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The Excellent Masters Degree – More commonly known as Passing the Veils, is one of those degrees in Freemasonry that can be placed at a specific time in history. The ceremony of Passing the Veils may be considered as emblematic of the wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness, and their return from Babylon to Jerusalem. The Decree of Cyrus for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple was given in 538 B.C., the year after he had taken Babylon and is the setting for the Degree of Excellent Master. It is an invitational Degree, and usually, only be available to those members who are already in possession of the Order of the Silver Trowel.[/two-thirds]