Welcome to the Offical Site of the
Illustrious Union Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Florida.

Biblical students and archaeologists know of the vaults or crypts beneath King Solomon's Temple.  Masonic Degrees were probably not actually conferred in these vaults, however, such a legend does persist throughout much of  Freemasonry.  The legends conveyed in this system of degrees form an excellent allegory. The Masonic author, Albert G. Mackey, writing of the vault, says: 

"The vault was, therefore, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave; for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found.  Freemasons have adopted the same idea.  They teach that death is but the beginning of Life; that if the first, or evanescent Temple of our transitory life be on the surface, we must descend into the secret vault of death before we can find that sacred deposit of Truth, which is to adorn our second Temple of Eternal Life."