Master gridlines missing. Halp!
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
Ruler Preferences are for Alignment Guides, (when moving existing objects on a slide) they are not for Master Guides.
To make Master Guides visible: View > Guides > Show Master Guides
Of course you have to place guides on the master slide by showing the ruler (Command R) then click and drag a guide from either ruler on to the slide.
Master gridlines missing. Halp!