Eight Degree: Royal Master

The ceremonies of the Royal Master degree are simple and clearly understood.  They represent one truly great Masonic idea – the laborer seeking for his reward.  

Throughout the symbolism of Masonry the search for the Word has been considered as a symbolic expression for the search after Truth. Divine Truth – the knowledge of (not just about) God – is the reward proposed to every Mason who has faithfully wrought his task.  In short, the “Master’s wages” are the result of a life devoted to a closer relationship with God.

This degree portrays that the reward has been promised and the time had come, so Adoniram thought, when the promise was to be redeemed and the true word, divine truth, was to be imparted.

But the temple he has been building upon is the temple of this life, that first temple which must be struck by death that the second temple of the future life may be built on its foundations.  When in this, our first temple, the truth cannot be found we must be content with its substitute.  The Royal Master represents a fellow craft in search of and demanding that reward which elevating him to the rank of Master Mason.

Was Adoniram an historical character?  In the second book of Samuel 20:24 we have the first notice of Adoniram.  He was “prefect over the tribute service, or tribute master,” that is to say, in our modern words, he was the chief receiver of the taxes in the House of David.
  
Seven years later we find him exercising the duties of the same office in the household of King Solomon.  

Lastly we hear of him still occupying the same station in the household of Solomon’s son, King Rehoboam.  

Forty-seven years after his first mention, it is stated in 1 Kings 12:18, that Adoniram was stoned to death while in the discharge of his duty by those who were justly indignant at the oppressions of his master Rehoboam.

Whether it is the same individual man for those 47 years is conjecture, but to the Mason Adoniram is a symbol of the incorruptible laborer in the temple.  

We are encourage to take note and do likewise.