish they discover secrets.

Like the Mark Master painting, this painting was prepared on three canvases and afterward the canvases separated and framed. The painting is divided into 3 themes: the journey of the three Most Excellent Masters following the Principle Sojourner through ruins on the return trip to the Temple, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the passage of those journeying through four sections of the Temple, and the discovery of lost underground secrets. The painting has numerous Platonic symbols contained in it. Masonic code is used to conceal parts of the painting story. A restless sky is the predominate part of this painting; clouds part to allow sunlight to penetrate the underground chamber and storm clouds dominate the distant ruins traveled by the candidates. The individual climbing over the rubble and shielding his eyes to coming from darkness to light as new knowledge is revealed.