Ill Comp Roger Mac, our District Grand Chaplain, had the very special degree of Excellent Master conferred upon him in a ceremony presided over by the Grand Master, M Ill Comp Kessick John Jones on 24th November 2025, as shown below. Roger was accompanied by the District Grand Master, R Ill Comp Peter Wellings, and Ill Comp Peter Stokes, Deputy District Grand Master.
The Excellent Master’s Degree is an invitational degree, more commonly known as Passing the Veils, and is one of the degrees in Freemasonry that can be placed at a specific time in history. The Ceremony of Passing the Veils may be considered as emblematical of the wanderings of the Israelites in the Wilderness, and of their return from Babylon to Jerusalem. The Decree of Cyrus for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild their Temple was given in 538 B.C., the year after he had taken Babylon and is the setting for the Excellent Master Degree.
The Jewel of the order is shown below. It is the only other jewel that may be worn by Companions of this order. The degree has been worked in Scotland for many years and after long discussions, 2013 – 2014 saw England once again working the degree.
Ill Comp Roger has been a member of the order since 2001, when he joined Beauchamp Council No 182. He holds the Grand Rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer, and is the District Grand Chaplain for our District.
Ill Comp Roger has been a member of the order since 2001, when he joined Beauchamp Council No 182. He holds the Grand Rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer, and is the District Grand Chaplain for our District.