Semi-weekly herald., 1916-12-04
SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY
INTRODUCED IN U. S. AT
CHARLESTON IN YEAR 1901

of its system originated in Scotland,
had its beginning in France in the
early years of the eighteenth CEN
tury. 1t was perfected, however, in
the city of Berlin in 17S6. where it
| is held that Frederick the Second, &
great patron of Freemasonry, was
the head of the order.
The propagation Of the rite, how
ever, was in the United States and
the First Supreme Council, compos-
| ed of a number of those who attain
ed the thirty-third degree, was or
ganized in the city of Charleston in
May, 1901. Colonel John Mitchell,
distinguished soldier of the Revo-
lutionary war, was its first grand
commander.
From this supreme Council known
as the Supreme Coancil for the south
ern jurisdiction of the United States
or Mother Supreme Council of the
world, sprung directly or indirectly
all the regular and legitimate su-
preme councils of the world.
The basic law of the rite, known
as it's grand constitution, adopted in
1886, provides for the establishment
OF one supreme council in each coun-
try or nation of the world, except
the United States of America, where
there may be two.
ln n,fb
Gil of the United States was estab-
lished by authority of the southern
supreme council and the Jurisdiction
al territories of both were later de-
| fined.
The jurisdiction of the northern su--
preme council of the United States
comprises all the states north Of the
Chic and east of the Mss Ssip2i
rivers. Its sec. is at Boston, Mass.
It's grand commander is Barton
Smith of Toledo o.
The territory of the southern SUI
preme council comprises all the rest
of the United States, Alaska, our ISL
and possessions and the Isthmus of
Panama, with bodies in Japan and
China. Its headquarters is in the
city of Washington d. C. Its grand
commander is George Fleming Moore
of Montgomery, Ala.
At the present time there are SO
supreme councils, located in the fol-
lowing countries: The United States
(2), Argentine Republic, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Central America,
Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, England and Wales, France
and it's dependencies, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nor
way, Paraguay, Peru, Partugal, Re
public Dominica, Scotland, Serbia,
Spain. Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
United States of Columbia, Uruguay
and Venezuela.
The numerical strength of the rite
in the United States is about 100000
nearly equally divided between the
northern and southern Jurisdictions.
The Ancient and Accepted Scot
tish Rite is the only Free Masonry
known in many countries of the world
In the United States, Canada and
other English-speaking countries it
does not confer the. "blue degrees"
which are recognized as being under
the control of the grand lodges of
Symbolic Masonry, and confines it.
self to the degrees beginning with
the fourth and ending with the thirty
third.
In the southern jurisdiction of the
United States the degrees from the
| fourth to the fourteenth, inclusive,
| are conferred in bodies that are call
ed Lodges of Perfections; those
from the fifteenth to the eighteenth,
in Chapters of Knights Rose Croix;
those from the nineteenth TO the
thirtieth, in Preceptories of Knights
Kadosh, and the thirty-first and
thirty-second degrees are conferred
in consistories.
The grade of Knight commander
of the Court of Honor and the thir-
| ty-third degree are conferred by the
supreme council and only upon
those selected by it as a recognition
for faithful and distinguished SER
vices to the Rite. Membership in a
regular lodge of Master Masons is q
prerequisite OF eligibility to the Scot
tish Rite.
The government of the Rite is that
of hierarchy. Its governing body is
the supreme council, consisting.
when complete, of thirty-three active
members of the thirty-third degree,
elected for life.
1t is presided over by grand COM
mander, who exercises the executive
powers of the supreme council when
on vacation. Each state or sub-juris-