Statutes of

The Supreme Council

of the
Thirty-third Degree
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite
of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A.

Revised and Approved

August 19, 2023
 CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. The Supreme Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

ARTICLE II. Its Jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ARTICLE III. Degrees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE IV. Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ARTICLE V. Sessions—Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ARTICLE VI. Officers and Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ARTICLE VII. Committees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
ARTICLE VIII. Council of Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
ARTICLE IX. Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
ARTICLE X. Deputies of the Supreme Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ARTICLE XI. Revenues, Fees, and Assessments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ARTICLE XII. Rituals, Programs, Books, and Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
ARTICLE XIII. Clothing and Uniforms, Grand Decorations, Jewels, Rings, Caps. . . . . . . 57
ARTICLE XIV. Court of Honour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
ARTICLE XV. Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
ARTICLE XVI. Formation of New Bodies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
ARTICLE XVII. Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
ARTICLE XVIII. Trials and Penal Statutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
ARTICLE XIX. Official Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
ARTICLE XX. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
ARTICLE XXI. Declatory Disposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
ADDENDA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 3
 IN DEO FIDUCIA NOSTRA

HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE

THIRTY-THIRD DEGREE OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED
SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY OF THE SOUTHERN
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Office of the Grand Commander

Washington, D.C., August 2023

I, James D. Cole, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States
of America, certify that the following is a true copy of the Statutes and Regulations of said Supreme Council,
as amended through the Biennial Session of the Supreme Council in Washington, DC, in August 2023.

Sovereign Grand Commander

Grand Secretary General

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 5
 ARTICLE I

The Supreme Council

Its Name

SEC. 1. The name of this Supreme Council is “The Supreme Council Official Name
(Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General Knights Com-
manders of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third De-
gree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry of the
Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America.” (See Acts of In-
corporation in Addendum.)

ARTICLE II

Its Jurisdiction

SEC. 1. The jurisdiction of this Supreme Council includes all the territo-
ry over which the United States of America exercises domain of powers
of government, except the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin,
which were apportioned by this Supreme Council to the Northern Ma-
sonic Jurisdiction of the United States. The jurisdiction of this Supreme
Council also includes those countries where it has established, or may
hereafter establish, Bodies of the Rite, and over which countries no reg-
ular Supreme Council has acquired jurisdiction.

SEC. 2. Each state and territory within the general jurisdiction of this Jurisdiction
Supreme Council, unless otherwise ordered by the Supreme Council, is Comprised of
hereby declared to be a separate Orient within itself. Other like Orients Orients
may be created and defined by the Sovereign Grand Commander from
time to time at and over territory or countries over which this Supreme
Council has acquired or may acquire jurisdiction, who shall prescribe
the boundaries of each such like Orient.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 7
Article II – Its Jurisdiction

Army [2] Army Lodge of Perfection, Army Chapter of Rose Croix, Army
Jurisdictions Council of Kadosh, and Army Consistory constitute a separate jurisdic-
tion attached to the Orient of Kansas and under the control of the Sov-
ereign Grand Inspector General in Kansas, while said Bodies are located
on the Military Reservation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Changes SEC. 3. The Sovereign Grand Commander or the Supreme Council is

to Orient authorized to attach or detach any state or territory within the general
Jurisdictions jurisdiction of this Supreme Council in which there is not a resident
Sovereign Grand Inspector General to or from the Orient of any Sover-
eign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council.

Recognition of SEC. 4. The policy is as follows: The Supreme Council of the 33° for
Foreign Supreme the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States shall only recognize oth-
Councils er Supreme Councils whose members belong to regular Grand Lodges.
Should any Active Member of a recognized Supreme Council be sus-
pended, expelled, or if he should withdraw from or allow his regular
Blue Lodge membership to lapse and yet retain his Active Membership
in his Supreme Council, the Supreme Council of the 33° for the Southern
Jurisdiction shall withdraw recognition from said Supreme Council.

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 ARTICLE III

Degrees

SEC. 1. By authority of this Supreme Council, within its jurisdiction are Subordinate
established the following Subordinate Bodies, to wit: Bodies

A. Lodges of Perfection, by which are conferred the Degrees from

the Fourth to the Fourteenth, inclusive; namely, Secret Master, Perfect
Master, Intimate Secretary, Provost and Judge, Intendant of the Building,
Elu of the Nine, Elu of the Fifteen, Elu of the Twelve, Master Architect,
Royal Arch of Solomon, Perfect Elu.

B. Chapters of Rose Croix, by which are conferred the Degrees from

the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth, inclusive; namely, Knight of the East,
Prince of Jerusalem, Knight of the East and West, Knight of Rose Croix.

C. Councils of Kadosh, by which are conferred the Degrees from

the Nineteenth to the Thirtieth, inclusive; namely, Pontiff, Master of the
Symbolic Lodge, Noachite or Prussian Knight, Knight of the Royal Axe
or Prince of Libanus, Chief of the Tabernacle, Prince of the Tabernacle,
Knight of the Brazen Serpent, Prince of Mercy, Knight Commander of
the Temple, Knight of the Sun or Prince Adept, Scottish Knight of St.
Andrew, Knight Kadosh.

D. Consistories, by which are conferred the Thirty-first and

Thirty-second Degrees; namely, Inspector Inquisitor, Master of the
Royal Secret.

SEC. 2. The mandatory Degrees are the Fourth, Fourteenth, Eighteenth, Mandatory
Thirtieth, and Thirty-second and they shall never be communicated ex- Degrees
cept by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
preme Council, and then only in unusual circumstance.

[2] None of the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Communicating/
may be conferred within the jurisdiction of this Supreme Council ex- Conferring
cept by Subordinate Bodies established by its authority, nor be commu- Degrees & Fees

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 9
Article III – Degrees

nicated except by Sovereign Grand Inspectors General or Deputies of

the Supreme Council in their discretion and within their Orients, or by
a Subordinate Body having a special dispensation for that purpose from
a Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Coun-
cil. All fees received for Degrees communicated as herein authorized
shall be immediately paid to the Supreme Council, unless the Degrees
were communicated for the purpose of establishing, or as the agent for,
an organized Body, in which event they shall be immediately paid to
such Body.

Supreme Council SEC. 3. The Supreme Council reserves to itself the power of conferring
Degree Conferral any of the Degrees of the Rite upon any Brother whom it may deem wor-
thy to receive them.

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 ARTICLE IV

Members

SEC. 1. This Supreme Council consists of not more than thirty-three S.G.I.G. Numbers
Active Members (Sovereign Grand Inspectors General) and such Emer- & Distribution
iti and Honorary Members as the Supreme Council may elect. The Ac-
tive Members shall be so distributed that no Orient within its general
jurisdiction shall have more than one Member.

SEC. 2. Whenever a vacancy exists in an Orient, the Supreme Coun- S.G.I.G. Elections
cil may, at any regular session thereafter held, elect from the Inspectors & Mandatory
General Honorary resident and affiliated within that Orient, one person Retirement Age
to the office of Sovereign Grand Inspector General in the Orient, who be-
comes ex officio an Active Member of the Supreme Council. A Sovereign
Grand Inspector General shall become automatically retired at the close
of the calendar year of his 80th birthday.

[2] Such elections shall be after nomination in executive session as

a special order of business at each regular session, and the vote must be
unanimous, all present voting.

SEC. 3. Upon retirement a Sovereign Grand Inspector General who has Emeriti Member
served for a period of at least six years or upon his resignation within two Elections
years of his mandatory retirement age shall, upon request of the Sover-
eign Grand Commander or by recommendation of an Active Member of
the Supreme Council, be elected in Executive Session or electronic vote in
recess, by majority vote, an Emeritus Member, with the rank and dignity
possessed by him at the time of his retirement, together with the right to
use the title of the highest office attained by him, with the prefix “Past.” An
Emeritus Member shall have the privilege of attending all regular meetings
of the Supreme Council except executive sessions, serving on committees
at the request of the Sovereign Grand Commander, and he shall be given
an Emeritus Membership Card and shall be exempt from the payment of
dues. An Emeritus Member will retain the privilege of wearing the cap and
chain of an S.G.I.G. and will be provided with a double-headed eagle drop
with the words “Emeritus Member” thereon on his chain.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 11
Article IV – Members

SEC. 4. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General who has resigned may

be elected, by unanimous vote, an Emeritus Member, with the rank and
dignity possessed by him at the time of his resignation, together with the
right to use the title of the highest office attained by him, with the prefix
“Past.” Upon election he shall have the privilege of attending all regular
meetings of the Supreme Council except executive sessions, serving on
committees at the request of the Sovereign Grand Commander, and he
shall be given an Emeritus Membership Card and shall be exempt from
the payment of dues.

Removal of SEC. 5. Whenever any elective officer of the Supreme Council or a Sov-
Elective Officers ereign Grand Inspector General shall have become unable or unwilling
& S.G.I.G.s to discharge his duties, the Supreme Council may, for the good of the
Order, upon motion and by a two-thirds vote of the Members then pres-
ent at any regular or special session of the Supreme Council, remove said
officer or Sovereign Grand Inspector General from office. Upon motion
and by a unanimous vote of the Supreme Council Members then voting,
such officer or Sovereign Grand Inspector General may be elected an
Emeritus Member, and he shall then be given an Emeritus Membership
Card and shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

Office Vacancies SEC. 6. Upon resignation or retirement under any of the foregoing sec-
tions, the office of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and any office in
the Supreme Council held by the Member so resigned or retired, shall
immediately become vacant and may be filled at that or any future regu-
lar session of the Supreme Council.

Emeriti Members SEC. 7. The Supreme Council may, at any regular session, elect from
of Honour among the members of the Thirty-third Degree of any other jurisdic-
Elections tion such Brethren as may be nominated by the Sovereign Grand Com-
mander, to be enrolled upon its Tableau as Emeriti Members of Honour,
whose names shall be continued perpetually upon its rolls.

Honorary SEC. 8. The Supreme Council may, at any regular session, or earlier,
Member elect to receive the Thirty-third Degree and to be Honorary Members
Elections of the Supreme Council with the rank and dignity of Inspectors Gen-
eral Honorary, such Masters of the Royal Secret possessing the qualifi-

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 Members – Article IV

cations and regularly nominated as herein provided, as it may select by

unanimous vote taken on a voice or electronic vote. The Thirty-third
Degree shall never be asked for, directly or indirectly, and if asked for,
shall be refused. Nominations shall be referred to the Committee on
Nominations and report had therefrom before ballot is taken. Mem-
bers of any Body whose dues are in arrears in any Valley where he
holds membership in the Southern Jurisdiction are not eligible for
nomination.

SEC. 9. Not less than ninety days before each regular session of the Honorary
Supreme Council each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and each Member
Deputy of the Supreme Council may file in the office of the Grand Ex- Qualifications
ecutive Director, in the number below specified, the electronically sub-
mitted nominations for Inspectors General Honorary, Masters of the
Royal Secret who are bona fide residents and members in good standing
of Subordinate Bodies of this jurisdiction, who have attained the age
of thirty-five years and who have been elected by the Supreme Council
to receive the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court
of Honour at least forty-four months before being voted on to receive
the Thirty-third Degree and to be Honorary Members of the Supreme
Council with the rank and dignity of Inspector General Honorary.

[2] The number of earned nominations for Inspectors General Earned Honorary
Honorary for each Orient in the United States, Southern Jurisdiction, Member
shall be six for its first 2,500 (or fewer) Masters of the Royal Secret as Nominations
of the prior December 31, and two for each additional 2,500. Fractions Based on Existing
left over are to be carried forward as credits. The smaller territorial and Memberships
foreign Orients may each have four nominations for Inspectors General
Honorary, except when in the judgment of the Sovereign Grand Com-
mander a larger number is needed in a particular jurisdiction. The nom-
inations set forth in this numbered paragraph may be a lesser number
at the option of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of
each Orient. Any unused nominations will be carried forward to the
next Session.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 13
Article IV – Members

Honorary [3] Nominations filed less than ninety days before any such ses-
Member sion shall not be considered at that session, except by unanimous con-
Nomination sent. Nominations shall be entered into the Supreme Council Sentinel
Procedure Database Management System, and must state the name in full of each
nominee, his identification number, the date of his birth, his occupation,
his residence, his Blue Lodge name, number, and location, the conferral
dates when he received the rank of Knight Commander of the Court of
Honour, the names and location of the Bodies of the Rite with which he
is affiliated, and a brief statement of his specific services rendered in be-
half of this Rite. Provided, that when the nominee is a member of Bodies
in another Orient under this general jurisdiction, the approval of such
nomination by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the
Supreme Council in such other Orient shall be obtained, and such nom-
ination shall be charged to the Orient of the Sovereign Grand Inspector
General or Deputy of the Supreme Council making the same.

[4] This section and the resulting effect will be reviewed at each
Supreme Session.

Earned Honorary SEC. 10. In addition to the earned nominations provided for in the pre-
Member ceding section, and in addition to the number standing to his credit, and
Nominations in the same form and manner, and complying with the same conditions,
Based on New each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and each Deputy of the Su-
Memberships preme Council may nominate to receive the Thirty-third Degree with the
rank and dignity of Inspector General Honorary and Honorary Member
of the Supreme Council, two Knights Commander of the Court of Hon-
our for the first one hundred, and two for each additional two hundred
Masters of the Royal Secret who have received the Thirty-second Degree
in his Orient since the preceding regular session. Whatever fractions are
left over from one such session will be counted in the quota for the next
Session. The nominations set forth in this numbered paragraph may be
a lesser number at the option of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
or Deputy of each Orient.

[2] Nominations under this and the preceding section shall be re-
ferred to the Committee on Nominations for review not less than 60
days before each regular session of the Supreme Council. A Supreme

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 Members – Article IV

Council electronic vote in recess shall follow not less than 45 days prior
to such session with names submitted to Sovereign Grand Inspectors
General and Deputies following ratification of vote.

SEC. 11. The Sovereign Grand Commander may nominate ten Knights Honorary
Commander of the Court of Honour for election as Inspectors General Member
Honorary of the Supreme Council whenever, in his judgment, the inter- Nominations
est of the Rite will be thereby promoted. Said nominations shall be in by Sov. Grand
accord with the procedures established by the Supreme Council for the Commander
election of all other Inspectors General Honorary and shall not be cred-
ited against the quota assigned to any given Orient.

SEC. 12. The Supreme Council reserves to itself the right to elect In- Honorary
spectors General Honorary from the Masters of the Royal Secret of the Member at-Large
jurisdiction at large, whenever in its judgment the interests of the Rite Nominations
will be thereby promoted, and without reference to the rank of Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour.

SEC. 13. The Thirty-third Degree must, when practicable, be conferred Honorary
by the Supreme Council, but when not practicable it may be conferred Member
by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Conferral
Council in the Orient in which the designate resides, or in which his Location
membership is held, or by courtesy.

SEC. 14. If a Brother elected to receive the Thirty-third Degree does not Honorary
present himself to receive it at or prior to the regular session of the Su- Membership
preme Council next succeeding his election, such election shall be void, Forfeiture
but the time may be extended by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 15. The Thirty-third Degree shall not be given gratuitously except
by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 16. Honorary Members have the right to be present at all sessions Honorary
of the Supreme Council except executive sessions, and to have a voice Member Rights
therein but without a vote.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 15
Article IV – Members

Loss of Honorary SEC. 17. Honorary Membership in the Supreme Council is ipso facto
Membership terminated by voluntary resignation duly accepted; by expulsion or sus-
pension from the Supreme Council or any of its Subordinate Bodies; by
voluntary non-affiliation for a period of one year in either a Blue Lodge
or the Scottish Rite; by expulsion or suspension from the privileges of
Masonry by the Lodge or Grand Lodge of Symbolic Masonry having
jurisdiction over the member. Permanent removal from the general ju-
risdiction of this Supreme Council by a member does not terminate the
membership, provided the member remains affiliated and in good stand-
ing with the Subordinate Bodies of the Rite in this general jurisdiction.

S.G.I.G. & Deputy SEC. 18. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
Member Powers preme Council possesses, and may exercise within his Orient, all the
prerogatives of Grand Master of Masons, so far as relates to this Rite, and
may do and perform all such acts as he may deem for its interest which
are not prohibited by the Constitutions or by these Statutes. When ren-
dering a decision involving the interpretation of these Statutes or con-
cerning the practice of the Rite, he shall immediately make a full report
thereof to the Sovereign Grand Commander.

[2] A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme

Council has the power to disapprove the selection of, or to remove, any
officer of a Subordinate Body in his Orient, or of a related corporation.
(See 1947 Trans., p. 303; 1963 Trans., p. 234.)

S.G.I.G. & SEC. 19. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
Deputy Personal preme Council may appoint a Personal Representative of the Advisory
Representative Conference or Executive Committee in each Valley of his Orient to act
Appointments for him, and the acts of these representatives are valid when approved
by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy, who is responsible
for these acts. In addition, he may appoint an Orient Personal Represen-
tative for the Orient.

Personal [2] The duties and responsibilities of such Valley and Orient Per-
Representative sonal Representatives are as follows:
Duties

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 Members – Article IV

A. To serve as the eyes and ears of the Sovereign Grand Inspector

General or Deputy of the Supreme Council to the end that peace and
harmony may be promoted and brotherly love prevail;

B. To see that customs, usages, and laws of the Supreme Council

are properly observed;

C. To carry out the instructions of the Sovereign Grand Inspector

General or Deputy of the Supreme Council; and

D. To exercise such powers as may be delegated to him by the

Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council
in writing.

SEC. 20. If a Sovereign Grand Inspector General removes permanently Loss of S.G.I.G.
from his Orient, except that of the District of Columbia, he ipso facto Membership
loses his Active Membership. (See Article X, Section 2 of these Statutes.)

SEC. 21. Any Sovereign Grand Inspector General absent from two suc-
cessive regular sessions of the Supreme Council without excuse adjudged
sufficient may, at the close of the second session, be deemed to have re-
signed his membership in the Supreme Council.

SEC. 22. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General cannot be an officer of S.G.I.G.

a Subordinate Body of the Rite. He shall be a member of all Subordinate Membership
Bodies within his Orient, with all rights and privileges of such member- in Subordinate
ship, but shall be exempt from the payment of dues. Bodies

SEC. 23. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General is authorized to com- Other S.G.I.G.
municate any of the Degrees of this Rite, except the Thirty-third, in any Powers
foreign country where no Supreme Council exists.

SEC. 24. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General may issue Letters Tem-
porary for the establishment within his Orient of Subordinate Bodies,
which Letters shall continue in force until the next regular session of the
Supreme Council. (See Article XVI, Section 7.)

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 17
Article IV – Members

S.G.I.G. & Deputy SEC. 25. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
Dispensation preme Council may grant dispensations waiving the provisions of the
Powers Statutes of the Supreme Council or the bylaws of Subordinate Bodies
within his Orient governing the time of presenting petitions of candi-
dates, reference and reports of committees thereon, and balloting there-
for, and delays in the time for conferring Degrees upon qualified and
elected candidates, and all other statutes and bylaws governing the time
and place of meeting and the transaction of routine business by such
Subordinate Bodies. He may give his consent to Subordinate Bodies sus-
pending the provisions of their bylaws in particular instances when in
his opinion such action is for the best interest of the Rite, and there is no
statute of the Supreme Council prohibiting it.

S.G.I.G. SEC. 26. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or Deputy of the Su-
Communicating preme Council, has the power to confer or communicate Degrees, either
Degrees without with or without charge therefor, and without election by a Body of the
Charge Rite, upon Brethren of great merit and desert in his Orient, who he is
assured will be faithful and zealous in the Rite, or who are not well able
to pay for the Degrees, or he may direct any organized Body or Bodies
within his Orient to confer such Degrees for him, either with or with-
out charge therefor. The Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or Deputy
of the Supreme Council, may direct that such Brethren be enrolled as
members of such Bodies of the Rite in his Orient as he may designate.

[2] In cases where the Degrees are conferred or communicated

without charge, the Subordinate Bodies conferring same, or in which
the Brethren are enrolled as members, shall not be required to pay to
the Supreme Council the customary fees for Degrees; and the Supreme
Council shall furnish to such Brethren the usual English Patents with-
out charge.

S.G.I.G. Official SEC. 27. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General shall make, when-
Reports ever requested by the Sovereign Grand Commander so to do, a full
report of his official acts and decisions during such period as may be
prescribed by the Sovereign Grand Commander. In this report he may
also make such recommendations for the good of the Rite as he may
deem pertinent.

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 Members – Article IV

SEC. 28. Upon the death of a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Memorials
Active or Emeritus, notice thereof shall be given the Sovereign Grand for S.G.I.G.s,
Commander, who shall cause to be promulgated a suitable memorial of Emeritus,
his life and Masonic service. Upon the death of an Inspector General Honorary
Honorary, the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su- Members, &
preme Council for the Orient shall cause a suitable memorial page to be Grand Crosses
set apart in the records of the Lodge of Perfection of which the deceased
Inspector General Honorary was a member. This section, however, shall
not be construed as prohibiting the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
or Deputy of the Supreme Council, or the Lodge, from promulgating any
other suitable memorial if desired.

[2] The Albert Pike Memorial Services shall be held upon the Sun-
day preceding the regular sessions of the Supreme Council and the Sov-
ereign Grand Commander shall appoint a committee to make necessary
arrangements therefor.

SEC. 29. The Committee on Obituaries shall include in its report to

the regular session, the tablets, not previously reported, in memory
of deceased Active and Emeriti Sovereign Grand Inspectors General
and Grand Crosses of the Court of Honour prepared by the Supreme
Council, which shall be published in the Transactions of the Supreme
Council in full, together with a reproduction of a photograph of each of
the deceased.

[2] There shall also be published in the Transactions a tableau of

deceased Inspectors General Honorary.

SEC. 30. The Sovereign Grand Commander may dispense with the
draping of the altars and working tools upon the death of an Active or
Emeritus Member of the Supreme Council. The Sovereign Grand In-
spector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council may, in like manner,
dispense with these memorial acts on the death of an Inspector General
Honorary of his Orient.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 19
Article IV – Members

Official SEC. 31. All official correspondence with the Sovereign Grand Com-
Correspondence mander, and between Bodies of the Rite located in different Orients
with Sov. Grand within this general jurisdiction, relating to the status of members, to
Commander and questions of jurisdiction, to Masonic intercourse, to appeals for Masonic
between Orients charity or Fraternal assistance, and to every subject requiring legisla-
tion by the Supreme Council shall be carried on through the Sovereign
Grand Inspectors General or Deputies of the Supreme Council in charge
of the respective Orients. All official correspondence with Bodies locat-
ed in other jurisdictions relating to similar matters must be carried on
by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme
Council through the Sovereign Grand Commander, unless and as oth-
erwise ordered or directed by him.

S.G.I.G. SEC. 32. The resignation of a Member shall be made to the Supreme
Resignation Council when in session, subject to its acceptance by a majority vote.
In recess it may be made to the Sovereign Grand Commander, who is
authorized to accept the same or to report it to the Supreme Council
for action.

S.G.I.G. & SEC. 33. Not less than annually, each Active Member or Deputy of the
Deputy Conflict Supreme Council shall complete, sign, and file a conflict of interest dis-
of Interest closure statement on a form as provided by the Grand Executive Direc-
Disclosure tor. Said statement shall be filed with the office of the Grand Executive
Director not later than the opening of each Biennial Session of the Su-
preme Council.

Page 20 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE V

Sessions—Quorum

SEC. 1. The Supreme Council shall meet in regular session biennially Regular Sessions
between the first day of the month of August and the 15th day of October
in each odd year, as specified by the Sovereign Grand Commander and
in special session as provided in Section 2 of this Article. No nomina-
tion of Grand Crosses shall be made or acted upon except at a regular
session. Nominations of Inspectors General Honorary and of Knights
Commander of the Court of Honour shall be as prescribed in Article IV,
Section 9, and Article XIV, Section 2.

SEC. 2. Special sessions may be called by the Sovereign Grand Com- Special Sessions
mander to be held at such time and place as he may name in the call. It
shall be his duty to call special sessions upon the written request of a ma-
jority of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General at such time and place
as may be designated in their request. The date of a special session shall
be not less than fifteen days nor more than sixty days after the date of
summons except by unanimous consent, and notice of a special meeting
shall be given electronically and followed immediately by formal written
notice to each Sovereign Grand Inspector General.

SEC. 3. Seven Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, the Sovereign Quorum Rules
Grand Commander or Lieutenant Grand Commander being present, or
nine Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, in the absence of these offi-
cers, shall constitute a quorum for the transactions of business.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 21
 ARTICLE VI

Officers & Employees

SEC. 1. The dignitaries and officers of the Supreme Council are as follows: Supreme Council
Officers
ELECTIVE
1. Sovereign Grand Commander
2. Lieutenant Grand Commander
3. Grand Prior
4. Grand Chancellor
5. Grand Minister of State
6. Grand Secretary General
7. Grand Treasurer General
8. Grand Almoner

APPOINTIVE
9. Grand Orator
10. Grand Master of Ceremonies
11. Grand Chamberlain
12. First Grand Equerry
13. Second Grand Equerry
14. Grand Standard Bearer
15. Grand Sword Bearer
16. Grand Herald

[2] The Sovereign Grand Commander shall appoint a Grand Exec- Additional
utive Director from the Honorary Membership to serve under his super- Appointed
vision and may appoint such other officers from the Honorary Member- Officers
ship as he may designate, including Grand Archivist, Grand Chaplain,
Grand Stewards, Grand Organist, and Grand Tyler, all of whom shall
serve at his will and pleasure.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 23
Article VI – Officers & Employees

Sovereign Grand SEC. 2. The Sovereign Grand Commander is the supreme executive
Commander and the chief judicial officer of the Rite within the jurisdiction of this
Powers Supreme Council. He is the representative of the Supreme Council when
that Body is not in session, and is invested with general powers of super-
vision, instruction, and administration everywhere within its jurisdic-
tion; and he may decide all questions properly referred to him affecting
the interests of the Rite, and shall report his decisions, in such manner
as he may deem best, to the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and
Deputies of the Supreme Council.

Sovereign Grand [2] He shall occupy and maintain the executive offices located in the
Commander House of the Temple at the city of Washington in the District of Colum-
Office bia to perform his duties and superintend the business of the Supreme
Council during his tenure of office as Sovereign Grand Commander.

Sovereign Grand [3] He shall upon his election as Sovereign Grand Commander re-
Commander linquish all authority of his jurisdiction as Sovereign Grand Inspector
Titles General and in addition to the title of Sovereign Grand Commander
shall be designated and become Sovereign Grand Inspector General at
Large. On his retirement as Sovereign Grand Commander, he shall re-
linquish his office as Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large and
shall possess the titles of Past Sovereign Grand Commander and Past
Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large.

Sovereign Grand SEC. 3. He shall, if practicable, visit, either in person or by duly com-
Commander missioned representatives, one or more of the Bodies in each state or ter-
Visitations ritory at least once every four years and maintain a travel matrix for pur-
poses of tracking visitations made. The Sovereign Grand Commander
shall make report thereof to the Supreme Council at its regular session.

Sovereign Grand SEC. 4. He shall, at each regular session, make report to the Supreme
Commander Council of all official acts performed and judicial decisions rendered by
Reporting him in recess. An appeal from any decision rendered by him shall not
operate as suspensive. All of his official acts are subject to review by the
Supreme Council.

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 Officers & Employees – Article VI

SEC. 5. Under the direction and guidance of the Sovereign Grand Com- Grand Executive
mander, the Grand Executive Director shall direct and supervise the Director
Chief Financial Officer to manage all financial accounts of the Supreme Appointment &
Council to include associated Foundations, and to properly receive and Duties
immediately deposit all monies due to the Supreme Council, in the
correct amounts, in the name of the Supreme Council or proper asso-
ciated Foundation, and to render a complete accounting to the Grand
Executive Director and to the Supreme Council Finance Committee,
which includes the Grand Treasurer General and the Sovereign Grand
Commander, on a quarterly basis and/or as requested. The aforemen- Fiscal Year
tioned books and financial accounts of the Chief Financial Officer shall
be closed on December thirty-first of each year, and they shall be open
for inspection by any Sovereign Grand Inspector General. The Grand Grand Executive
Executive Director shall further ensure that an independent audit of all Director
financial records and transactions of the Supreme Council is conduct- Financial Report
ed annually, and the results of the audit are presented to the Supreme
Council and made available to the members of the Scottish Rite, South-
ern Jurisdiction upon request.

SEC. 6. The Grand Executive Director, via the Sovereign Grand Com- Transactions
mander, shall make to the Supreme Council on the first day of each regu- Report
lar session a full report of the transactions of his office, both general and
financial, and the other offices and departments of the Supreme Council
Staff, since the last regular session. He shall also report all property in his
possession belonging to the Supreme Council, via the Chief Financial
Officer. He shall, if required by the Sovereign Grand Commander, make
reports to any session of the Supreme Council. The Grand Executive Di-
rector shall also cause to be reproduced, a full report of the transactions
of each regular and special session of the Supreme Council, omitting
only such portions as the Supreme Council or Sovereign Grand Com-
mander shall direct.

SEC. 7. Under the direction and guidance of the Sovereign Grand Com- Grand Executive
mander, the Grand Executive Director is in direct charge of the employees Director
of the Supreme Council Staff, with the exception of the employees in the Additional
Sovereign Grand Commander’s office, who fall directly under and report Duties
to, the Sovereign Grand Commander. The Grand Executive Director is

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 25
Article VI – Officers & Employees

also the Custodian of the House of the Temple, its grounds, and the real
and personal property of the Supreme Council. As such the Grand Exec-
utive Director is charged with the safekeeping, maintenance and upkeep,
planning, permitting, and all restoration efforts of the House of the Tem-
ple. The Grand Executive Director shall perform any other duties as may
be assigned or delegated to him by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Quarterly SEC. 8. On a quarterly basis, the Finance Committee shall review the
Financial Review revenues, expenditures and financial position of the Council and shall
manage and monitor the investment program of the Council, utilizing
an independent investment consultant. Such investment may be made
in obligations or securities, provided that the aggregate amount of com-
mon stocks shall at the time of investing not exceed 75% of the total
current market value of all such investments.

Disbursements SEC. 9. The funds of this Supreme Council shall be paid out by checks
& Check drawn on the depositories of the Supreme Council and signed by the
Signatories Sovereign Grand Commander or the Lieutenant Grand Commander as
provided in Section 12 of this Article, and by the Grand Executive Di-
rector, the Grand Treasurer General, or an emergency signer as deter-
mined by the Sovereign Grand Commander, payable to the order of the
persons for whose benefits said checks are drawn. The Committee on
Finance may specify a dollar limit under which only one signature of the
above-listed officers is required.

Lt. Grand SEC. 10. The Lieutenant Grand Commander, in the absence of the Sov-
Commander ereign Grand Commander from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council
as Acting or upon the special request of the Sovereign Grand Commander, shall
Sovereign Grand assume the executive duties and powers of the office of Sovereign Grand
Commander Commander, acting as Lieutenant Grand Commander, and shall have
authority to issue Letters Temporary for the organization of new bodies,
decide questions submitted to him, sign checks and warrants, and per-
form such other acts as the emergency may require.

[2] In the event of the death, resignation, or disability of the Sov-

ereign Grand Commander, the Lieutenant Grand Commander shall as-
sume the office of Sovereign Grand Commander, as Sovereign Grand

Page 26 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Officers & Employees – Article VI

Commander, and as such shall possess all the powers and be charged
with the duties and responsibilities of the office.

[3] He shall render a report of his acts to the Supreme Council at

the next regular session. If there be no elected Lieutenant Grand Com-
mander, the rights and duties herein set forth shall inure to, and be dis-
charged by, the Grand Prior.

[4] If under these statutes and during his elected term of office, the
Lieutenant Grand Commander should become Acting Sovereign Grand
Commander or succeed to the office of Sovereign Grand Commander,
he shall so remain during said period and have the title “Sovereign Grand
Commander,” and the office of Lieutenant Grand Commander shall re-
main vacant until the next election of officers by the Supreme Council.

[5] When the Lieutenant Grand Commander assumes the office

of Sovereign Grand Commander as authorized under these statutes, he
shall be paid and be entitled to the salary, expenses, and benefits, as de-
termined by the Finance Committee.

SEC. 11. The Grand Prior presides in the absence of the Sovereign Grand Grand Prior
Commander and the Lieutenant Grand Commander. He is, in the Su- Duties
preme Council when convened, what the Junior Warden is in a Chapter
of Rose Croix, and the Craft are under his superintendence while the
Members are at refreshment. To him are referred in the first instance,
at the request of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, all matters of
complaint and controversy between Subordinate Bodies and their re-
spective members, for opinion and advice. He shall also discharge such
other duties as may from time to time be required of him by the Sover-
eign Grand Commander or the Supreme Council.

SEC. 12. The Grand Chancellor is the law officer of the Supreme Coun- Grand
cil. As such he is advisor of the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Chancellor
Supreme Council on matters of Masonic law and precedent, to whom Duties
all questions thereof are to be referred; and upon all matters of impor-
tance debated in the Supreme Council he may be called upon to deliver
his conclusions before the Supreme Council decides. To him it belongs

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 27
Article VI – Officers & Employees

to prepare charges against and prosecute offenders before the Supreme

Council or any tribunal created by it; and when any matter is to be in-
vestigated or decided by the Supreme Council, he shall, upon request,
prepare and present clear and concise statements of facts with his views
of the law. He will also give his opinion on questions of jurisprudence
upon the request of the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Grand Minister SEC. 13. The Grand Minister of State is the minister of foreign affairs
of State Duties and shall, when directed by the Sovereign Grand Commander, conduct
all the correspondence with foreign bodies and report upon it to the Su-
preme Council. He shall also perform such other like duties as may from
time to time be required of him by the Sovereign Grand Commander or
the Supreme Council.

Grand Secretary SEC. 14. The Grand Secretary General shall keep a faithful record of
General Duties the transactions of the Supreme Council and of the Council of Admin-
istration, and shall keep in his possession and affix to such papers as
may require attestation, the official seal of the Supreme Council. He shall
perform such other duties as properly appertain to his office, or which
may be required of him by the Supreme Council or the Sovereign Grand
Commander.

Grand Treasurer SEC. 15. The Grand Treasurer General is the financial officer of the Su-
General Duties preme Council. He shall serve as the Chairman of the Committee on
Finance and report to the Supreme Council as delineated in Article XI,
Section 7, of the statutes of the Supreme Council. At each regular bien-
nial session of the Supreme Council, he shall present a proposed budget
for the ensuing biennium on behalf of the Committee on Finance.

Grand Almoner SEC. 16. The Grand Almoner exercises management responsibility over
Duties and maintains the Almoner’s Fund of the Supreme Council. He dispenses
its charities, regardless of race, creed, sex, age, or national origin to wid-
ows, orphans, the poor, the distressed, and the physically handicapped.
At his discretion he may also distribute monies for other educational
and charitable purposes.

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 Officers & Employees – Article VI

SEC. 17. The Grand Orator is the orator of the Supreme Council and Grand Orator
is charged with the duty of causing distinguished visitors to be suitably Duties
presented and properly welcomed. He will also be called upon to pro-
nounce eulogies on deceased Brethren and perform such other like ser-
vices as may from time to time be required of him by the Sovereign
Grand Commander or the Supreme Council.

SEC. 18. The Grand Master of Ceremonies shall direct the formation of Grand Master
all processions of the Supreme Council, escort and introduce all distin- of Ceremonies
guished visitors, and perform such other duties as the Sovereign Grand Duties
Commander or the Supreme Council may direct.

SEC. 19. The Grand Chamberlain shall assist the Grand Master of Cer- Grand
emonies in the performance of his duties and perform such other du- Chamberlain
ties as the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Supreme Council may Duties
direct. In the absence of the Grand Master of Ceremonies the Grand
Chamberlain shall act as his substitute.

SEC. 20. The First Grand Equerry and the Second Grand Equerry are, First & Second
when called upon, to assist the other officers in the performance of their Grand Equerry
respective duties, and are otherwise to perform such other duties as the Duties
Sovereign Grand Commander and the Supreme Council may direct.

SEC. 21. The Grand Standard Bearer has in his charge and care the Great Grand Standard
Banner of the Supreme Council. It is his duty to carry the Great Ban- Bearer Duties
ner in all processions of the Supreme Council, and perform such other
duties as the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Supreme Council
may direct.

SEC. 22. The Grand Sword Bearer has in his charge and care the great Grand Sword
cross-hilted double-edged two-handed sword. It is his duty to bear the Bearer Duties
great sword in all processions, and whenever the Supreme Council is in
session to guard and protect the Great Banner of the Supreme Council,
and perform such other duties as the Sovereign Grand Commander and
the Supreme Council may direct.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 29
Article VI – Officers & Employees

Grand Herald SEC. 23. The Grand Herald shall assist the Sovereign Grand Command-
Duties er in opening and closing the Supreme Council, lead all processions of
the Supreme Council, and perform such other duties as the Sovereign
Grand Commander and the Supreme Council may direct.

SEC. 24. The official titles of the elective and appointive officers of the
Supreme Council are as given at the beginning of Section 1 of this Article.

Elective Officer SEC. 25. At the regular session of the Supreme Council, the elective of-
Term ficers shall be elected for a term of two years; the appointive officers shall
hold office at the will and pleasure of the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Officer SEC. 26. The resignation of an officer shall be made to the Supreme
Resignation Council when in session, subject to its acceptance by a majority vote,
but in recess shall be made to the Sovereign Grand Commander, who is
authorized to accept the same.

Officer Loss SEC. 27. All of the rights, privileges, and perquisites of the officers are
of Rights & ipso facto terminated by voluntary resignation duly accepted, by perma-
Privileges nent removal beyond the general jurisdiction of this Supreme Coun-
cil, by expulsion or suspension from the Supreme Council or any of its
Subordinate Bodies, by voluntary nonaffiliation for a period of one year
in either a Blue Lodge or the Scottish Rite, or by expulsion or suspen-
sion from the privileges of Masonry by the Grand Lodge or the Lodge of
Symbolic Masonry having jurisdiction over such member.

Office Succession SEC. 28. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any of the elective offices
in Cases of of the Supreme Council, except that of Grand Secretary General, Grand
Vacancies Treasurer General, or Grand Almoner, the duties pertaining to the office
so becoming vacant shall be performed by the next succeeding elected
officer or officers in the order of their respective rank until said office
shall be filled by election.

[2] The elected officer, however, shall retain and also perform the
duties of the office to which he was elected. In signing for the office be-
coming vacant he shall sign as acting as the officer whose office has be-
come vacant and the duties of which office he is at the time performing.

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 Officers & Employees – Article VI

SEC. 29. If the office of the Grand Secretary General or the Grand Trea-
surer General becomes vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by appoint-
ment by the Sovereign Grand Commander or Acting Sovereign Grand
Commander until an election is held to fill the same.

[2] If the office of the Grand Almoner becomes vacant, the duties
of this office shall be performed by the Grand Treasurer General until
the next election.

SEC. 30. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Sovereign Grand Com-

mander or any other elective office, the same shall be filled by election
on the second or some subsequent day of the next regular session, or at a
special session, unless the Supreme Council is then in session.

[2] The Supreme Council has power by a majority vote to adjourn

such election from time to time until the vacancy is filled.

SEC. 31. A two-thirds vote of the Members present shall be necessary to Officer Elections
elect a Sovereign Grand Commander; a majority shall be sufficient in all
other cases, except when otherwise provided in these statutes.

SEC. 32. No vote by proxy or letter for the election of any officer shall
be received or counted.

SEC. 33. The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree, Ancient and Indemnification
Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction shall in- of Active
demnify any Active Member, Deputy of the Supreme Council, officer Members,
or trustee or any former Active Member, Deputy of the Supreme Coun- Deputies,
cil, officer or trustee of such Supreme Council, or any person who may Officers, &
have served at its request as an officer or trustee of another corporation Trustees
against court costs, attorney’s fees, judgments and other expenses actu-
ally and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense of
any action, suit, or proceeding in which he is made a party by reason of
being or having been such officer or trustee, except in relation to matters
as to which he shall be adjudged via the Council of Administration in
negligence or misconduct in the performance of a duty. This indemni-
fication shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which such

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 31
Article VI – Officers & Employees

trustee or officer may be entitled, under any bylaw agreement, vote of

board of trustees, or otherwise.

[2] All officers and employees of this Supreme Council shall be

placed under bond furnished by a surety company, which bonds shall be
in the amount of $1,000,000 each, the cost of which shall be paid by the
Supreme Council.

Conflict SEC. 34. Active Members, Deputies, and officers of the Supreme Council
of Interest shall disclose any possible conflict of interest with respect to any matter
Disclosure & coming before the Council or any of its committees. In the event a member
Voting Rights & of the Council or any of its committees has any such possible conflict, he
Limitations for shall advise other members of the Council or its committees of any signifi-
Supreme Council cant reasons, known to him but unknown to such other members, why the
Members matter being considered may not be in the best interests of the Scottish Rite.

SEC. 35. A Member making such a disclosure shall not use his influ-
ence nor vote on the matter giving rise to the possible conflict. The min-
utes of the meeting shall reflect on such disclosure and the abstention
from voting.

SEC. 36. The foregoing shall not be construed to prevent any member
of the Council or its committees from answering relevant questions of
other members on which his knowledge may be of assistance.

Conflict SEC. 37. All officers and trustees of Scottish Rite related corporations shall
of Interest disclose any possible conflict of interest with respect to any matter com-
Disclosure & ing before the Scottish Rite related corporations. In the event an officer or
Voting Rights trustee of a Scottish Rite related corporation has any such possible conflict,
& Limitations he shall advise other officers or trustees of any significant reasons, known
for Officers to him but unknown to such other officers or trustees, why the matter be-
& Trustees ing considered may not be in the best interests of the Scottish Rite.
of Scottish
Rite-Related SEC. 38. An officer or trustee making such a disclosure shall not use his
Corporations
influence nor vote on the matter giving rise to the possible conflict. The
minutes of the meeting shall reflect on such disclosure and the absten-
tion from voting.

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 Officers & Employees – Article VI

SEC. 39. The foregoing shall not be construed to prevent any officer or
trustee of Scottish Rite related corporations from answering relevant
questions of other officers or trustees on which his knowledge may be of
assistance.

SEC. 40. All representatives of our Supreme Council to other Supreme Supreme Council
Councils and all representatives of other Supreme Councils to our own Representative
shall obtain all documents and information of interest to the Rite and Duties
present the same to the Sovereign Grand Commander as early as pos-
sible, before each regular session of the Council. All information thus
furnished shall be full, clear, and comprehensive. The Sovereign Grand
Commander is hereby fully authorized and empowered to remove any
representative from our Supreme Council who fails to comply fully with
his duties hereunder and to fill his place by the appointment of another,
and in case any foreign representative shall fail to comply with his duties,
our Sovereign Grand Commander is hereby fully authorized to request
the Council from which such representative comes, to remove him from
his position and appoint another in his place.

SEC. 41. It is the policy of this Supreme Council not to authorize or Prohibition on
permit any of its officers or Members, Active or Honorary, or any of the Conferences
members of Subordinate Bodies under its jurisdiction to engage in any with Irregular &
conferences, formal or informal, or to carry on any communications con- Unrecognized
cerning any matter pertaining to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies
of Freemasonry with any alleged Masonic Body or organization which
is not fully recognized as legitimate and regular by Regular Symbolic
Grand Lodges within the general jurisdiction of this Supreme Council.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 33
Article VI – Official Signatures (Descriptions)

Official Signatures (Descriptions)

Sov. Grand SEC. 42. The distinctive symbol to be used before the signature of the
Commander Sovereign Grand Commander is a cross with three cross-bars, near the
Signature extremities of which and of the shaft are small cross-bars; the signature
to be followed by a rayed equilateral triangle enclosing the figure 33. Vi-
olet ink to be used.

S.G.I.G. Signature [2] The symbol cross to precede the signature of a Sovereign Grand
Inspector General has two cross-bars, near the extremities of which and
of the shaft are small cross-bars; the signature to be followed by a rayed
equilateral triangle enclosing the figure 33; the title may be written out or
abbreviated “Sov\ Gr\ Insp\ Genl\” Purple ink to be used.

Deputy [3] The symbol cross to precede the signature of a Deputy of the
Signature Supreme Council is a plain cross with two cross-bars (no cross-bars at
the extremities); the signature to be followed by a rayed equilateral tri-
angle enclosing the figure 33; the title may be written out or abbreviated
“Dep\ of the Supreme Council.” Crimson ink to be used.

33°, I.G.H. [4] The symbol cross to precede the signature of an Inspector Gen-
Signature eral Honorary is a plain cross with two cross-bars (no cross-bars at the
extremities); the signature to be followed by a rayed equilateral triangle
enclosing the figure 33; the title may be written out or abbreviated “Insp\
Genl\ Hon\” Crimson ink to be used. The use of the abbreviation “Hon.”
after the name of an Inspector General Honorary is unauthorized. The In-
spector General Honorary may sign himself simply “John Doe, 33°.” If he
desires his official designation, he should write it under his name.

[5] For the rest of the symbols to precede or follow signatures and
titles, red ink to be used.

[6] In each of the above, the cross-bars are to be horizontal and

except where shown differently, the shaft is inclined to the right to corre-
spond with the angle of the strokes of slanting writing.

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 Official Signatures (Samples) – Article VI

[7] The shafts of the crosses used by the Court of Honour are ver- Court of Honour
tical, the end of the shaft and cross-bars being provided with a small Signatures
cross-bar at the extremities.

[8] For the Rose Croix the symbol is a Passion Cross set on the Rose Croix
apex of a pyramid or equilateral triangle. Signature

[9] By usage and custom the double-headed eagle has become an 32° Emblem
accepted emblem of the 32°.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 35
Article VI – Official Signatures (Samples)

See p. 123 for Official Signatures (Samples)

descriptions
of preferred
colors for each
signature.

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 Official Seals – Article VI

Official Seals

SEC. 43. The Seals attached to the Patents and official documents of this
Supreme Council are as shown below:

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 37
Article VI – Disability for Elective Salaried Officers

Employees SEC. 44. The Supreme Council may, from time to time and at anytime,
Retirement Plan establish, amend, freeze, or terminate a retirement plan or plans for its
employees, within existing legal guidelines.

Disability for Elective Salaried Officers

SEC. 45. The elective salaried officers of this Supreme Council shall re-
ceive their full salary for the length of the term for which they were elect-
ed; should they become incapacitated, or for any other reason be unable
to perform full-time services, they shall thereafter receive one-third of
their salary during the balance of the term to which they were elected.

Page 38 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE VII

Committees

SEC. 1. The Sovereign Grand Commander shall, within sixty days af- Standing
ter each regular session of the Supreme Council, appoint the standing Committees
committees to serve until the close of the next regular session of the
Supreme Council. He may, during the recess of the Supreme Council,
fill any vacancy in any committee caused by death, resignation, or re-
moval of Members. The following are the standing committees of the
Supreme Council:

Appeals and Grievances

Audit
Archives and Library
Benevolence and Fraternal Assistance
Building and Grounds
Development
Americanism Programs
Finance
Fraternal Relations
Jurisprudence and Legislation
Membership Services
Honour Nominations
Obituaries
Ritual and Ceremonies
Scholarship
Strategic Communication
Strategic Planning
Reports
SEC. 2. The Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputies of the
Supreme Council shall make separate reports of their decisions and of
their acts. The reports of their decisions shall be referred to the Commit-
tee on Jurisprudence and Legislation, and the reports of their acts to the
Committee on the State of the Order and Unfinished Business.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 39
Article VII – Committees

Meetings SEC. 3. When in the opinion of the Sovereign Grand Commander the
business of the Supreme Council would be facilitated thereby, he may
convene any committee at any time.

Page 40 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE VIII

Council of Administration

SEC. 1. The first nine officers of the Supreme Council shall constitute Members &
the Council of Administration. The Sovereign Grand Commander, or Quorum
in his absence the Lieutenant Grand Commander, with any four of said
Members will constitute a quorum.

SEC. 2. The Council of Administration, the Sovereign Grand Com- Meetings

mander, or in his absence the Lieutenant Grand Commander, being
present, after thirty days’ notice to all its members of the time and place
of meeting, shall assemble for the purpose of advising with the Sover-
eign Grand Commander on such matters as may be submitted.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 41
 ARTICLE IX

Procedure

SEC. 1. All questions, other than election of officers or amendments to Voting in Session
the Statutes, shall be presented to the Supreme Council by motion or
resolution, and shall be determined by viva voce vote of a majority of
Members present, unless otherwise provided by statute. Any motion or
resolution, upon the request of three Members, shall be reduced to writ-
ing before being voted upon.

[2] A roll call may be demanded before any proposition.

SEC. 2. Whenever in the opinion of the Sovereign Grand Commander Voting in Recess
the emergency requires it, a vote of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors Gen-
eral may be taken in recess upon a proposition not otherwise provided
for by these Statutes, and when such vote is so taken, each vote shall be
regarded as cast on the day of its receipt by the Grand Executive Direc-
tor, and the proposition shall be recorded as adopted on the day when he
has received the affirmative votes of two-thirds of all Active Members of
the Supreme Council. The result shall be made known to the Sovereign
Grand Inspectors General by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 43
 ARTICLE X

Deputies of the Supreme Council

SEC. 1. The Sovereign Grand Commander may appoint and commis- Appointment &
sion an Inspector General Honorary as the Deputy of the Supreme Powers
Council in any territory not occupied by it or by any other regular Su-
preme Council, with power to confer or communicate the Degrees and
establish Subordinate Bodies of the Rite in such territory under Letters
Temporary issued by the Sovereign Grand Commander, and to perform
such other acts as shall be specified in the commission issued to him by
the Sovereign Grand Commander.

SEC. 2. The Sovereign Grand Commander may also appoint and com- Appointment
mission an Inspector General Honorary as the Deputy of the Supreme to Unattached
Council in any Orient which is unattached and in which there is no res- Jurisdictions
ident Sovereign Grand Inspector General, with the powers and prerog-
atives of a Sovereign Grand Inspector General within such Orient, ex-
cept as otherwise provided in these Statutes. The Deputy of the Supreme
Council thus appointed must be at the time of appointment a bona fide
resident and an affiliated member of Subordinate Bodies in the Orient
for which he is appointed, and shall be exempt from the payment of dues
while serving as such Deputy, provided, however, that the residency re-
quirement shall not apply to a Deputy of the Supreme Council appoint-
ed for the District of Columbia.

SEC. 3. A Deputy of the Supreme Council shall have the power to con- Degree Conferral
fer or communicate Degrees, as authorized in Article III, Section 2. Limitations

SEC. 4. All fees collected by a Deputy of the Supreme Council must be Fees & Expenses
paid over by him to the Body for which the Degrees were conferred, or
to the Supreme Council if a Body is not organized. He shall be reim-
bursed for all monies necessarily expended by him in the discharge of
his duty in organizing Bodies in unoccupied territories, upon accounts
rendered to and approved by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 45
Article X – Deputies of the Supreme Council

Reporting SEC. 5. A Deputy of the Supreme Council shall make, when requested
by the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Supreme Council, a full and
detailed report of his acts and decisions together with any recommenda-
tions he may have to offer.

Term SEC. 6. The appointment or commission of a Deputy of the Supreme

Council shall be in force no longer than the close of the ensuing regular
session of the Supreme Council, unless confirmed at such session by the
Sovereign Grand Commander.

Retirement SEC. 7. When a Deputy of the Supreme Council retires with at least six
years of service, he shall be entitled to be called “Past Deputy of the Su-
preme Council” and to wear the Deputy cap.

Page 46 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE XI

Revenues, Fees, & Assessments

SEC. 1. The revenues of the Supreme Council shall be derived from fees Revenue Sources
for Letters Temporary and Permanent Charters; from fees for Patents
and Diplomas; from fees and assessments from Bodies under its juris-
diction to cover operating costs; from fees for Degrees conferred by it
and by Sovereign Grand Inspectors General or Deputies, and from the
sale of its books.

SEC. 2. The fees for Letters Temporary and Permanent Charters and the Letters
cost of books as listed below may be increased by the Sovereign Grand Temporary &
Commander at his discretion. Permanent
Charter Fees
Letters Temporary:
Lodge of Perfection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60.00
Chapter of Rose Croix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.00
Council of Kadosh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.00
Consistory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $90.00

Permanent Charters:
Lodge of Perfection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $70.00
Chapter of Rose Croix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Council of Kadosh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Consistory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $120.00

[2] The cost of books for organizing Subordinate Bodies (in addi-
tion to the above) shall be as follows:

Lodge of Perfection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80.00

SEC. 3. All Patents and Diplomas of the Degrees and Spouse Certif- Patent, Diploma,
icates shall be issued by the Supreme Council: all Diplomas in Lat- & Certificate Fees
in, and also Patents in English of Emeriti Members and of Emeriti
Members of Honour, and Letters-Patent of Credence to foreign rep-
resentatives, under the great seal, with the individual seals and sig-

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 47
Article XI – Revenues, Fees, & Assessments

natures of the Sovereign Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor,

and the Grand Secretary General; and those of the 14°, 18°, and 30°
also to carry the seal of the Body and the signatures of the presiding
officer and the Secretary (or Registrar) of the Body of such Degree,
respectively; Patents in English of Masters of the Royal Secret, under
the great seal, signed by the Sovereign Grand Commander and the
Grand Secretary General, and by the presiding officer and Registrar
of the Consistory; and Patents in English of Knights Commander
of the Court of Honour, Inspectors General Honorary, Sovereign
Grand Inspectors General, and Spouse Certificates, under the petty
seal, with the signatures of the Sovereign Grand Commander and the
Grand Secretary General.

[2] The fees, if any, for such Patents, Diplomas, and Certificates
shall be as follows:

33° Active, Sov\ Gr\ Insp\ Genl\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Fee

33° Insp\ Genl\ Hon\
Original. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Fee
Duplicate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00

Grand Cross Court of Honour (Latin only)

Original. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Fee
Duplicate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00

Knight Commander Court of Honour

Original. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Fee
Duplicate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00

32° Master of the Royal Secret

Original. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00
Duplicate or Corrected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00

Spouse Certificate
Original. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00
Duplicate or Corrected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

Page 48 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Revenues, Fees, & Assessments – Article XI

Letters-Patent of Credence to Foreign

Representative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Fee
Patent of Affiliation from the Jurisdiction
of Another Supreme Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

SEC. 4. With the approval of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Degree
Deputy of the Supreme Council, the minimum fees for conferring De- Conferral Fees
grees shall be as follows:

A. For the Degrees from Fourth to Fourteenth,

inclusive, including 14° Ring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00
B. For the Degrees from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth,
inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00
C. For the Degrees from the Nineteenth to the Thirtieth,
inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00
D. For the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Degrees, Patent
included. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

However, Subordinate Bodies may increase the fees, and all fees shall be
paid in advance.

[2] No Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-

preme Council shall confer either “E” or “F” for any less or greater fees
than those provided and all fees shall be paid in advance to the Supreme
Council and credited as follows:

E. For the Knight Commander Court of Honour,

Patent included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300.00
F. For the Thirty-third Degree,
Patent included. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500.00

SEC. 5. Within thirty days after the conferring of the Fourth Degree the Assessment
Secretaries of the Lodges of Perfection shall remit to the Supreme Coun- on Degree
cil the sum of eight dollars for each newly created Secret Master; and af- Conferrals
ter the conferring of the Fifteenth Degree the Secretaries of the Chapters
of Rose Croix shall remit the sum of five dollars for each newly created
Knight of the East; and after the conferring of the Nineteenth Degree the

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 49
Article XI – Revenues, Fees, & Assessments

Recorders of the Councils of Kadosh shall remit the sum of five dollars
for each newly created Pontiff; and after the conferring of the Thirty-first
Degree the Registrars of the Consistories shall remit the sum of five dol-
lars for each newly created Master of the Royal Secret, the Registrars of
the Consistories shall remit the sum of eight dollars for each Patent, and
no Patent shall be issued by the Grand Executive Director until these
sums are received by him except as provided in Article IV, Section 25.

Per Capita SEC. 6. The Grand Executive Director shall, annually, and as soon as
Assessment possible after January 31st of each year, when membership numbers for
the previous year are closed for each Orient and Valley, have the Annu-
al Report for each Subordinate Body constructed and disseminated as
provided in Article XV, Section 18, of these Statutes. For the year 2021
and payable on January 1, 2022, the per capita assessment shall be set
by resolution at any session of the Supreme Council, or by electronic
vote, with the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members present.
Bodies working under Letters Temporary, whose Charters are granted
at the regular session next after their formation, shall not be liable for
the per capita assessment during the period covered by the Letters Tem-
porary, but their liability will commence January first after the Charter
is granted.

[2] Bodies continued under Letters Temporary shall be assessed

for the per capita assessment from following January first, unless the
Supreme Council shall order otherwise.

Finance SEC. 7. At each session of the Supreme Council the Committee on Fi-
Committee nance shall report by itemized list the appropriations necessary for the
Appropriations expenses of the Supreme Council, and in no case shall the money drawn
Report from the treasury upon any account exceed the amount appropriated for
such account; provided that in case of an emergency or unusual circum-
stances any item in the budget may be increased upon the recommenda-
tion of the Finance Committee and the approval of the Sovereign Grand
Commander.

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 Revenues, Fees, & Assessments – Article XI

SEC. 8. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and Deputy in atten- Per Diem
dance upon any session of the Supreme Council or of the Council of & Mileage
Administration, or any member of a committee in attendance upon a Reimbursement
meeting of such committee called to sit in recess, shall receive such per
diem for each day’s attendance and round-trip travel expenses as pre-
scribed by the Supreme Council.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 51
 ARTICLE XII

Rituals, Programs, Books, and Libraries

Rituals

SEC. 1. The Supreme Council retains title to all the Rituals, Secret Supreme Council
Works, and Rubrics, and if a Body ceases to exist, they shall be immedi- Retains All Titles
ately returned to the Supreme Council.

SEC. 2. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and each Deputy of Copies for
the Supreme Council may have issued to him one copy of each Ritual, S.G.I.G.s and
Secret Work, and Rubric of the Degrees from the Fourth to the Thir- Deputies
ty-second, inclusive, for all of which he shall receipt to the Grand Exec-
utive Director and agree that if he ceases to be such officer, all receipted
materials shall be immediately returned to the Supreme Council.

SEC. 3. Each Orient Valley must obtain for its use from the Grand Ex- Required
ecutive Director the following books published by the Supreme Coun- Publications for
cil, viz.: Valleys

1 Revised Standard Pike Ritual on electronic media 4–32°

1 Scottish Rite Ritual, Monitor and Guide
1 Grand Constitutions
1 Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition
1 A Bridge to Light
1 Book of the Words
1 Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite
1 The Synopses and Communications for the Degrees

[2] Every candidate who completes the 14° shall receive a copy of
A Bridge to Light.

[3] The Synopses and Communications for the Degrees is adopted

as the official and required form for communication of a Degree when
for good reason it is not exemplified in full form.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 53
Article XII – Programs

Rules for [4] Unless authorized by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
Publishing, or Deputy of the Supreme Council in the Orient, it is not permissible
Distributing, to print, publish, or distribute any pictures or illustrations of any part of
& Presenting the Rituals, Rubrics, costumes, scenery, properties, forms, or ceremo-
Rituals & Related nies used in the conferring of the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted
Matter Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction, or to print in a program or
other publication issued by the Bodies any extract from, explanation,
or synopsis of any of the Degrees, or to present any part of the Degrees
anywhere at any time except in a tiled meeting or for the purpose of
communication or rehearsal, and then only before those who are enti-
tled to be present.

[5] Unless authorized by the Sovereign Grand Commander, it is

not permissible to present any of the secret work, arcana or obligations
anywhere at any time except in a tiled meeting or for the purpose of
communication or rehearsal, and then only before those who are enti-
tled to be present.

SEC. 4. No other Ritual, Secret Work, Rubric, Liturgy, manual, monitor,

or book of like character than those prescribed and furnished by the Su-
preme Council shall be used by a Subordinate Body, nor can any Ritual,
Secret Work, or Rubric become the property of any person or Body oth-
er than the Supreme Council.

Programs

Program & SEC. 5. A Subordinate Body validates its official programs and an-
Announcement nouncements with the date and signatures from the Valley of the city
Validation and the Orient in which it is located.

Degree SEC. 6. It is proper to set forth in Reunion programs a short description

Descriptions of each Degree, provided that the substance thereof be first approved
Require S.G.I.G. by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme
or Deputy Council in the Orient wherein such description is used.
Approval

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 Books – Article XII

SEC. 7. Whenever it is practicable, all programs and announcements of S.G.I.G. or

Reunions must be submitted to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General Deputy Approval
or Deputy of the Supreme Council for his approval before they are pub- for Programs &
lished and distributed. Announcements

Books

SEC. 8. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General is entitled to have as his Books for
own property one copy of each work published by the Supreme Council. S.G.I.G.s

Libraries

SEC. 9. Under the direction and guidance of the Sovereign Grand Com- Sov. Grand
mander, the Grand Executive Director is in direct charge of the employ- Commander
ees of the Libraries of the Supreme Council and shall prescribe rules in Charge of
and regulations for the management of the same to include guidance Supreme Council
and direction on the printing and distribution of the catalogues of the Libraries
Libraries.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 55
 ARTICLE XIII

Clothing and Uniforms, Grand Decorations, Jewels, Rings, Caps

Clothing and Uniforms

SEC. 1. The clothing and uniforms shall be such as are prescribed in the Dress Codes
Rituals and Liturgies.

SEC. 2. At the reception of candidates and upon other ceremonial oc-

casions the Brethren may wear the ordinary evening dress of society or
other black clothing, in lieu of the uniform, with the jewels and decora-
tions of this Rite belonging to their rank.

SEC. 3. The mourning color of the Supreme Council is violet on white; Mourning Colors
that of the Court of Honour, black on orange; that of all the other Bodies,
black on red.

Grand Decorations

SEC. 4. Those who are entitled to wear the Grand Decorations (Majora Four Classes,
Insignia Ordinis) of the Thirty-third Degree will be divided into four Gr. Decoration
classes and are as follows: Examples

SEC. 5. Fourth Class: The decoration shall be of gold and enamel, one 33°, I.G.H.,
and one-half of an inch in diameter, and made in the form as described p. 64
in the Appendix to the Grand Constitutions of 1786. (See 4°, Article II,
page 269, Grand Constitutions.) It shall be worn on the left breast, sus-
pended by a white ribbon, one and one fourth inches in width, with gold
slide and buckle. This decoration may be worn by all Inspectors General
Honorary.

SEC. 6. Third Class: The decoration shall be as prescribed for the Fourth S.G.I.G.s &
Class, but it shall be one and three-fourth inches in diameter and shall be Emeriti Members
worn on the left breast, suspended by a white ribbon edged with purple,
one and one-half inches in width, with gold slide and buckle. This deco-

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 57
Article XIII – Jewels

ration may be worn by all Active and Emeriti Members of the Supreme
Council not of the Second Class.

Elected Officers, SEC. 7. The decoration shall be as prescribed for the Third Class, but it
20-year shall be worn suspended from the neck, on the breast, by a purple rib-
Members, & bon edged with white, two and one-half inches in width. This decoration
Grand Reps. may be worn by the Grand Prior, Grand Chancellor, Grand Minister of
State, Grand Almoner, and such Active and Emeriti Members as have
held these offices, and also by all Active and Emeriti Members who have
been such for twenty years, and by Grand Representatives of this Su-
preme Council in other jurisdictions.

Sov. Grand SEC. 8. First Class: The decoration shall be as prescribed for the Third
& Lt. Grand Class, but shall be imposed upon a rayed sun of silver, two and one-half
Commanders, inches in diameter, set with diamonds, and worn on the left breast. This
p. 64 decoration may be worn by the Sovereign Grand Commander, Lieu-
tenant Grand Commander, by those Brethren who have held either of
said offices, and by eminent Masons abroad to whom the honor may be
especially decreed by the Supreme Council.

Jewels

Jewel Examples, SEC. 9. Grand Cross. The Jewel of a Grand Cross of the Court of Hon-
p. 65 our is a Teutonic Cross of gold, one and three-fourth inches square, with
raised or beaded edges, resting on a wreath of gold oak leaves; engraved
on each arm of the cross is a column on which is a circular plate of gold
with white enameled center bordered with blue enamel; gold beads
around its base. In the center is a crimson rose with green leaves, and in
the border “GR\ CROSS COURT OF HONOUR” in gold letters. It shall
be worn on the left breast, suspended by a white ribbon, one and one-
fourth inches in width, with gold slide and buckle.

SEC. 10. Knight Commander. The Jewel of a Knight Commander of the

Court of Honour is a Passion Cross of gold laurel leaves; on the cross is
a raised plate of gold with white enameled center; gold beads around its
base. In the center is trefoil of green, around which is “KT\ COMM\

Page 58 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Rings – Article XIII

COURT OF HONOUR” in gold letters. It shall be worn on the left breast,

suspended by a white ribbon, one and one-fourth inches in width, with
gold bar.

SEC. 11. Thirty-second Degree. The Jewel of the Thirty-second Degree

is a Teutonic Cross of gold, one and three-fourth inches square, with
raised or beaded edges and a surface within frosted, having in the cen-
ter a wreath of green enamel, with a gold tie at bottom, and within the
wreath the numerals XXXII in gold.

SEC. 12. Other Degrees. The Jewels of the Thirtieth Degree, of the Eigh-
teenth Degree, and of the Fourteenth Degree shall be such as are pre-
scribed in the Rituals and Liturgies of those Degrees.

Rings

SEC. 13. The ring of the Thirty-third Degree is a triple one of gold, like Ring Examples,
three small half-round rings side by side, united into one, not exceeding p. 65
five-sixteenths of an inch in width. This ring may be plain without any
device or mark on the outside of it, or it may have on the outside of it an
equilateral triangular-shaped plate with the numerals 33 on same. En-
graved within the ring should be the proper inscription, together with
the name of the Brother and the date on which he received the Degree.

SEC. 14. The ring of the Fourteenth Degree is a plain band of gold or
silver color which may be encased in a lucite pyramid, approximately
five-sixteenths of an inch in width, and having imposed thereon an en-
graved or enameled plate in the form of an equilateral triangle and with-
in the triangle the Hebrew letter “Yod” and engraved within the ring the
proper inscription. The recipient of a Fourteenth Degree Ring is hereby
prohibited from placing any emblem or design thereon, except as pro-
vided in this section.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 59
Article XIII – Cap Descriptions

Cap Descriptions

SEC. 15. 33° Active: Sovereign Grand Inspector General. The cap for an
Active Member of the Supreme Council shall be circular style, about 3 1/2
inches high, made of heavy purple grosgrain silk. Band of purple silk
velvet 1 1/2 inches wide finished, a cord welt above and below the band.
One row of 1 1/2 ligne No. 2079 gilt vellum wire lace at top and bottom
of band, leaving an interval of 1 1/8 inches showing on band between the
lace. The band embroidered in laurel vine, leaf, and berry pattern in Nos.
26 and 27 fine gilt bullion. In the center of the front of the cap a slanting
Patriarchal Cross with crosslets of No. 26 fine gilt bullion, open center
in cross filled with purple silk velvet. A regulation gilt bullion double
overcord fastened at lower edge of cap on each side with a gold-plated
metal button, the latter embossed with a double-headed eagle emblem.
Cap lined with purple satin and interlined with cotton and muslin, the
inner rim of buckram with a leather sweat band.

SEC. 16. Sovereign Grand Commander. The cap for the Sovereign
Grand Commander shall be the same as the above, except it shall be
made of violet grosgrain silk, and the band shall be violet silk velvet of
a darker shade than the grosgrain silk, and the Sovereign Grand Com-
mander’s Cross, being a Cross of Salem with crosslets, shall be used in
place of the Patriarchal Cross, open center in the Cross of Salem filled
with purple silk velvet.

SEC. 17. Deputy of the Supreme Council. The cap for Deputy of the Su-
preme Council shall be circular style 3 1/8 inches high, made of heavy
white grosgrain silk. Band of #9 scarlet velvet 1 1/4 inches wide finished,
a cord welt above and below band. One row of 3 ligne No. 1962 gilt vel-
lum wire lace at top and bottom of band. In the center of the front of the
cap a slanting Patriarchal Cross without crosslets of No. 26 fine gilt bul-
lion embroidery with No. 3 gilt jaceron around the cross, open center in
cross filled with red silk velvet. A regulation gilt bullion double overcord
fastened at lower edge of cap on each side with a gold-plated metal but-
ton, the latter embossed with a double-headed eagle emblem. Cap lined
with white satin and interlined with cotton and muslin, the inner rim of
buckram, with a leather sweat band.

Page 60 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Cap Descriptions – Article XIII

SEC. 18. 33° Inspector General Honorary. The cap for an Inspector
General Honorary shall be circular style, 3 1/8 inches high, made of heavy
white grosgrain silk. Band of white silk velour 1 1/4 inches wide finished,
a cord welt above and below the band. One row of 3 ligne No. 1962 gilt
vellum wire lace at top and bottom of band, leaving an interval of 9/16
inch showing on band between the lace. In the center of the front of the
cap a slanting Patriarchal Cross without crosslets of No. 26 fine gilt bul-
lion embroidery with No. 3 gilt jaceron around the cross, open center in
cross filled with red silk velvet. A regulation gilt bullion double overcord
fastened at lower edge of cap on each side with a gold-plated metal but-
ton, the latter embossed with a double-headed eagle emblem. Cap lined
with purple satin and interlined with cotton and muslin, the inner rim
of buckram, with a leather sweat band.

SEC. 19. 33° Grand Cross Court of Honour. The cap for Grand Cross
of the Court of Honour shall be circular style, 3 1/8 inches high, made
of heavy white grosgrain silk. Band of blue silk velvet 1 1/4 inches wide
finished, a cord welt above and below the band. One row of 3 ligne No.
1962 gilt vellum wire lace at top and bottom of band, leaving an interval
of 9/16 inch showing on band between the lace. On center in front a rep-
resentation of the Grand Cross jewel made as follows: A Teutonic Cross
1 3/4 inches square of 20 ligne gilt flat wire lace edged with 2 rows of No.
3 gilt jaceron resting on a wreath of oak leaves embroidered in Nos. 26
and 27 gilt bullion. On each arm of the cross a column embroidered in
Nos. 26 and 27 gilt bullion outlined with black silk thread. On the cen-
ter of the cross a circle of white grosgrain silk 7/16 inch in diameter with
an outer circle of blue grosgrain silk 3/4 inch in diameter, both circles
outlined with No. 3 gilt jaceron with loops on outside of outer circle
of No. 26 gilt bullion. On the blue silk in gold-colored silk embroidery
the letters “GR\ CROSS COURT OF HONOUR.” On the white silk cir-
cle a crimson rose outlined in black with green leaves and stem in silk
embroidery. A regulation gilt bullion double overcord fastened at lower
edge of cap on each side with a gold-plated metal button, the latter em-
bossed with a double-headed eagle emblem. Cap lined with blue satin
and interlined with cotton and muslin, the inner rim of buckram, with a
leather sweat band.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 61
Article XIII – Cap Descriptions

SEC. 20. 32° Knight Commander Court of Honour. The cap for a Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour shall be circular style, 3 1/8 inches
high, made of heavy red grosgrain silk. Band of red grosgrain silk 1 1/4
inches wide finished, a cord welt above and below the band. One row of
3 ligne No. 1962 gilt vellum wire lace at top and bottom of band, leaving
an interval 9/16 inch showing on band between the lace. On center in
front a representation of the Knight Commander jewel made as follows:
A Passion Cross 2 inches long, with fancy arms embroidered in Nos. 25
and 26 gilt bullion resting on a wreath of gold laurel leaves of Nos. 26
and 27 gilt bullion. The arms of the cross to have red silk velvet centers.
A double circle of white grosgrain silk outlined with No. 3 gilt jaceron
with loops on outside of outer circle of No. 26 gilt bullion. On outer cir-
cle in gold-colored silk embroidery the letters “KT\ COMM\ COURT
OF HONOUR.” On the inner circle the trefoil in green silk embroidery.
A regulation gilt bullion double overcord fastened at lower edge of cap
on each side with a gold-plated metal button, the latter embossed with
a double-headed eagle emblem. Cap lined with red satin and interlined
with muslin, the inner rim of buckram, with a leather sweat band.

SEC. 21. Fifty-Year Membership. Any 14° member in good standing of

the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern
Jurisdiction of the United States of America who became a member of
the Scottish Rite fifty (50) or more calendar years prior to the current
calendar year is entitled to recognition as such. Such recognition will
permit the recipient to wear a 50-year cap or a 50-year pin, and he shall
also be entitled to receive a proper certificate. For a member to qualify
for such recognition, his records shall be submitted by the Valley Secre-
tary to the Grand Executive Director to be certified.

[2] This cap shall be the same style and shape as that for Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour, except that it is made of light blue
grosgrain silk, with a band of the same material 1 1/4 inches wide finished.
The insignia on center in front shall be the figure 50 surrounded by a
green silk embroidered laurel wreath. Cap shall be lined with light blue
satin and interlined with muslin. Name of Brother receiving cap shall be
embroidered in silk on a separate piece of silk sewn onto the lining.

Page 62 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Cap Descriptions – Article XIII

SEC. 22. 32° Master of the Royal Secret. The cap for a Master of the
Royal Secret shall be circular style, 3 1/8 inches high, made of heavy black
grosgrain silk. Band of 18 ligne No. 2180 black silk braid 1 1/4 inches wide
finished, a cord welt above and below the band. One row of 3 ligne No.
1962 gilt vellum wire lace at top and bottom of band, leaving an interval
9/16 inch on band between the lace. On center in front a double-head-
ed eagle 1 3/4 inches high with a rayed equilateral triangle 3/4 inch high,
including rays, above the eagle. The total height of the eagle and rayed
equilateral triangle to be 2 1/2 inches. The eagle of Nos. 29, 30, and 31 gilt
bullion. The equilateral triangle to be of red cloth outlined with No. 3
gilt jaceron with figure 32 in center and rays outside of Nos. 25 and 26
gilt bullion embroidery. A regulation gilt bullion double overcord, fas-
tened at lower edge of cap on each side with a gold-plated metal button,
the latter embossed with a double-headed eagle emblem. Cap lined with
black satin and interlined with muslin, the inner rim of buckram, with a
leather sweat band.

SEC. 23. Scottish Rite Official Flag. The official flag shall be as follows: Flag
the dimensions shall be 3' × 5'. The field shall be white with a centered
Scottish Rite eagle. The eagle shall have a dark brown body, white heads
and tail feathers and gold beaks and talons. Upon its breast shall be an
erect, bordered white triangle, with a centered “32.” The eagle’s talons
shall clutch the blade of a silver, flaming sword draped with a golden
banner, bearing, “SPES MEA IN DEO EST.” Centered vertically above
as well as below the eagle shall be a purple horizontal bar, trimmed with
gold at the top and bottom and extending the width of the flag. Each
bar shall have white lettering. The bar above the eagle shall bear the
words “Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.” The bar be-
low the eagle shall bear the words “Southern Jurisdiction, United States
of America.”

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 63
Article XIII – Grand Decoration Examples

Grand Decoration Examples

Grand
Decoration,
Fourth Class
Description,
p. 57

Grand Decoration, Fourth Class

Grand
Decoration,
First Class
Description,
p. 58

Grand Decoration, First Class

Page 64 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Jewel Examples – Article XIII

Jewel Examples

Thirty-second
Degree Jewel
Description,
p. 59

K.C.C.H. Jewel
Description,
p. 58

Grand
Cross Jewel
Description,
p. 58

(Left to right) Jewels of the 32°, Knight Commander of the Court of

Honour, and Grand Cross of the Court of Honour

Ring Examples

Ring
Descriptions,
p. 59

14° Ring

33° Degree Ring

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 65
Article XIII – Cap Examples

Cap Examples

Cap
Descriptions,
p. 60–63

(Left to right, top to bottom) Caps of the 32°, 50-Year Member, Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour, 33°, Deputy, Sovereign Grand
Inspector General, Sovereign Grand Commander, and Grand Cross of the
Court of Honour

Page 66 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE XIV

Court of Honour

SEC. 1. The Court of Honour, established for those Brethren who have Members
deserved well of the Rite, shall be composed of the Sovereign Grand
Inspectors General, the Emeriti and Honorary Members of the Supreme
Council, the Grand Crosses, and the Knights Commander.

SEC. 2. Not less than ninety days before each regular session of the K.C.C.H.
Supreme Council each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and each Nominations &
Deputy of the Supreme Council may file, in the number below spec- Qualifications
ified, in the office of the Grand Executive Director, the electronically
submitted nominations of Masters of the Royal Secret who are members
in good standing in his Orient, for the rank and decoration of Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour. Nominations filed less than ninety
days before any such session shall not be considered at that session, ex-
cept by unanimous consent. Nominations shall be entered into the Su-
preme Council Sentinel Database Management System, and must state
the name in full of each nominee, his identification number, the date of
his birth, his occupation, his residence, his Blue Lodge name, number,
and location, the date when he received the Thirty-second Degree, the
names and location of the Bodies of the Rite with which he is affiliated,
and a brief statement of his specific services rendered in behalf of this
Rite. Provided, that when the nominee is a member of Bodies in another
Orient under this general jurisdiction, the approval of such nomination
by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme
Council in such other Orient shall be obtained, and such nomination
shall be charged to the Orient of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
or Deputy of the Supreme Council making the same.

[2] The number of such nominations for Knights Commander K.C.C.H. Quotas
for each Orient in the United States shall be two for each nomination
for Inspector General Honorary as set forth in Article IV, Section 9, of
these Statutes.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 67
Article XIV – Court of Honour

[3] The smaller territorial and foreign Orients may each have eight
nominations for Knights Commander, except when in the judgment of
the Sovereign Grand Commander a larger number is needed in a par-
ticular Orient. The nominations set forth in this numbered paragraph
may be a lesser number at the option of the Sovereign Grand Inspector
General or Deputy of each Orient.

SEC. 3. In addition to the earned nominations provided for in the pre-

ceding section, and in addition to the number standing to his credit,
and in the same form and manner, and complying with the same condi-
tions, each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and each Deputy of the
Supreme Council may nominate for the rank and decoration of Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour, two Masters of the Royal Secret for
each fifty Masters of the Royal Secret who have received the Thirty-sec-
ond Degree in his Orient since the preceding regular session. Whatever
fractions are left over from one session will be counted in the quota for
the next Session. The nominations set forth in this numbered paragraph
may be a lesser number at the option of the Sovereign Grand Inspector
General or Deputy of each Orient. Any unused nominations will be car-
ried forward to the next Session.

K.C.C.H. [2] Nominations under this and the preceding section shall be re-
Nominations & ferred to the Committee on Nominations for review not less than 60
Qualifications days before each regular session of the Supreme Council. A Supreme
Council electronic vote in recess shall follow not less than 45 days prior
to such session with names submitted to Sovereign Grand Inspectors
General and Deputies following ratification of vote.

[3] Members of any Body whose dues are in arrears in any Valley
where he holds membership in the Southern Jurisdiction are not eligible
for nomination.

[4] This section and the resulting effect will be reviewed at each
Supreme Council Session.

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 Court of Honour – Article XIV

SEC. 4. The Supreme Council reserves to itself the right to elect Knights At Large K.C.C.H.
Commander of the Court of Honour from the Masters of the Royal Se- Elections
cret of the jurisdiction at large whenever, in its judgment, the interest of
the Rite will be thereby promoted.

[2] The Sovereign Grand Commander may between Biennial

Sessions of the Supreme Council elect ten Knights Commander of the
Court of Honour at Large whenever, in his judgment, the interest of the
Rite will be thereby promoted. However, Article XIV, Sec. 5, Paragraph 2
must be complied with.

SEC. 5. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or a Deputy of the Su- K.C.C.H.

preme Council may not nominate to the rank and decoration of Knight Nomination
Commander of the Court of Honour anyone who has not received the Conferral
Thirty-second Degree at least forty-four months before the session at Restrictions
which the nomination is to be voted on, and has not a Patent of the
Thirty-second Degree from this Supreme Council or a similar Patent
from a regular Supreme Council of another grand jurisdiction, which
has been officially endorsed by the officers of the Bodies of an Orient in
this jurisdiction with which he has become affiliated, and who is not an
affiliated Master Mason and a member of a Lodge of Perfection, Chapter
of Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh, and Consistory of an Orient of this
jurisdiction.

[2] The ceremonies of Investiture for the rank and decoration of

Knight Commander of the Court of Honour may be held in the various
Orients under the direction of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors Gener-
al or Deputies rather than by this Supreme Council at its biennial ses-
sion. If a Brother elected to be invested with the rank and decoration of
Knight Commander of the Court of Honour does not present himself to
receive the Investiture at or prior to the regular session of the Supreme
Council next succeeding his election, such election shall be void, but the
time may be extended by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council.

[3] Thirty-second Degree Brethren may be admitted to the Knight

Commander of the Court of Honour Ceremony at the discretion of
the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputies of the Supreme

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 69
Article XIV – Court of Honour

Council conducting the ceremony. Furthermore, the Sovereign Grand

Inspectors General and Deputies of the Supreme Council are permitted
to conduct the investiture of the Knights Commander in open ceremony
with the deletion of the first section as follows: “I invoke upon myself all
my Masonic obligations, vows, and promises.”

Loss of K.C.C.H. [4] Whenever a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour for
Rank any cause is suspended by or becomes unaffiliated in his Blue Lodge or
any Body of this Rite, and such status so continues for one year, or if he
is expelled by any such Lodge or Body, he thereby loses his rank and
decoration, together with all his rights and privileges as such.

K.C.C.H. or SEC. 6. The rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour or

Grand Cross Grand Cross shall never be asked or applied for, and if asked or applied
Rank Refused for, shall be refused.

Grand Cross SEC. 7. No less than ninety days before the first day of each regular ses-
Nominations, sion each Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme
Qualifications, Council may, by sealed letter addressed to the Sovereign Grand Com-
& Voting mander, nominate one Inspector General Honorary from his Orient for
investiture with the dignity of Grand Cross for signal services and un-
usual merit, which he shall specify. The cover letter itself shall be desig-
nated CONFIDENTIAL and shall include the full name and member
identification number of the nominee. Inside the envelope shall be a sec-
ond, sealed envelope with the actual nomination. This letter shall show,
on the outside of the envelope, the following words, “Nomination for
Grand Cross,” without the name of the nominee, and shall be laid, with
seals unbroken, before the Sovereign Grand Commander, who shall re-
fer them to a committee consisting of all the members of the Council of
Administration present at the session, by whom they shall be opened.
The recommendations shall be read and the committee shall proceed to
select, by unanimous consent, the Grand Cross nominees.

[2] The designates thus selected must be voted upon by the Su-
preme Council, and unanimous vote shall be necessary in each case for
an election.

Page 70 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Court of Honour – Article XIV

[3] A Grand Cross shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

SEC. 8. The Court of Honour may assemble when called together by Court of Honour
the Sovereign Grand Commander, shall be presided over by a Legate Assemblies
Grand Cross designated by him, may adopt rules of order and bylaws
for its government, recommend to the Supreme Council measures of
legislation, and be heard in the Supreme Council by its Grand Crosses to
explain the same.

SEC. 9. Each Grand Cross shall receive a Diploma, Cap, and Jewel from
the Supreme Council without charge.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 71
 ARTICLE XV

Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

SEC. 1. Subordinate Bodies of the Rite in this jurisdiction are organized Organization
and exist by virtue of Letters Temporary, which are signed by the officer is-
suing them, or of Permanent Charters granted by the Supreme Council and
signed by the Sovereign Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, and the
Grand Secretary General, attested by the great seal of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 2. A regular Lodge of Perfection is composed of nine members, Quorum for

and a perfect Lodge, of thirteen; a regular Chapter of Rose Croix, of Bodies
seven members, and a perfect Chapter, of thirteen; a regular Council of
Kadosh, of nine members, and a perfect Council, of eighteen; a regular
Consistory of Masters of the Royal Secret, of nine members, and a per-
fect Consistory, of fourteen; and the number of members required to
make these Bodies regular is indispensable.

SEC. 3. A Body may be opened with a lesser number of its own mem-
bers if there be present the regular number including visitors, or if a
Sovereign Grand Inspector General or a Deputy of the Supreme Council
be present, but without the regular number of its own members present,
the Body can do no work whatever except to confer Degrees, for which
purpose only, when candidates have already been elected, it may con-
vene and proceed with no fewer than five members.

SEC. 4. The territorial jurisdiction of a Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Territorial

Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh, or Consistory is concurrent with that Jurisdiction
of every other Body of the same Degree in the same jurisdiction, unless
otherwise limited and defined by the Sovereign Grand Inspector Gener-
al or Deputy of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 5. The Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su- Place of Meeting
preme Council may remove the place of meeting of any Body to any
other place within the same city, town, or village or transfer the Charter
and meeting place of any Body to any other city, town, or village within
his Orient. (See also 1929 Trans., page 249.)

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 73
Article XV – Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

Charter SEC. 6. It is permissible for a Valley to vote to surrender its Charter

Surrender or vote to consolidate into another Valley. Before a Valley may vote to
and Valley surrender its Charter or consolidate into another Valley, the Sovereign
Consolidation Grand Inspector General, or Deputy of the Supreme Council, in the Ori-
ent must approve, in writing, of the proposed surrender or consolida-
tion. Consolidation of two valleys requires an affirmative vote of both
valleys by their respective Lodges of Perfection.

SEC. 7. Any Body may, by vote of its members held at a Stated Meeting
or at a special meeting called for that purpose, of which notice is given
to all of its members, surrender its Charter and cease to exist, or vote to
consolidate into another Valley, unless nine members of such Body, if
it be a Lodge of Perfection, Council of Kadosh, or Consistory, or seven
members if it be a Chapter of Rose Croix, vote in the negative, in which
event the Charter and other property of the Body will be retained and it
may continue its work.

Charter SEC. 8. Upon report and recommendation of the Committee on the

Forfeiture State of the Order and Unfinished Business, the Charter of any Body
which has failed to make returns and pay assessments and dues for two
years may, by vote of the Supreme Council, be declared forfeited and
void. No Subordinate Body under the jurisdiction of this Supreme Coun-
cil shall withdraw or attempt to withdraw its allegiance to the Supreme
Council without the consent of the Sovereign Grand Commander or of
the Supreme Council. The Charter of any Subordinate Body attempting
to withdraw its allegiance shall be forfeited and the Sovereign Grand In-
spector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council instructed to pick up
said Charter and return the same to the Supreme Council.

Disposition of SEC. 9. When a Body ceases to exist from any cause, all of its books
Property upon and records and all of its personal property, consisting of emblems, sym-
Body Closure bols, and other equipment and paraphernalia used or employed in ex-
emplification of the Degrees of the Rite, and particularly those relating
to the Secret Work of the Order, shall immediately pass to and become
the property of the Supreme Council and shall be forthwith forwarded
to the Supreme Council by the officers of said Body, or by any person
having the same in possession or custody in the case of a surrender. In

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 Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies – Article XV

the case of a consolidation the above items shall pass to the receiving
Valley. All other property, real and/or personal, of such Body shall be
subjected first to the payment of all lawful liens existing against the same
in the order of their legal priority; and secondly, the remainder of such
property, if any, shall be subjected to the payment, pro rata, of all other
lawful unsecured debts of said Body. All the residue of such property
remaining after the payment of liens and debts as herein provided shall
immediately pass to and become the property of the Supreme Council in
the case of a surrender. In the case of consolidation, the items shall pass
to the receiving Valley.

[2] To effect the purposes of this section, the Sovereign Grand Administrator
Commander or other proper officer of the Supreme Council is hereby Appointment
given power, to be exercised in his discretion, to appoint one or more
persons who shall, upon such appointment, take possession and control
of such property, and liquidate and administer the same in accordance
with the laws of the state in which such property is situate and in ac-
cordance with the provisions of this statute not in conflict with such
state laws.

[3] When a Body ceases to exist from any cause, the Grand Execu-
tive Director shall issue Demits to the members thereof who are in good
standing in the case of a surrender. In the case of a consolidation, the
Grand Executive Director shall issue new member identification cards
to the consolidating members.

SEC. 10. Stated Meetings of a Lodge of Perfection must be held at least Stated Meetings
monthly, and of a Chapter of Rose Croix and a Council of Kadosh, at
least once in two months, except during the months of July, August, and
September. A Consistory must hold regular meetings at least once every
three months.

SEC. 11. Lodges of Perfection celebrate as a feast day the fifteenth day of Feast Days
the Hebrew month Tishri. The meetings of the Chapter of Rose Croix are
held on Maundy Thursday without a feast or banquet, and on Easter Sun-
day. Councils of Kadosh celebrate as feast day the thirteenth day of Jan-
uary. The annual feast day of the Consistory is the thirty-first day of May.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 75
Article XV – Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

[2] The Ceremony of Extinguishing and Relighting the Lights may

be open to the public by using the Rituals modified for that purpose.

Bylaw SEC. 12. Each Body must have separate bylaws which must be sent for
Requirements approval to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or to the Deputy of
the Supreme Council for the Orient within thirty days after their adop-
tion, or they will cease to be in force at the end of that period. While
awaiting approval, they will be provisionally in force, and if no action
is taken upon them within sixty days, they become laws. After they be-
come laws, the presiding officer of the Body must file a copy thereof with
the Grand Executive Director. Thereafter amendments to the bylaws
must be made and filed in the same manner.

Officer Elections SEC. 13. Bodies may, by their bylaws, provide for the election of their
& Installations officers, except for the Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be appointed
by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme
Council after conferring with the Valley Personal Representative and
any other line officers of the Valley, either annually, biennially, or tri-
ennially. Elections in Lodges of Perfection shall be held at the regular
meeting nearest to the third day of the Hebrew month Adar; in Chap-
ters of Rose Croix, at the regular meeting nearest to the Thursday after
Easter; in Councils of Kadosh, at the regular meeting nearest the twen-
ty-fourth day of June; in Consistories, at the regular meeting nearest to
the twenty-seventh day of December, provided, however, that a Sover-
eign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council may
permit joint elections at other times; and if, from any cause, a Body
fails to elect officers on the day prescribed, the Sovereign Grand In-
spector General or the Deputy of the Supreme Council shall order an
election to be held on another day fixed by himself, due notice thereof
being given to members.

SEC. 14. Officers may be installed at the same meeting at which they are
elected or appointed, or at any time within thirty days thereafter. After
such time the installation can be had only by dispensation from the Sov-
ereign Grand Inspector General or the Deputy of the Supreme Coun-
cil. The installation ceremony may, in addition, be performed either at
a joint meeting or a joint and open meeting of Scottish Rite members,

Page 76 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies – Article XV

their families or friends, with approval of the Sovereign Grand Inspector

General or Deputy of the Supreme Council. Until the new officers are
duly installed, the old officers hold over. Elective officers must be in-
stalled in person. Appointive officers may be installed by proxy.

SEC. 15. Any officer of a Body may resign. Officer

Resignation
[2] The resignation of any officer of a Body may be demanded and
his place made vacant by proposition moved at one regular meeting and
considered and sustained by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the
members present at the next regular meeting.

SEC. 16. A member of a Subordinate Body of the Rite maintaining his Officer Residency
permanent residence in an Orient other than that in which such Body is Requirements
located may not be elected to an office in such Body; and when an officer of
such Body, after his election, moves from the territorial jurisdiction of that
Body, his office immediately becomes vacant; provided, however, that the
Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council in
the Orient wherein the Body is located, if he deems it best for the interests
of the Body and of the Rite, may authorize the Body to elect to office mem-
bers who retain their membership in the Body but who reside without the
local jurisdiction or beyond the limits of the Orient, and such Sovereign
Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council may ratify
and confirm such election if had originally without authority previously
given, and may, by appropriate order, authorize the continuance in office
of any member of such Body who has previously been elected to an office
therein and who, during the term of his office, removes from the Orient
in which such Body is located or from the territorial jurisdiction of such
Body. Any office in a Subordinate Body shall become vacant by the death
of the incumbent, his resignation, his suspension or expulsion, or upon his
becoming a nonaffiliate in any Body of the Rite.

SEC. 17. When a vacancy occurs in the presiding office of a Body, the Office Vacancies
second officer will succeed the first, and the third, the second, and the
third office shall be filled by election at a regular meeting, of which due
notice shall be given to the members. If both of these officers desire to
retain their old positions, the election may be held for the office of pre-

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 77
Article XV – Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

siding officer; and if the second officer will accept the head of the Body,
and the third officer desires to keep his old place, the election shall be
only for the second place. When vacancies occur in other offices, they
shall be filled by appointment made by the presiding officer, except in
the case of the Secretary or Treasurer, who shall be appointed in accor-
dance with Article XV, Section 13.

Annual Reports SEC. 18. The Grand Executive Director shall annually, and as soon as
from Grand possible after January 31st of each year, when membership numbers for
Executive the previous year are closed for each Orient and Valley, have the Annual
Director’s Office Report for each Subordinate Body constructed and electronically dis-
seminated. The Grand Executive Director shall email the Annual Report
to each Active Member and Deputy of the Supreme Council and oversee
the distribution of the Annual Report, via the Personnel and Adminis-
trative Computer System in use, to each Orient and Valley Officer.

Ritual Reports [2] A report, giving inventory of Rituals, Secret Works, and Ru-
from Secretary brics and/or Ritual CDs as of December 31, shall be submitted annually
by the Secretary of the Subordinate Body to the Grand Archivist’s office
on forms provided by the latter’s office.

Financial Control SEC. 19. Each Body is required to retain control over its own financial
affairs and to administer them by the vote of its own members without
the interposition of a Board of Control or any similar board; provided,
that where Bodies are located in one place and consent thereto, the funds
may be managed and controlled by the Lodge of Perfection.

Almoners’ SEC. 20. Almoners shall report to the Sovereign Grand Inspectors Gen-
Reports & eral or Deputies of the Supreme Council in the Orients each January,
Requirements showing their yearly total receipts and disbursements, amount on hand,
and any investments.

[2] Contributions shall be verified by the signatures of any two of-

ficers at the time of collection and deposited in checking bank accounts.

[3] Disbursements for all purposes shall be made by check signed

by both the Almoner and either the Secretary or the Treasurer.

Page 78 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies – Article XV

SEC. 21. When a Body is opened in its highest Degree, all its Degrees Opening Degrees
are opened and it may pass from work in one Degree to work in another
without other form than the declaration that it does so.

SEC. 22. No Body or any member thereof is permitted to appear in pub- Restrictions
lic in uniform, which is defined as the costumes used in degree confer- on Public
rals. Prayer caps may be worn at a funeral conducted by a Scottish Rite Appearance in
Body, or may be worn by dispensation issued by the Sovereign Grand Uniform
Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council. This section shall
not be construed to prohibit the display of clothing with Scottish Rite
logos, jewelry, etc. when worn by members in public, such personal dis-
plays are left to the judgment of each individual.

SEC. 23. No Body shall rent, loan, or allow the use of its regalia or other Non-Masonic
paraphernalia used in the work of its Degrees or ceremonies for any oth- Use of Regalia
er than Masonic purposes. Prohibited

SEC. 24. No Body or Bodies of the Rite shall be permitted to become a Incorporation
body corporate. By permission of the Supreme Council, or of the Sov- Prohibited
ereign Grand Commander in recess, any Body or Bodies of the Scottish
Rite may, by resolution, authorize designated trustees to organize a cor-
poration or an association, or establish a trust under the civil laws of
the jurisdiction in which they are situate, to acquire by gift, devise, or
purchase, and hold title to, real or personal property for the use of such
Body or Bodies. Such corporation or association or trust shall remain a
part of and under the direct control of the Supreme Council.

[2] The regulations for the use of the above property, such as the Property Control
construction of buildings, incurring of indebtedness and securing pay- & Management
ment of the same, and all matters relating to the control and manage-
ment of the above property belong to the membership of the Body or
Bodies interested, subject always to the general powers of supervision
of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or the Deputy of the Supreme
Council of the Orient in which the Body is situated, and his written ap-
proval is required prior to sales, contributions, or mortgages of any real
estate or substantial assets, and in case of construction of buildings, writ-
ten approval of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 79
Article XV – Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

Supreme Council is required for the site, plans, contracts, acceptance of

bids, and financing. The Lodge of Perfection shall elect the Valley’s above
designated trustees. Terms of such trustees shall be established so that
no trustee may serve more than ten continuous years without a break
in service of at least one full year, unless a different time is specified by
state statute.

Scottish Rite [3] It is not objectionable to use the word “club” in designating an
Clubs organized group of Scottish Rite Masons, anything to the contrary in the
proceedings heretofore notwithstanding.

Corporations [4] By permission of the Supreme Council, or of the Sovereign

for Charitable Grand Commander in recess, any Body or Bodies of the Rite may, by
& Educational resolution, authorize designated trustees to organize a corporation, or
Purposes association, or establish a trust under the civil laws of the jurisdiction in
which they are situate, to acquire, by gift or devise, monies or properties
for charitable and educational purposes only, no part of the corpus or
income of such corporation to inure to the benefit of any individual or
Body, but to be used solely and exclusively for charitable and educational
purposes.

[5] All the above corporations, associations, or trusts shall provide

in their Charter, Articles of Association, or Trust Agreement that the
governing board or trustees must be elected or appointed by a Body or
Bodies of the Rite. Terms of such board members or trustees shall be
established so that no trustee may serve more than ten continuous years
without a break in service of at least one full year, unless a different time
is specified by state statute.

Corporations [6] All corporations, associations, or trusts shall provide in their

under Supreme Charter, Articles of Association, or Trust Agreement the following:
Council
Authority “The lodges and officers named herein must be acting by the
authority of and under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Coun-
cil, 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
Southern Jurisdiction, United States of America.”

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 Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies – Article XV

[7] All charitable and educational corporations, associations, or

trusts shall provide in their Charter, Articles of Association, or Trust
Agreement the following:

“On dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the corporation, as-

sociation or trust, whether voluntary or involuntary, the net assets
shall be transferred to a corporation, association, or trust having
the same or similar purposes, whose trustees or governing body
shall operate by the authority of the Sovereign Grand Inspector
General or Deputy of the Supreme Council of the Orient (or par-
ticular jurisdiction) and under the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Council, 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
Southern Jurisdiction, United States of America, which corpora-
tion, association or trust shall be exempt from federal income tax
under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the
corresponding provision of any such future law).”

[8] The Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputies of the Fidelity Coverage
Supreme Council shall require their respective Bodies to secure fidelity Required
coverage protecting their funds, securities and property in the hands of
their officers, committees, and trustees, and the officers and directors of
corporations formed by them, as will in their judgment protect the Bod-
ies from any financial loss. The fidelity coverage shall be approved and
paid for by the Subordinate Body.

SEC. 25. No Body or Class of candidates is permitted to take the name Naming
of any living person. Restrictions

SEC. 26. No Scottish Rite Lodge, Club, or Body shall permit the main- Gambling
tenance or operation of any slot machine, pin-ball machine, or other Prohibitions
gambling devices in any Scottish Rite Temple, Scottish Rite Cathedral, or
in any building, or in any room in any building occupied by or under the
control of such Lodge or Body. Fundraisers, such as raffles, are permitted
if all local, state, and federal laws are followed, all Grand Lodge regula-
tions of the jurisdiction the Scottish Rite Lodge, Club, or Body is located
in are adhered to, and all funds raised are contributed to a 501(c)3 Scot-
tish Rite charity.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 81
Article XV – Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

Appeals & SEC. 27. An appeal may be taken from the action of any Body by any
Grievances member feeling himself aggrieved thereby to the Sovereign Grand In-
spector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient in
which the Body is situate, at any time within thirty days from the date of
such action. An appeal may be taken to the Supreme Council from any
decision of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
preme Council, by any Body or any member feeling aggrieved thereby,
within sixty days from the date of such decision. The appeal in the latter
case is taken by serving a notice on the officer appealed from and filing
a copy with affidavit of service with the Sovereign Grand Commander,
who shall have power, in his discretion, to suspend such decision until
the appeal can be heard. All appeals to the Supreme Council shall be
presented for hearing at the next regular session.

Page 82 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE XVI

Formation of New Bodies

SEC. 1. Whenever it is desired to organize a Body of the Rite, a Peti- Petition Process
tion shall be made in writing, either to the Sovereign Grand Inspector
General or Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient in which the
Body is to be located. (See Form of Application for New Bodies in the
Addendum.) If the Body is to be organized in unoccupied territory for
which no Deputy of the Supreme Council has been appointed, the Peti-
tion shall be made to the Sovereign Grand Commander, if the Supreme
Council is in recess. The Supreme Council reserves the power to issue,
when in session, Letters Temporary upon petition made to it directly for
the establishment of Bodies in unoccupied territory.

SEC. 2. A Petition for a Lodge of Perfection must be signed by no fewer

than nine Perfect Elus; for a Chapter of Rose Croix, by no fewer than
seven Knights Rose Croix; for a Council of Kadosh, by no fewer than
nine Knights of Kadosh; for a Consistory, by no fewer than nine Masters
of the Royal Secret.

SEC. 3. Each signer must present with the Petition a Certificate of Good
Standing in the Body in which he holds membership, or, if unaffiliated, a
Demit from the Body in which he last held membership.

SEC. 4. When the Petition has been completed, it shall be presented to

the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in the Orient wherein the new
Body is to be located, who shall approve or disapprove it and return it,
with all the papers attached, to the petitioning Brethren. Upon receipt
of the Petition approved by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General, the
petitioners shall forward it, together with all Certificates of Good Stand-
ing and Demits, to the Grand Executive Director, and along with proper
remittance to cover fees and cost of books, etc., as provided by the Stat-
utes of the Supreme Council. (See Article XI.2.)

[2] In an Orient where there is a Deputy of the Supreme Council,

he shall transmit such Petition to the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 83
Article XVI – Formation of New Bodies

Issuance SEC. 5. Upon the receipt of the Petition and accompanying remittance,
of Supplies the Grand Executive Director shall provide the necessary supplies and
& Letters report his action to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy
Temporary of the Supreme Council in whose Orient the Body is to be established,
and thereupon Letters Temporary, signed by the Sovereign Grand Com-
mander or Sovereign Grand Inspector General, as the case may be, shall
be issued.

SEC. 6. Letters Temporary shall recite that the Body so created tempo-
rarily shall, without being regularly constituted and without installation
of its officers, have power to fix and collect the fees and dues to be paid
by candidates and members, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Statutes of the Supreme Council. Such Body shall have the power to elect
candidates for the purpose of conferring the Degrees upon them, to elect
by affiliation members who have received such Degrees in other Bodies,
and to do any and all things necessary and proper for the conduct of the
business of such Body under the direction of the Sovereign Grand In-
spector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council.

Charter SEC. 7. Letters Temporary shall be in force to the regular session of the
Application Supreme Council held next thereafter, when application, with the recom-
Procedures mendation of the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Sovereign Grand
Inspector General, as the case may be, under whose direction the Body
was formed, shall be made to the Supreme Council for a Charter. (See
Form of Application for Charter of New Bodies in the Addendum.) Such
application shall be filed in the office of the Grand Executive Director at
least thirty days prior to the date of meeting of the regular session, and
shall be accompanied by the required fees for charter and the following
documents:

A. Alphabetical list of members who signed the Petition for Let-

ters Temporary, setting forth the name of each in full, followed by De-
gree attained.

B. Name in full, followed by Degree attained, and name of former

Body of each Brother affiliated while under Letters Temporary.

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 Formation of New Bodies – Article XVI

C. Name in full, followed by Degree attained, of each Brother who

became a loss under Letters Temporary—death, demission, suspension,
etc.—giving date in each case.

D. Name in full, followed by Degree attained, of each Brother in-

vested with Degrees under Letters Temporary.

E. Names in full of Brethren designated by the Sovereign Grand

Commander or the Sovereign Grand Inspector General, as the case may
be, as the first officers of the Body under charter.

F. Alphabetical list of all members, names in full, followed by De-

gree attained, as of the date application is made for charter. A computer
generated one-line roster can be ordered from the Supreme Council for
this purpose.

[2] Thereupon the Grand Executive Director shall certify whether

all fees due the Supreme Council have been paid and present the ap-
plication with accompanying papers to the Supreme Council for con-
sideration.

SEC. 8. If a Charter be not granted, the Letters Temporary may be con- Denial of Charter
tinued or the temporary Body may be dissolved, in which latter case the Procedures
Grand Executive Director shall return the Certificates of Good Standing
to the issuing Bodies, and shall issue Demits to all Brethren who were
members in good standing of such temporary Body at the date of its
dissolution.

SEC. 9. A signer of a Petition for Letters Temporary who files a Demit Signatory
may, up to the time of application for charter by the new Body, have his Withdrawals
name stricken from the roll of petitioners and his Demit returned to
him. A signer of such Petition who files a Certificate of Good Standing
may, up to the time of application for charter by the new Body, have his
name stricken from the roll of petitioners, in which case the Secretary
of the new Body shall notify the Grand Executive Director, who shall
then return the Certificate of Good Standing to the issuing Body, and the
Brother’s standing in the issuing Body remains uninterrupted.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 85
Article XVI – Formation of New Bodies

Limitations of SEC. 10. Bodies working under Letters Temporary do not have pow-
Power for Letters er to enact bylaws, but are governed by the direction of the Sovereign
Temporary Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council.

Process after SEC. 11. When the Supreme Council grants a Permanent Charter for
Receiving the organization of a Body, the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or
Permanent Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient in which it is located
Charter will, upon the delivery of the Charter, proceed to organize the new Body
permanently by constituting it and installing the officers named in the
Charter, and making report thereof, with the date of his action, to the
Grand Executive Director, but only in case they were not elected before
the Charter was issued.

Page 86 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ARTICLE XVII

Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

SEC. 1. An applicant for the Degrees in any Body of the Rite must be Applicant
and remain an affiliated Master Mason in a regular Symbolic Lodge. As Qualifications
between Orients of this Supreme Council, there shall be no residence
requirement for a petitioner for the Degrees, provided that upon receipt
of the Petition, the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the
Orient of the petitioner’s residence shall be notified promptly thereof.

[2] Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputies of the Su- S.G.I.G. & Deputy
preme Council may put into force and effect such regulations in their Authority
respective Orients as they, in their judgment, deem necessary to assure over Degree
that the Degrees of the Rite are not conferred upon candidates who do Regulations
not do their duty, or who have not had opportunity to do their duty, as
Symbolic Lodge members.

SEC. 2. It shall not be permissible for any Subordinate Body of this Su- Petitioner
preme Council or for any officer or member thereof to publish or circu- Privacy
late in any printed or written form a list of the names of petitioners for
the Degrees for general distribution among the members of such Body.

SEC. 3. An actual resident within the territorial jurisdiction of a Body Petitions to

of the Rite within the general jurisdiction of this Supreme Council can Other Supreme
lawfully obtain any of the Degrees from any other officer or Body under Councils
the jurisdiction of any other Supreme Council, with written consent and
waiver of jurisdiction which shall have been obtained from the Sovereign
Grand Commander and the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Dep-
uty of the Supreme Council in charge of the state or territory in which
the Brother resides, except as provided in Paragraph 2 of this section.

[2] Any person who is a citizen within the territorial jurisdiction Jurisdictional
of any other Supreme Council may be permitted to obtain any of the Waivers
Degrees from any officer or Body of this jurisdiction with the written
consent and waiver of jurisdiction obtained from the Sovereign Grand
Commander or proper official of such foreign Supreme Council, pro-

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 87
Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

vided, however, where the waiver of jurisdiction is requested between

the Supreme Councils of the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the
Scottish Rite for a citizen of the United States, the waiver may be ob-
tained from the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the
Supreme Council in the state or territory in which the Brother resides or
is affiliated.

Citizenship [3] Except as provided in Paragraph [2] of this Section, a person

Requirements must be a citizen of the United States in order to petition for and receive
new Degrees of this Supreme Council.

Residency of SEC. 4. Any member of the United States Armed Forces or any officer
Overseas & of the foreign service of the United States Department of State, or any
Armed Forces employee of any agency of the United States, regularly employed outside
Candidates of the United States, or any civilian, officer, or employee working abroad
for American industrial or business firms, who is away from his legal res-
idence for extended periods, being an affiliated Master Mason in good
standing, may, by Petition to a Subordinate Body of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite of either the Northern or Southern Jurisdiction
of the United States, establish his Scottish Rite Masonic residence within
the jurisdiction of either of said Supreme Councils without reference to
his actual or legal place of residence. Such Masonic residence shall be
taken for all Scottish Rite purposes to be the residence of such officer or
enlisted man, merchant mariner, foreign service officer or employee, or
such civilian, officer or employee working abroad for American indus-
trial or business firms, who is away from his legal residence for extended
periods, and shall not be changed except by the consent in writing of the
Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council for the jurisdic-
tion in which such Masonic residence has been established.

Note: The foregoing section is enacted to carry into effect the

agreement entered into on August 28, 1909, between the two
Supreme Councils exercising jurisdiction over the United
States. (See 1909 Trans., App. 203; 1961 Trans., p. 313; and 1975
Trans., p. 168.)

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

SEC. 5. No Body or officer has power to receive a former member of Spurious Body
any spurious Body under any other conditions than those required of a Memberships
Master Mason, together with a voluntary renunciation in writing of all
connection with, and allegiance to, such spurious Body. One who has
abandoned or rejected the principles of Scottish Rite Freemasonry can
never be received or recognized.

SEC. 6. Every petition or proposition for the Degrees or application for Requirements
affiliation must be made at a Stated Meeting at least one month before for Petitions &
being voted upon unless otherwise authorized by the Sovereign Grand Propositions for
Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council. Membership

SEC. 7. Any qualified person residing within the territorial jurisdic-

tion of this Supreme Council may be proposed at any Stated Meeting of
a Body under its jurisdiction by proposition in writing, signed by one
member and seconded by another, also in writing. Such proposition may
be made without the knowledge of the person proposed. A Body may, by
its bylaws, require candidates to apply for Degrees by petition in writing.

SEC. 8. When a Body has ordered a ballot, the presiding officer has no Ballot
right to stop or postpone it on a private application to him. The member Postponement
of the Rite who desires postponement must move to postpone the bal-
lot and give reasons therefor, and the Body will then vote to determine
whether to postpone or not.

SEC. 9. Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputies of the Su- Voting
preme Council may permit the vote on a petition for the degrees and Procedures
affiliation at a stated meeting under this section to be viva voce, how-
ever the request of any member at a stated meeting for a secret ballot
shall take precedence and traditional balloting will follow. Balloting un-
der this section may be for each candidate individually or by multiple
candidates at the discretion of the presiding officer of the Body. When,
upon a ballot being taken, one objection appears, further action shall be
postponed until the next regular meeting of the Body. In the meantime
the objector may make known to the presiding officer in private his ob-
jection to the candidate, which objection the presiding officer may, in
his discretion, make known to the Body, if the identity of the objecting

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 89
Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

Brother be not revealed thereby. The presiding officer may also make
known to the Body his opinion as to whether or not the reasons which
have been communicated to him are sufficient to justify rejection. At the
next regular meeting, whether the reasons have been communicated to
the presiding officer or not, a second ballot shall be taken, and if there
then be only one negative votes, the candidate will be declared elected.

Rejected SEC. 10. When there are two or more objections cast on the question of
Candidates initiation or affiliation, the candidate will be declared rejected.

SEC. 11. When a candidate for initiation has been rejected, he cannot
again apply to the same Body or any other Body or be again proposed in
the same Body, until after expiration of six calendar months.

SEC. 12. When an applicant for affiliation has been rejected, his admis-
sion may be again proposed after the lapse of two months, and the pro-
posal must then lie over one month before ballot.

SEC. 13. A candidate rejected upon petition must, when again applying
to the same or to another Body, make known to it the fact of his former
rejection.

Post-election SEC. 14. After a candidate has been elected in a Body and before he has
Objections received any of the Degrees conferred in that Body, a written objection
signed by two or more Brethren, stating reasons therefor, may be inter-
posed. The objections must be considered by the Body and voted upon,
and if two-thirds of the members present vote to override the objection
the Degrees can be conferred and the candidate will stand elected. After
a candidate has received any Degree in a Body, objections have no effect
as to his advancement in that Body.

Deadline for SEC. 15. A candidate elected to receive the Degrees of a Body must
Accepted present himself at the proper time and place to receive the same within
Candidates 18 months from the date of his election. If he fails to do so, or to show
good and sufficient cause for his delay, he shall thereby forfeit the elec-
tion and must again petition or be proposed and be balloted for as in the
first instance.

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

SEC. 16. Every candidate who receives any of the Degrees in any Body
of the Rite becomes thereby a member of the Body which elected him,
and his name shall be entered upon its roll.

SEC. 17. If a candidate has received any of the Degrees in the jurisdic- Supreme Council
tion of any other Supreme Council, he must regularly affiliate in this ju- Affiliation
risdiction, in all of the Degrees previously received, before he can receive Requirements
any additional Degrees.

SEC. 18. If a member of the Rite of the jurisdiction of any other Su-
preme Council affiliates with any Body of this jurisdiction, he must take
all the pledges and vows of the Fourteenth, Eighteenth, Thirtieth, and
Thirty-second Degrees of the Body with which he affiliates. He may
purchase the Diplomas or Patents of the Degrees which he has received,
or having such documents from another regular jurisdiction may, in lieu
of purchasing others, have the same officially endorsed by the presiding
officer and Secretary, or Registrar, of each Body of the Rite in the juris-
diction with which he becomes affiliated, report of which endorsement
must be made immediately to the Grand Executive Director under the
seal of the Body.

[2] When an applicant for affiliation with a Body or Bodies of

the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry subordinate to this Supreme Coun-
cil presents with his Petition a proper Demit or Certificate from the
Supreme Council of another grand jurisdiction, or from its Subordi-
nate Bodies, which Supreme Council is recognized by and in Frater-
nal relationship with this Supreme Council, it is not incumbent upon
the Scottish Rite Bodies to which such application for affiliation is
presented to inquire into the relationship existing between the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state in which such appli-
cation is presented and the Symbolic Grand Lodge, or its Subordinate
Bodies, in the state or country wherein such applicant for affiliation
holds his Blue Lodge membership, so long as said foreign Supreme
Council is duly recognized by and in Fraternal relations with this
Supreme Council.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 91
Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

Symbolic Lodge SEC. 19. Every member of the Rite residing within the jurisdiction of
Affiliation this Supreme Council, to be entitled to the rights and privileges of such
Requirements membership, must be and remain an affiliated Master Mason in good
standing in a regular Symbolic Lodge and a member in good standing
of each Body of the Rite, the Degrees of which he possesses, except as
provided in the third paragraph of this section and in Section 23 of this
Article. A member of the Rite is not required to be or remain affiliated
with the Body in which he received the Degrees or in whose territorial
jurisdiction he is domiciled. A member of a Body under the allegiance
of this Supreme Council does not lose that status by removal from the
territorial jurisdiction of that Body, or to a foreign jurisdiction.

[2] A member of the Rite who has received the Degrees in a Body
working under a foreign Supreme Council and who is still a resident of
the territory occupied by such foreign Supreme Council is eligible to
petition for affiliation with a Body of our allegiance, if not prohibited by
the Supreme Council to which he owes allegiance.

[3] Any member of the Rite who becomes a nonaffiliate of a regular

Symbolic Lodge and who does not within two years reaffiliate with the same
or some other regular Symbolic Lodge shall cease to be a member of any of
the Bodies of the Rite. He is not restored to membership in the Scottish Rite
by his subsequent election to membership in and affiliation with a Symbolic
Lodge after the lapse of two years. He can then be restored to membership
in the Scottish Rite only by petition and election by a majority vote of mem-
bers present at a Stated Meeting of each Body of the Rite.

Demit SEC. 20. A member of the Rite making application for affiliation must
Requirements for present, in addition to his application, a Demit from the Body of which
Affiliation he was last a member, or a Certificate as provided in Section 24 of this
Article, or a proper Certificate from a Sovereign Grand Inspector Gen-
eral or Deputy of this Supreme Council.

Degree Conferral SEC. 21. A Body may elect an affiliated Master Mason to receive the De-
Requirements for grees conferred in it, but when ordering the ballot, it must be stated that
Affiliated Master such election is to take effect only when the candidate shall have received
Masons all the preceding Degrees.

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

SEC. 22. A Body may elect a member of the Rite for affiliation in it, but Degree Conferral
when ordering the ballot it must be stated that such election is to take Requirements
effect only when the applicant shall have affiliated with all the Bodies of for Affiliating
this Rite of lower Degree in that Valley. Members

SEC. 23. An unaffiliated member of the Rite may apply for affiliation Unaffiliated
with any Body of the Rite of his selection wherever located. Members

[2] Any unaffiliated member of the Rite who does not within twelve
months from date of demit seek affiliation with the Body or Bodies which
conferred the Degrees he has received, shall be prohibited from visiting
Bodies, from receiving relief therefrom and from Masonic burial at their
hands. And if he resides within a jurisdiction in which Bodies do not
exist, he must within twelve months from date of demit affiliate with the
several Bodies, the Degrees of which he has received, in some other Ori-
ent, or he shall be subject to the same prohibitions.

SEC. 24. A member of a Body in this jurisdiction, who is in good stand- Certificates of
ing and whose dues are paid, who desires to affiliate with another Body Good Standing
of the same Degree in this jurisdiction, may apply for and receive from
the Secretary of the Body of which he is a member a duly attested Certif-
icate of his standing in the Body. By presenting such Certificate with his
Petition he may apply for affiliation with another Body. If he is elected,
he thereby becomes a member of the Body with which he filed his Peti-
tion for affiliation, and the Secretary of said Body shall certify the fact of
such election to the Body issuing the Certificate of Good Standing, and
the petitioner shall thereupon be dropped from the roll of membership
of such issuing Body and his membership therein shall be terminated as
if by demit. The Certificate herein provided for shall bear date of issue
and the seal of the Body for which it is issued, and shall be good for the
purpose herein specified until the end of the calendar year in which such
Certificate is issued, and such newly affiliated Brother shall not be re-
quired to pay any dues to the Body or Bodies with which he affiliates for
the remainder of the calendar year during which such affiliation occurs.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 93
Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

[2] The Inspectors General Honorary and Knights Commander of

the Court of Honour may make inter-Valley and inter-Orient transfers
of membership without loss of those honors.

Suspension from SEC. 25. Suspension of a member by his Blue Lodge for nonpayment of
Symbolic Lodge dues carries with it suspension in every Body of this Rite. The restoration
by the Blue Lodge to good standing, if had within two years, restores the
member to his rights of all of the Bodies of this Rite. If the restoration
is made after two years have elapsed, the suspended member can be re-
stored to membership in the Scottish Rite only by his written request
and election by a majority of the members present at a Stated Meeting
of each Body of the Rite. The vote on a written request for restoration of
membership under this section may be viva voce.

[2] Suspension of a member by his Blue Lodge for any cause what-
ever other than nonpayment of dues, or expulsion therefrom for any
cause whatever, carries with it the same penalty in every Body of this
Rite. Restoration by the Blue Lodge shall not restore membership in any
Body of this Rite, but he can be restored to membership in the Scottish
Rite only by petition and election by a majority of the members present
at a Stated Meeting of each Body of the Rite. The vote on a petition for
restoration of membership under this section may be viva voce.

Conditions for SEC. 26. A member of a Subordinate Body who shall be in arrears for
Suspension for dues for two years shall thereby become suspended, unless such dues
Nonpayment of are remitted as herein provided, or further time not exceeding twelve
Dues months is granted by a majority vote of the members present at a stated
meeting; provided, however, that upon the order of the Sovereign Grand
Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council of the Orient in-
volved, the time of suspension of a member in arrears of dues may be
fixed at not less than one year. Annual dues are payable by December 31
of the year preceding the applicable current dues year. Thus, two years
in arrears is defined as one year directly proceeding the applicable dues
year plus the applicable current dues year.

Restoration from [2] A member suspended for nonpayment of dues who shall with-
Nonpayment in two years pay the arrearages due at the time of his suspension, to-
Suspension

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

gether with current year’s dues, shall be automatically restored. But if

a member fails to pay such dues within two years from the time of his
suspension, he shall, upon his written request accompanied by the pay-
ment of dues to the time of his suspension, plus current year’s dues, and
a favorable committee report, and by a majority vote of those present at
a Stated Meeting, be restored. A Body may, by a majority vote, with the
consent of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su-
preme Council, remit all or part of such delinquent dues. Notwithstand-
ing the above procedures,

1. The Sovereign Grand Inspector General or the Deputy of the Su-

preme Council may waive payment of dues by a member upon applica-
tion by the member for good cause. The member must make application
each year such waiver is sought.

2. The Sovereign Grand Inspector General or the Deputy of the

Supreme Council may reinstate a member, waiving all or any portion of
the requirements of the preceding paragraphs.

[3] The Grand Commander may waive the Supreme Council’s per Senior Members
capita assessment on “Senior Members” (those who are either 80 years of in Need Per
age or have 50 years or more of total membership) who are in financial Capita Waiver
need in conjunction with their Valleys waiving their annual dues. Such
action will be based upon receiving from their Valleys the names and ID
numbers of “Senior Members” who meet the foregoing requirements,
certifying that their dues have been waived.

SEC. 27. No member of this jurisdiction shall be permitted to visit or Membership

attend the Body in which he holds membership or any other Body of Card
the Rite in this jurisdiction unless he be in possession of a card such Requirement
as described in Section 28 of this Article. He shall also, upon demand,
exhibit a regular Patent or Diploma of the highest Degree conferred in
that Body, or of a higher Degree, or a Certificate as provided in Section
32 of this Article. Every member shall be furnished a card of the highest
Degree to which he has attained.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 95
Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

Membership SEC. 28. The Grand Executive Director shall have printed and distrib-
Card Issuance uted member identification cards, or an authorized digital (electronic)
version generated by the Supreme Council available for download by
the member, which shall be of such size, color, and content as the Grand
Executive Director shall prescribe.

Life SEC. 29. Life memberships may be sold in a financially sound plan.
Memberships Members who have attained the age of 75 or older may be considered
for a lesser fee in such a plan. All plans for life memberships shall be
submitted to the Sovereign Grand Commander for approval prior to im-
plementation.

[2] A Life Member shall be entitled to all of the rights and priv-
ileges of membership in the Subordinate Bodies in which he holds
such membership so long as he remains a member in good standing in
those Bodies.

[3] A Life Member who, for any reason, has ceased to be a member
of his Symbolic Lodge with a consequent loss of membership in his Scot-
tish Rite Bodies shall, upon being restored to membership in his Scottish
Rite Bodies, be restored as a Life Member in those Bodies.

[4] The Statutes of the Supreme Council permit affiliation of life

members. If the holder of a life membership transfers by a Certificate
of Good Standing or demits from a Lodge of Perfection in his Orient
to another Lodge of Perfection in his Orient, he may transfer his life
membership with him. If the holder of a life membership transfers or
demits to another Lodge of Perfection in another Orient, his life mem-
bership is not transferable and shall remain in the Lodge of Perfection
of which he was last a member in the Orient where he purchased his life
membership.

Membership SEC. 30. No Diploma or Patent emanating from this jurisdiction need
Card be recognized unless accompanied by a card as described in Section 28
Requirement of this Article or by a Certificate as described in Section 32 of this Article.
with Patents

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

SEC. 31. Each Consistory shall, at its own expense (except as provided 32° Patents
in Art. IV, Sec. 25 [2]), furnish to each Master of the Royal Secret whom
it shall hereafter create, Thirty-second Degree Patent regularly issued
and registered by the Grand Executive Director.

SEC. 32. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Su- Certificates of
preme Council or a Body which has conferred Degrees may furnish to Investiture
the member receiving the same a Certificate showing his investiture with
the Degrees thus conferred. This Certificate will, for twelve months, en-
title the member to be received and acknowledged as having received
the Degrees stated in his Certificate.

SEC. 33. Dual and plural memberships are permitted as hereinaf- Dual & Plural
ter defined: Memberships

1. Dual membership is defined as membership in a Body of an Ori-

ent other than that of a member’s primary membership. Dual member-
ship shall be limited to membership in no more than two Orients, either
within or without the member’s primary jurisdiction.

2. Plural membership is defined as membership in two or more

Valleys of the Orient of the member’s primary membership.

3. Primary membership is defined as membership in the Valley of

the jurisdiction to which a member belongs at the time of initial applica-
tion for dual or plural membership.

4. Dual membership, with retention of any Supreme Council hon-

ors which may have been invested or conferred by this or any other Su-
preme Council, is permitted on a reciprocal basis with other jurisdic-
tions we are in amity with.

5. If a Brother holds dual membership between the Northern Ma-

sonic and Southern Jurisdictions, the Valley of his choice becomes his
primary Valley for the purpose of allowing him to be eligible for elective
office and for possible further honors. If a Brother holds dual member-
ship between two Orients within the Southern Jurisdiction, the Valley of

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Article XVII – Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members

his choice becomes his primary Valley for the purpose of allowing him
to be eligible for elective office.

6. Dual membership shall cease if the member is suspended or ex-

pelled in either jurisdiction for reasons other than nonpayment of dues.

7. Rules of procedure for dual membership shall be in accordance

with the terms and provisions, as may be agreed upon, from time to
time, by and between the Sovereign Grand Commanders of the jurisdic-
tions involved.

Demit Request SEC. 34. A member of a Body, if he be clear on the books and under no
Requirements charges, may withdraw from it and shall be entitled to a Demit, upon
application at a Stated Meeting.

Dues Exemptions SEC. 35. A Body may, by a unanimous vote at a regular meeting and
with the consent of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy
of the Supreme Council, exempt from the payment of dues to said Body
any member whose circumstances justify such exemption, but in such
case the Body is not relieved from paying to the Supreme Council the
per capita assessment for the member so exempted.

Commercial SEC. 36. The use by any member of the Rite of any word, figure, letter,
Use of Masonic title, emblem, or symbol to denote his rank in or his connection with the
Emblems Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in any written or print-
ed document not Masonic in its character and purposes, or the use by a
member of any such word, figure, letter, title, emblem, or symbol for busi-
ness or advertising purposes in any business, employment, or avocation
not Masonic in its purposes nor connected with Masonry is forbidden.

Reporting SEC. 37. In all cases where a petition for the Degrees or an application
of Petition for affiliation is rejected by a Body of the Rite, the Secretary of the Body
Rejections, in which such action is taken shall promptly report the same to the Sov-
Expulsions, & ereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy in the Orient of the petition-
Suspensions er’s residence. And in all cases of expulsion and of suspension, the Sec-
retary of the Body in which such action is taken shall promptly report
the same to the Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council.

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 Regulations Affecting Candidates and Members – Article XVII

SEC. 38. Rosters or lists of membership of any Valley or Orient shall Commercial Use
not be used for any commercial purposes whatsoever as similarly de- of Membership
fined by Grand Lodges. Lists

SEC. 39. Wills executed by members of the Rite in compliance with rit- Member Wills
ualistic regulations shall be retained by the makers thereof, or if tem-
porarily deposited with the proper official of any Body of the Rite, shall
be by such official forthwith, or as soon as practicable, returned to the
respective makers thereof.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 99
 ARTICLE XVIII

Trials and Penal Statutes

SEC. 1. Trials on accusation of offenses against Masonic law or against Trial Locations
good morals or of un-Masonic conduct or unworthiness of any Mason
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, except Sovereign Grand In-
spectors General, shall be held by the Lodge of Perfection of which the
accused is a member, or within whose Orient he resides or the offense
is alleged to have been committed, provided, that charges of violation of
the obligation of a Degree higher than that of Perfect Elu shall be prose-
cuted in the Body of the Rite governing that Degree.

SEC. 2. The penal jurisdiction of a Lodge of Perfection includes all its Penal
own members, wherever residing, except Sovereign Grand Inspectors Jurisdictions
General, and all Masons of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
any Lodge, whether then standing suspended for nonpayment of dues
or otherwise, who reside nearer its place of meeting than to that of any
other Lodge of Perfection, or who shall be charged with the commission
within its jurisdiction of an offense cognizable by such Lodge. In plac-
es where there are more than one Lodge of Perfection, jurisdiction as
aforesaid shall be concurrent in such Lodges except as to each Lodge’s
own members.

[2] When a Brother has been suspended for cause, the Lodge of
Perfection within whose jurisdiction he resides or commits an offense
cognizable by said Lodge has exclusive jurisdiction over him.

[3] A change of residence after charges have been filed does not
divest the Lodge of jurisdiction to try the charges. When charges have
been filed and accepted by a Lodge, there shall be no change of venue for
any cause.

SEC. 3. Charges may be preferred by any Brother in good standing; and Preferring
it shall be the duty of the Venerable Master to direct the Junior Warden, Charges
or other officer if he fails or refuses to act, to file charges formally and ex
officio, against a Brother, if he (the Venerable Master) shall be person-

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Article XVIII – Trials and Penal Statutes

ally cognizant, or shall be reliably informed, of such acts or conduct on

the part of a Brother as prima facie constitute a Masonic offense. Such
charges shall be in writing over the signature of the Brother preferring
same, and may be general in character, but shall be accompanied by a
specification or specifications setting forth the particular acts constitut-
ing the offense complained of and giving time and place and all neces-
sary particulars relating thereto, so that the accused may be fully advised
of all that he may be called upon to explain or disprove or justify.

Filing Charges SEC. 4. Charges shall be filed with the Secretary of the Lodge and be
presented to the Lodge at the next Stated Meeting thereof. If the Lodge,
by a majority vote of the members present at the time the charges are
presented, determines that the act or acts set forth in the charges or spec-
ifications do not constitute any Masonic offense, the Lodge may refuse
to entertain them. But if the Lodge, by a majority vote of those present,
decides that the charges are of such character as to justify investigation,
it shall designate a Stated Meeting of the Lodge for the selection of a tri-
bunal to ascertain the facts concerning such charges. All action taken
shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of the Sovereign Grand
Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council. The accused and
the accuser shall be notified of the presentation of the charges and fur-
nished a copy thereof and advised of the date of the Stated Meeting at
which such tribunal will be elected. Where the accused resides within
the jurisdiction of the Lodge, the notice, with a copy of the charges, shall
be served upon him personally at least ten days prior to date of the meet-
ing at which the tribunal is to be selected. Where the accused resides
outside of the jurisdiction of the Lodge and his residence is known, the
charges and notice may be served by mailing a copy thereof to him at
least ten days before the date of meeting for the selection of the tribu-
nal, and the service shall be completed when the copies are deposited
in the United States Post Office, properly addressed and stamped. If the
address or whereabouts of the accused is unknown, the tribunal may be
selected at the next Stated Meeting after the charges have been accepted,
without any attempt to serve notice upon the accused.

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 Trials and Penal Statutes – Article XVIII

SEC. 5. At the time thus fixed the Lodge shall proceed, without any oth- Tribunal
er or further motion or discussion, to select by ballot five of its members, Selection,
who shall constitute a tribunal to hear the evidence and determine the Powers, &
facts in relation to the charges presented. The persons so selected by the Procedures
Lodge shall constitute such tribunal, without any right on the part of the
accused to object for any reason to the persons so selected. The tribunal
shall have power to elect from its number a chairman and a secretary,
to fix the time and place of its meetings, and determine the method of
its procedure for the taking of testimony, summoning witnesses, and as-
certaining the facts. The accused shall have notice of all its meetings and
be given the fullest opportunity to present any evidence which he may
desire to offer. But if the whereabouts or address of the accused is un-
known and cannot be ascertained after due inquiry by the Secretary, the
Venerable Master shall appoint some capable and disinterested Brother
of the Lodge in which the charges are pending to represent the accused,
to whom all due notices shall be given, and who shall have all rights
of the accused in appearing for and representing him, and on whom
all notices shall be served. The tribunal shall proceed to ascertain the
facts with reference to the charges in accordance with the recognized
principles and usages of Masonic jurisprudence and hearings before a
commission of like character. It shall disregard, however, all technical-
ities and be governed solely by the desire to do justice. If the testimony
of the witness cannot be had before all of the members of the tribunal,
it may designate one or more of its number to take testimony of absent
witnesses. Members of the Rite testifying before the tribunal may testify
under an affirmation upon their honor as such members. If the testimo-
ny of a profane is desired, the tribunal may call a notary public for the
purpose of administering the oath, or it may hear the statement of the
profane without oath. Documentary evidence, certified to or otherwise,
pertinent to the case may be received by the tribunal.

SEC. 6. When the tribunal has heard all the evidence offered by the ac- Tribunal
cused or accuser, it shall determine the facts with reference to the charges Findings & Vote
and file its findings with the Secretary of the Lodge. The Secretary shall
then give notice that the findings of a tribunal will be presented at a
Stated or Called Meeting to be held thereafter at a time specified. Such
notice may be given by mail to each member at his last known address,

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 103
Article XVIII – Trials and Penal Statutes

or by publication in the usual manner of giving notice of meetings, in

either event at least five days before the date of the meeting. At the meet-
ing thus fixed the findings of the tribunal and the evidence shall be read
to the Lodge, and the accused and accuser may be heard in person or by
counsel, with reference to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the
findings, or of the facts found to constitute a punishable offense. After
the hearing is concluded, the Lodge shall proceed to vote upon the ques-
tion as to whether or not the accused is guilty of the charges preferred,
or any of them when more than one charge is preferred. The vote shall
be taken by secret ballot and all of the members of the Lodge present
shall be required to vote. Where more than one charge is preferred,
separate ballots should be taken upon each. If fewer than two-thirds of
the members of the Lodge present vote “guilty” as to any charge, it shall
be dismissed. If two-thirds vote “guilty” as to any charge, the members
of the Lodge present shall then proceed by secret ballot to vote upon the
penalty in the following order: first, expulsion; second, indefinite sus-
pension; third, definite suspension; fourth, reprimand. These questions
shall be determined by the vote of a majority of those present.

Evidence in SEC. 7. The tribunal, in its discretion, may cause the evidence intro-
Writing duced to be reduced to writing and, if requested by the accused, shall
do so. If so, the copies of such evidence shall be filed with the Secretary
of the Lodge at the time of the filing of the findings of the tribunal and
thereafter shall be and remain a part of the secret archives of the Lodge,
and no reference thereto shall be made by any member of the Lodge
except upon the hearing for the determination of the guilt or innocence
of the accused. When that fact has been determined and no appeal tak-
en, the Lodge may, if it desires, order the copies of the evidence to be
destroyed.

Appeals Process SEC. 8. Either party may within thirty days after judgment appeal from
the judgment of the Lodge to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or
Deputy of the Supreme Council in charge of the Orient, who may affirm
or reverse it. From the action of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
or Deputy of the Supreme Council either party may within sixty days
appeal to the Supreme Council for final adjudication. If there be no
Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council

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 Trials and Penal Statutes – Article XVIII

in charge of the jurisdiction, the appeal shall be taken from the Lodge
direct to the Supreme Council.

SEC. 9. The petition for an appeal will not operate as a suspension of a

judgment against the defendant unless a suspensory order is made.

SEC. 10. The result of every trial not appealed from or in which no sus- Publication of
pension order is made shall be immediately reported by the secretarial Judgment
officer of the Body in which the trial was had to the Sovereign Grand
Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council in the Orient, who
shall cause the same to be made known to such Bodies, in such manner
and at such time as he shall think the interests of the Rite require, and no
other publication thereof shall be had.

SEC. 11. Suspension or expulsion by a Subordinate Body carries with it Universality of

the same penalty in every Body of the Rite. Penalties

SEC. 12. Trial of Active Members. Charges against a Sovereign Grand Trials of Active
Inspector General shall be filed in the Supreme Council, which has ex- Members
clusive penal jurisdiction over all Active Members. Such charges shall be
in writing and signed by a Sovereign Grand Inspector General and filed
with the Sovereign Grand Commander. Thereupon the Sovereign Grand
Commander shall appoint a committee of three Sovereign Grand In-
spectors General to investigate the charges and present to the Sovereign
Grand Commander the result of such investigation. If the committee
decides that there is reason for believing the accused Sovereign Grand
Inspector General to be guilty of a penal charge for which prosecution
should be had, the Sovereign Grand Commander shall order the trial of
the charges to be had at the next regular session of the Supreme Council
or, if in his opinion an emergency exists, he may call a special session of
the Supreme Council for the trial of such charges, and may or may not,
in his discretion, suspend the accused from the discharge of his duties
as Sovereign Grand Inspector General pending such trial. The Supreme
Council, when charges are presented, shall make such rules as it may see
fit for the governing of the trial.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 105
Article XVIII – Trials and Penal Statutes

Charges & SEC. 13. An Inspector General Honorary or a Knight Commander of

Penalties of the Court of Honour proving unworthy or disloyal, after having been ad-
Disloyalty for vised in writing and given an opportunity to be heard, may be dropped
33° & K.C.C.H. from the rolls of the Supreme Council by a majority vote of the Sover-
Members eign Grand Inspectors General present at any session of the Supreme
Council, or by electronic vote in recess, which will deprive him of all
rights and benefits of the rank held by him.

Supreme SEC. 14. Nothing contained in these Statutes or in any rule, resolution,
Council’s or regulation shall be construed as limiting, abridging, or impairing the
Jurisdictional inherent right of the Supreme Council to exercise original jurisdiction
Rights in any case and to suspend and expel any member of any Subordinate
Body, any Honorary Member of this Supreme Council, or any Knight
Commander of the Court of Honour in any appropriate form of proce-
dure which may, at any time, be adopted or prescribed by the Supreme
Council, provided that the accused shall always, in any case, be afforded
reasonable opportunity to be heard in his defense.

Criticism in SEC. 15. Any adverse criticism or complaint of the Supreme Council, or
Proper Forum any member thereof, made by any Brother except in the proper forum
of the Rite, is un-Masonic and violative of obligation and is therefore
condemned.

Reporting SEC. 16. It shall be the duty of each Sovereign Grand Inspector Gener-
Disloyalty & al and each Deputy of the Supreme Council to report to the Sovereign
Insubordination Grand Commander any disloyalty or insubordination of any Brother
within his Orient who may be of the Thirty-third Degree or who may be
a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, and it shall be the duty of
the Sovereign Grand Commander to report same to the Supreme Coun-
cil for necessary action.

SEC. 17. It is and shall be the duty of every member of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite to report to the Sovereign Grand Inspector Gen-
eral or Deputy of the Supreme Council of the Orient in which he resides
any matter involving disloyalty, insubordination or violation of obliga-
tion which may come to the knowledge of such member, and it shall
be the duty of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the

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 Trials and Penal Statutes – Article XVIII

Supreme Council thereupon to institute or direct the necessary steps to

subject such offending member to proper discipline.

SEC. 18. Inasmuch as membership in the Scottish Rite is purely volun- Withdrawal from
tary, any member who finds himself unable to comply with his obliga- Scottish Rite
tions and with all duties imposed upon him by the statutes of the Order
should, out of self-respect and in justice to the Order and his associates
therein, retire therefrom in the manner duly provided therefor.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 107
 ARTICLE XIX

Official Locations

SEC. 1. The See of the Supreme Council is at Charleston in the state See & Executive
of South Carolina; but its executive offices are located in the House of Offices
the Temple at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, from
which place all decrees, balustres, charters, diplomas, and other official
documents shall bear date.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 109
 ARTICLE XX

Amendments

SEC. 1. These Statutes may be amended only at a regular session, or at Procedure

a special session called for that purpose, of the Supreme Council, by the
affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members then present; provid-
ed, that any amendment to the Statutes of the Supreme Council must be
submitted to the Grand Executive Director by an Active Member only at
least ninety days before the regular session, the same to be distributed to
each Active Member at least sixty days before the regular session. Any
amendment submitted by an Active Member only in less than this time
shall require unanimous consent of the Supreme Council to be consid-
ered at that session.

SEC. 2. Every Resolution submitted for action by The Supreme Council Finance
shall be submitted to the Finance Committee for review. If the Finance Committee
Committee determines that there is a financial impact it will cause a fi- Review
nancial impact Statement to be prepared and presented to The Supreme Requirement
Council prior to action by The Supreme Council.

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 111
 ARTICLE XXI

Declatory Disposition

SEC. 1. These Statutes, with the Regulations of 1762, the Grand Consti- Law of the Rite
tutions of 1786, as published by this Supreme Council, except as herein Components
modified, together with the edicts and decisions of the Supreme Council,
and the unwritten principles and Landmarks of Freemasonry constitute
the law of the Rite in the jurisdiction of this Supreme Council.

Finis

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 113
 ADDENDA

ACT OF INCORPORATION

As

INSPECTORS GENERAL OF THE THIRTY-THIRD

DEGREE

(Extract of an Act enacted in December 1823, by the Legislature of the State of South Carolina)

Sec. 33. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Isaac Auld, M.D., as
Sovereign Grand Commander; the Reverend Frederick Dalcho, M.D., as Past Sovereign
Grand Commander; James Moultrie, M.D., as Secretary General and Acting Lieutenant
Commander; Moses C. Levy, Esquire, as Treasurer General; Moses Holbrook, M.D.,
Horatio Street, Alexander M’Donald and Joseph M’Cosh, Esquires, with their associates
and successors, be, and they are hereby incorporated, and declared a body politic and
corporate, in deed and in law, by the name and style of Inspectors General of the Thirty-
third Degree: And the said Inspectors General of the Thirty-third Degree shall have power
to regulate all orders and degrees of Masonry, from the Sixteenth to the said Thirty-third
degree, according to the constitutions of the said several degrees; and the said corporation,
by its name and style aforesaid, shall have a common seal, with power to alter the same,
and to make all necessary bylaws for their better government; and the said corporation
shall have power to purchase lands or personal estate, and to accept any devise, bequest
or donation: Provided, that the same shall not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars:
And provided also, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to interfere with any
powers, rights or privileges heretofore granted to the “Most Worshipful Grand Lodge in this
State,” or any other Grand Lodge of Masons heretofore incorporated.

In the Senate House the twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-three, and in the forty-eighth year of the Independence of the
United States of America.
JACOB BOND I’ON
President of the Senate

PATRICK NOBLE
Speaker of the House of
Representatives

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 115
 ACT OF INCORPORATION

As

THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTORS GENERAL OF THE

THIRTY-THIRD DEGREE FOR THE SOUTHERN JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES

(Extract of an Act enacted in December 1866 by the Legislature of the State of South Carolina)

No. 4842. An act to incorporate the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors Gen-
eral of the Thirty-third Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.

1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in Gen-
eral Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That Albert Pike, William S. Rockwell, Giles M.
Hillyer, A. G. Mackey, B. Rush Campbell, Benjamin H. French, Henry Buist, Henry W. Schroder,
and Howell Cobb, their associates and successors, shall be and are hereby declared to be a body
corporate and politic by the name and style of “The Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand In-
spectors General of the Thirty-third Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States,”
and by the said name shall be capable to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and
be answered unto in any Court of Law and Equity in this State; shall have a common seal, with
power to change, alter, break and make new the same, shall be able and capable in law to pur-
chase and retain real estate not exceeding in value the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars and
shall have all the other rights, powers and privileges usual, incident, or necessary to corporations.

2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that this Act shall continue of force
for fourteen years.

In the Senate House, the fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred sixty-six.
W. D. PORTER,
President of the Senate

CHARLES H. SIMONTON,
Speaker House of
Representatives

Approved December 15th, 1866

JAMES L. ORR
Governor

Page 116 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 ACT OF INCORPORATION

As

THE SUPREME COUNCIL (MOTHER COUNCIL OF THE WORLD) OF THE INSPECTORS

GENERAL KNIGHTS COMMANDERS OF THE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON
OF THE THIRTY-THIRD DEGREE OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE
OF FREE MASONRY OF THE SOUTHERN JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA

An Act to incorporate the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree of Scottish Rite Ma-
sonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled, That Thomas Hubbard Caswell, of the City of San Francisco, State of
California; Odell Squier Long, of the City of Charleston, State of West Virginia; Erasmus The-
odore Carr, of Miles City, State of Montana; Frederick Webber, of the City of Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia; Gilmore Meredith, of the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland; and Samuel
Emery Adams, of the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, officers and members of the
Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree of Scottish Rite Masonry for the Southern Juris-
diction of the United States, and their successors be, and they are hereby, incorporated and
made a body politic and corporate in the District of Columbia by the name of “The Supreme
Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General Knights Commanders of
the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Free Masonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America”;
and by that name it may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any court of law or eq-
uity, and may have and use a common seal, and change the same at pleasure, and be entitled
to use and exercise all the powers, rights, and privileges incidental to fraternal and benevolent
corporations within the District of Columbia.

Sec. 2. That the said corporation shall have the power to take and hold personal estate and
such real estate as shall be necessary and proper for the promotion of the fraternal and
benevolent purposes of said corporation, which shall not be divided among the members
of the corporation, but shall descend to their successors for the promotion of the objects
aforesaid.

Sec. 3. That all claims, accounts, debts, things in action, or other matters of business of what-
ever nature now existing for or against the present supreme council mentioned in section

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 117
one of this act, shall survive and succeed to and against the body corporate and politic hereby
created: Provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to extend the operation
of any law which provides for the extinguishing of claims or contracts by limitations of time.

Sec. 4. That said corporation shall have a constitution and regulations or bylaws, and shall have
power to amend the same at pleasure: Provided, that such constitution and regulations or by-
laws or amendments thereof do not conflict with the laws of the United States or of any State.

Sec. 5. That said corporation shall not engage in any business for gain, the purposes of said
corporation being fraternal and benevolent.

Approved March 13, 1896. (See 1897 Trans., p. 40.)

Page 118 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Form of Application for New Bodies

To Form a New Body of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdic-
tion of the United States of America, the Following Regulations Will Be Observed

1. Brethren desiring to organize a new Body of the Rite will make application therefor to the
Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council, as the case may be,
in the Jurisdiction in which they reside, using the following form:
20
To , 33°
Sovereign Grand Inspector General (or Deputy of the Supreme Council) in the Orient of

Ill\ and dear Brother:

We, the undersigned petitioners, who are Master Masons in good standing and members
in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in good standing, and who have
attained the Degrees placed opposite our respective names, having the prosperity of the Rite at
heart and being willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine prin-
ciples of Freemasonry, and promising always to bear true faith and allegiance to the Supreme
Council of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America (whose See is at Charles-
ton in the State of South Carolina) respectfully request that you grant us Letters Temporary
for the formation of a (New Body) at (City) , (Orient) .

We have nominated and recommend as the first officers of this Body the following
Brethren, namely:

In the office of Bro\ , °

(List all offices and officers for the Body.)
We have selected (City)(New Body) as the name for this Body. Upon your
advice that this petition has been approved, we will promptly remit to the Grand Executive
Director of the Supreme Council the fees for Letters Temporary plus the amount necessary
for books. (See Article XI.2.1 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council.)
(Here should follow the signatures of all the petitioners)

2. A petition for a Lodge of Perfection must be signed by no fewer than nine Perfect Elus;
for a Chapter of Rose Croix, by no fewer than seven Knights Rose Croix; for a Council of

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 119
Kadosh, by no fewer than nine Knights Kadosh; for a Consistory, by no fewer than nine
Masters of the Royal Secret. (Article XVI.2 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council)

3. Each signer must present with the Petition a Certificate of Good Standing in the Body in
which he holds membership, or, if unaffiliated, a Demit from the Body in which he last held
membership. (Article XVI.3 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council)

4. When the petition has been completed, it shall be presented to the Sovereign Grand
Inspector General in the Jurisdiction wherein the new Body is to be located, who shall ap-
prove or disapprove it and return it, with all the papers attached, to the petitioning Breth-
ren. Upon receipt of the petition approved by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General, the
petitioners shall forward it, together with all Certificates of Good Standing and Demits, to
the Grand Executive Director, along with proper remittance to cover the fees and costs of
books, etc., as provided by Article XI.2 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council. (See Para-
graph 19 of the Secretary’s Manual.)

In a jurisdiction where there is a Deputy of the Supreme Council, he shall transmit

such Petition to the Sovereign Grand Commander. (Article XVI.4.2 of the Statutes of the
Supreme Council)

5. Upon receipt of the petition, Certificates or Demits, and accompanying remittance, the
Grand Executive Director shall have the Letters Temporary prepared and sent to the Sover-
eign Grand Inspector General (or to the Sovereign Grand Commander, as the case may be) for
signature. Upon receipt of the signed Letters Temporary, the Grand Executive Director shall
provide the necessary books and report his action to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General
(or Deputy of the Supreme Council) in whose jurisdiction the Body is to be established, and
the new Body may begin to work. (Article XVI.5 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council)

Page 120 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Form of Application for Charter of New Bodies

(Note: See Article XI.2 and Article XVI.7–10, inclusive, Statutes of the Supreme Council)

A Body to which Letters Temporary have been issued must, at the next regular Session
of the Supreme Council, make application for Permanent Charter, using the following form.
The application must bear the recommendation of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General,
or the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, as the case may be.

20
To the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.:

On the day of , 20 , Letters Temporary were issued by Ill\

, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in the Orient of , (or “Sovereign
Grand Commander of the Supreme Council” in an Orient where there is a Deputy of the
Supreme Council) for the formation of a new (Lodge of Perfection,
Chapter of Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh, or Consistory) of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite in the Valley of , Orient of , by the name of
, and on the day of , 20 , the said was
organized and opened, and has since continued successfully to work.

It is the desire of the members of said to have its existence per-

petuated, and they therefore pray that a Charter be granted to the said ,
promising as heretofore faithful obedience and strict conformity to the statutes, laws, edicts,
and regulations of the Supreme Council, and all proper authorities thereof.
[Within the following space shall be written the names of the officers, who shall be designated by the Sovereign
Grand Inspector General (or the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, as the case may be). The
information designated in Article XVI.7 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council shall also be supplied.]

In the Office of Brother

In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother
In the Office of Brother

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 121
 Constituting Newly Chartered Bodies

When the Supreme Council grants a Permanent Charter for the organization of a
Body, the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council for the
jurisdiction in which it is located will, upon delivery of the Charter, proceed to organize
the new Body permanently by constituting it and installing the officers named in the
Charter, and shall then make report thereof, with the date of his action, to the Grand Ex-
ecutive Director, who shall certify the facts, but only in case they were not elected before
Charter was issued, to the Secretaries of the Bodies whose members have participated
in the organization under Certificates of Good Standing, and thereupon such members,
having become members of the chartered Body, shall be dropped from the rolls of the
original Bodies and their membership therein shall be terminated as if by Demit. (Article
XVI.11 of the Statutes of the Supreme Council)

The form upon which report is made to the Grand Executive Director should be as follows:
20

To the Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient & Accepted Scottish
Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.:

The Supreme Council, at its Biennial Session on , 20 , having granted

Permanent Charter to , sitting in the Valley of ,
Orient of , and the said Charter having been delivered;

Now, therefore, I, , 33°, Sovereign Grand

Inspector General in the Orient of (or “Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Supreme Council” in an Orient where there is a Deputy) have this day,
in conformity with the statutes of the Supreme Council, permanently organized the said
by constituting it and installing the officers named in the Charter.

May it have prosperity and continuance.

Sov\ Gr\ Insp\ Genl\

in the Orient of
(or “Sovereign Grand Commander” in an
Orient where there is a Deputy)

Page 122 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Recommended Colors for Official Signatures
(See pp. 33–35 for signature descriptions and samples.)

Pantone
Degree/Honour RGB CMYK Web
(PMS)
18°, Knight Rose Croix C: 0
R: 217
32°, Master of the Royal Secret M: 100
206U G: 70 #D94668
32°, Knight Commander of the Court Y: 56
B: 104
of Honour K: 0

33°, Inspector General Honorary C: 1

R: 177
M: 100
33°, Grand Cross 207U G: 77 #B14D67
Y: 42
Deputy of the Supreme Council B: 103
K: 18
C: 71
R: 116
M: 97
Sovereign Grand Inspector General 268U G: 90 #745A96
Y: 0
B: 150
K: 0
C: 30
R: 181
M: 48
Sovereign Grand Commander 2453U G: 146 #B592CF
Y: 0
B: 207
K: 0

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 123
 INDEX
A C
Accounts, Open for Inspection 25 Candidate for Degrees in Another Supreme
Acting Sovereign Grand Commander 27 Council 87
Active Members of the Supreme Council. Caps
See Sovereign Grand Inspectors Descriptions 60–63
General (SGIG) Examples 66
Acts of Incorporation 115–118 Certificates, Diplomas, and Patents
Administrator to Liquidate Property of Descriptions 47–48
Subordinate Bodies 75 Fees 48–49
Almoner’s Report of Subordinate Bodies 78 Chapters of Rose Croix
Amendments to Statutes 111 Ceremonies (Special), Attendance
Annual Reports for Subordinate Bodies 78 Limitation 76
Appeal from Judgment under Penal Degrees within 9
Statutes 104–105 Election of Officers 76
Appointive Officers Feast Days 75
Honorary Membership 23 Number of Members Required 73
Supreme Council 23, 30 Stated Meeting Requirement 75
Appropriations Report by Finance Committee 50 Charges, Penal. See Penal Charges
Armed Forces, Masonic Residence of 88 Check Signatories 26
Army Bodies 8 Chief Financial Officer, Reporting 25
Assessments Clothing and Uniforms
Degrees Conferred 49–50 Alternate to Uniforms 57
Per Capita 50 Prescribed by Rituals and Liturgies 57
“Senior Members” in Need 95 Public Appearances in Uniform 79
Audit, Annual 25 Rental or Loan of Uniforms and Regalia 79
Committees
B Appointment by Sov. Gr. Cmdr. 39
Bonding 32, 78, 81 Meetings Convened 40
Books Names 39
Accounting, Open for Inspection 25 Per Diem Provisions 51
For SGIGs 55 Travel Expense Provisions 51
Required for Valleys 53 Vacancy Filled by Appointment 39
Budget Determination and Increases 50 Communication of Degrees. See Degrees:
Bylaws of Subordinate Bodies, Communication and Conferral
Requirements of 76 Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Scottish Rite Corporations 32, 33
SGIG and Deputy 20, 32

Current as of August 21, 2021 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J, U.S.A. – Page 125
INDEX – Consistories

Consistories Cap 60, 66

Degrees within 9 Degree Conferral and Communication
Feast Days 75 9–10, 18, 45
Number of Members Required 73 Limitations 45
Stated Meeting Requirement 75 Dispensation, Rights and Limitations 18
Consolidation of Valleys Permitted 74 Dues Exemptions 45
Correspondence, Official Channels 20 Expense Reimbursement 45
Council of Administration 41 Fees Collected 45
Council of Kadosh Indemnification 31–32
Degrees within 9 Issued Copies of Rituals, Secret Works, and
Election of Officers 76 Rubrics 53
Feast Days 75 Per Diem 51
Number of Members Required 73 Personal Representatives 16
Stated Meeting Requirement 75 Reporting 46
Court of Honour Residency 45
Assemblies 71 Retirement 46
Composition 67 Signature 34, 36
Rights 71 Term 46
Signatures 34–36 Diplomas. See Certificates, Diplomas, and Patents
Disability of Salaried Elective Officers 38
D Disbursements Procedure 26
Degrees Dispensations 18
Assessments and Fees 49–50 Disposition of Property upon Cessation of
Breakdown into Subordinate Bodies 9 Subordinate Body 74
Communication and Conferral 9–10 Doubled-headed Eagle 35
Fees Paid to Supreme Council 9–10, 49 Dual and Plural Membership 97–98
Limitations 9–10 Dues
Official Publication for 53 Exemptions 98
Supreme Council Conferral 10 Waiver for “Senior Members” in Need 95
Without Charge 18
Jewels Prescribed 59 E
Obligatory 9 Election
Opening on, in Subordinate Bodies 79 Active Members 11
Presentation Only in Tiled Meetings 54 Emeriti Members 11–12
Demits Inspectors General Honorary 12–13
Issued upon Cessation of Body 75 Elective Offices (Officers) of the Supreme Council
Deputy Members 45–46 Elections
Appointment Adjournment 31
Unattached Jurisdictions 45 Removal 12
Unoccupied Territory 45 Salary upon Disability 38

Page 126 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Grand Prior – INDEX

Term 30 Affiliation 92
Titles 23 Degree Communication 17
Vacancies 30, 31 Recognition 8
Voting 31 Fourteenth Degree Ring. See Rings:
Proxy 31 Fourteenth Degree
Emeriti Members of Honour 12
Emeriti Members of the Supreme Council 11 G
Court of Honour Members 67 Grand Almoner
Death and Memorial 19 Duties 28
Election 11–12 Vacancy in Office 31
Privileges 11–12 Grand Chamberlain, Duties 29
Titles 12 Grand Chancellor
Voluntary Application 12 Duties 27–28
Employees of the Supreme Council Seal 37
Bonding 31–32 Grand Cross Court of Honour
Retirement Plan 38 Application for Demands Refusal 70
Cap 61, 66
F Dues Exemption 71
Fees 47–50 Election and Vote 70
Degree Conferral 49 Jewel 58, 65
Assessment 49 Membership in Court of Honour 67
Letters Temporary 47 Nominations and Qualifications 70
Patents and Diplomas 47 Voting 70
Permanent Charter 47 Grand Decoration 57–58, 64
Fidelity Coverage for Bodies 81 Grand Equerry (First and Second), Duties 29
Fifty-Year Membership Grand Executive Director 25–26
Cap 62, 66 Duties 25–26
Qualifications 62 Employees 25
Finance Committee Libraries 55
Appropriations Report 50 Reporting 25, 50, 78
Investment of Surplus Funds 26 Transactions 25
Resolution Reviews 111 Grand Herald, Duties 30
Financial Control in Subordinate Bodies 78 Grand Master of Ceremonies, Duties 29
Financial Statements Grand Minister of State, Duties 28
Impact 111 Grand Orator, Duties 29
Quarterly 25 Grand Prior
Fiscal Year 25 Duties 27
Flag, Official Scottish Rite 63 Line of Succession Position 27
Foreign Jurisdictions

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 127
INDEX – Grand Secretary General

Grand Secretary General Signature 34, 36

Duties 28 Tableau Published upon Death 19
Seal 37 Transfer of Membership 94
Vacancy in Office 31 Investment of Surplus Funds 26
Grand Standard Bearer, Duties 29 Irregular Bodies 33
Grand Sword Bearer, Duties 29
Grand Treasurer General J
Check Signatory 26 Jewels
Proposed Budget 28 Descriptions 57–59
Vacancy in Office 31 Examples 64–65
Judgments under Penal Statutes 105
H Jurisdiction
Honorary Member of the Supreme Council. Army Bodies 8
See Inspector General Honorary Northern Masonic 7
House of the Temple, Custodian 25 Penal. See Penal Charges: Jurisdiction
Supreme Council
I Defined 7
Indemnification of Active Members, Deputies, Orients 7
Officers, and Trustees 31–32 Changes 8
Inspector General Honorary 11
At Large 15 K
Cap 61, 66 Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
Conferrals Application for Demands Refusal 70
Location 15 At Large 69
Court of Honour 67 Cap 62, 66
Degree Not Given Gratuitously 15 Ceremony 69
Disloyalty Penalties and Procedures 106 Court of Honour 67
Election 12–13 Disloyalty Penalties and Procedures 106
Forfeiture of Election 15 Elect Attendance Requirement 69
Honorarium 49 Honorarium 49
Jewel. See Grand Decoration Jewel 58–59, 65
Loss of Membership 16 Loss of Rank 70
Nominations 13–15 Nominations 67–69
Qualifications 13 Qualifications 67, 68
Rights 15 Transfer of Membership 94
Ring. See Rings: Inspector General
Honorary (33°)

Page 128 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 New Subordinate Bodies – INDEX

L Certificate of Good Standing 93

Ladies’ Certificates. See Spouse Certificates Diplomas 96, 97
Law of the Rite, Components 113 Dues Remission 94–95
Letters Temporary Election Forfeiture 90
Application Form 119 Foreign Jurisdiction Members Affiliation 92
Continuance 85 Identification Card 95, 96
Fees 47 Lay Over of Petitions, Propositions, and
Issuance 17, 84 Applications 89
Per Capita Assessment 50 Life Membership 11, 96
Powers 84 Nonpayment of Dues 94–95
Surrender 85 Objections to Candidates 89–90, 90
Term 84–85 Propositions for Membership 89
Libraries of the Supreme Council 55 Publication of Petitioners’ Names Prohibited 87
Lieutenant Grand Commander Qualifications for Application 87
Acting Grand Commander 27 Rejected Candidates 90
Assumption of Sovereign Grand Commander Removal from Jurisdiction 92
Duties 26 Residence of Armed Forces and Overseas
Check Signatory 26 Employees 88
Duties Discharged by Grand Prior 27 Roster Use Restrictions 99
Vacancy in Office 27 Special Regulations by SGIGs
Life Membership. See Membership in Subordinate and Deputies 87
Bodies: Life Membership Spurious Bodies Membership 89
Lodge of Perfection Suspension for Dues Nonpayment 94
Degrees 9 Restoration of Membership 94–95
Election of Officers 76 Symbolic Lodge Membership
Feast Day 75 Requirement 92, 94
Number of Members Required 73 Thirty-second Degree Patents 97
Penal Jurisdiction 101 Unaffiliated Members 93
Prescribed Rituals and Related Publications 53 Waiver of Jurisdiction 87–88
Mourning
M Colors Prescribed 57
Masonic Emblems, Symbols, Titles, Usage 98 Symbols 19–20
Membership in Subordinate Bodies 87–99
Affiliations 92, 93 N
Ballot Procedure 89–90 Name of the Supreme Council 7
Postponement 89 New Subordinate Bodies. See Subordinate
Candidate Requirements 90, 92 Bodies: New

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 129
INDEX – Nominations

Nominations Consolidation of Valleys 74

Committee Report 12–13 Fees 47
Numbers, Procedures, & Qualifications. Forfeiture 74
See Grand Cross Court of Honour: Procedure upon Receipt 86
Nominations; See Inspector General Surrender 74
Honorary: Nominations; See Knight Personal Representatives (Valley or Orient) 16–17
Commander of the Court of Honour: Pike, Albert, Memorial Service 19
Nominations Programs and Announcements of Subordinate
Bodies. See Subordinate Bodies: Programs
O and Announcements, approvals and
Obligatory Degrees 9–10 descriptions
Officers of the Supreme Council. See Supreme
Council: Officers Q
Orients Quorum Requirements 21
Creation by Sovereign Grand Commander 7
Defined 7 R
Valleys, Books Prescribed 53 Representatives of Other Jurisdictions 33
Resignation
P Active Members 20
Patents, Diplomas, Certificates. See Certificates, Subordinate Body Officers 77
Diplomas, and Patents Resolutions 111
Penal Charges Retirement Plan, Employee 38
Active Members 105 Revenue Sources 47
Jurisdiction Rings
Active Members 105 Fourteenth Degree 59, 65
Change in Residence 101 Inspector General Honorary (33°) 59, 65
Lodge of Perfection 101 Rituals and Related Matter 53
Supreme Council Rights 106 Issuance 53
Suspension for Cause 101 Restrictions on Publication 54
Procedures 101–103 Title Retained by Supreme Council 53, 54
Service and Notice 102 Rose Croix, Signature 35, 36
Vote Requirements 102
Per Capita Assessment 50 S
Per Diem Provisions 51 Scottish Rite Related Corporations
Permanent Charter Conflicts of Interest Disclosure 32
Application and Requirements 84–85 Voting Restrictions 32
Application Form 121 Indemnification of Officers and Trustees 31–32

Page 130 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Subordinate Bodies – INDEX

Seals, Official 37 Life Membership 11

Secretary of the Valley Appointed 76 Limited Number 11
Secret Work, Rules for 54 Loss of Active Membership 17
Sessions. See Supreme Council: Sessions Mandatory Retirement Age 11
Signatures, Official 34–36, 36, 123 Member of All Subordinate Bodies 17
Sovereign Grand Commander Obituaries and Memorial Tablets 19
Assumption of Duties by Lt. Grand Per Diem 51
Commander 26 Personal Representatives 16–17
Cap 60, 66 Powers 16
Check Signatory 26 Removal 12
Election 31 Reporting 16, 39
Libraries 55 Resignation 12, 17, 20
Offices 24 Retirement 11
Powers 24 Signature 34, 36
Report to and Review by the Supreme Travel Expense Provisions 51
Council 24 Trials 105
Seal 37 Vacancy in Office 12
Signature 34, 36 Spouse Certificates
Standing Committees 39 Description 47–48
Titles 24 Spurious Bodies, Members of 89
Visitations Report 24 Subordinate Bodies 9
Sovereign Grand Inspectors General (SGIGs) 11–20 Almoner Disbursements 78
Absence from Regular Sessions 17 Appeal from Action of Any Body 82
Conflict of Interest (Xref). See Conflict of Assessments (Degrees, Per Capita) 49–50, 50
Interest Disclosure Balloting 89–90
Court of Honour Members 67 Postponement 89
Death and Memorial 19 Bylaws 76
Degree Conferral and Communication Clubs 80
9–10, 17, 18 Corporation Provisions 79–82
Without Charge 18 Cost of Books 47
Dispensation 18 Degrees
Election 11 Fees 49
Emeritus Membership Application 12 Opening 79
Indemnification 31–32 Demits 75, 98
Issuance of Books and Rituals Published by the Dues Exemptions 98
Supreme Council 53, 55 Exist by Virtue of Letters Temporary or
Letters Temporary Issuance 17 Permanent Charter 73

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 131
INDEX – Subordinate Bodies (continued)

Subordinate Bodies (continued) Wills Executed during Ritual 99

Feast Days 75 Succession in Elective Offices of the Supreme
Fidelity Coverage 81 Council 30
Financial Control 78 Supreme Council
Forfeiture of Charter 74 Active Members. See Sovereign Grand Inspector
Gambling Prohibited 81 General (SGIG)
Incorporation Prohibited 79 Appointive Officers 23
Letters Temporary. See Letters Temporary Elections, At Large 15
Meeting Place Changes 73 Elective Officers. See Elective Offices (Officers)
Naming Restrictions 81 of the Supreme Council
New 83–86 Emeriti Members. See Emeriti Members of the
Issuance of Supplies 84 Supreme Council
Letters Temporary. See Letters Temporary Honorary Members. See Inspector
Permanent Charter. See Permanent Charter General Honorary
Petition 83–84 Location of Executive Offices 109
Signatures 83 Officers 23–38
Withdrawal of Signature 85 Bonding Requirements 32
Number of Members Required 73 Conflict of Interest Disclosure 32
Officers Indemnification 31–32
Election 76 List 23
Installation 76 Loss of Rights and Privileges 30
Resignation 77 Resignation 30
Permanent Charter. See Permanent Charter Term 30
Programs and Announcements, approvals and Recognition Policy 8
descriptions 54–55 Revenue Sources 47
Property Roll Call Vote 43
Liquidation upon Termination 74, 75 Seals, Great and Petty 37
SGIG Supervision 79 Sessions
Regulations Governing 73–82 Regular, Time and Place 21
Reporting 78, 98 Special, Time, Place, and Manner of
Requirements to Open 73 Calling 21
Residence Requirements and Waivers 77 Voting
Stated Meeting Requirement 75 Recess 43
Surrender of Charter 74 Regular Session 43
Territorial Jurisdiction 73 Surplus Funds Investment 26
Uniforms and Regalia 79 Suspension or Expulsion under Penal Statutes 105
Vacancies in Offices 77–78

Page 132 – Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. Current as of August 19, 2023
 Wills Executed per Ritual – INDEX

Symbolic Lodge Judgment Publication 105

Affiliation Requirement 92 Location 101
Suspension or Expulsion Effects 94 Penalty, Provisions and Determination 103–104
Suspension or Expulsion 105
T Tribunal 102–104. See also Trials and
Thirty-second Degree Member Penal Statutes
Cap 63, 66 Trustees, Indemnification of 31–32
Double-headed Eagle Use 35
Jewel 59, 65 V
Patents 97 Vacancies in Elective Offices 30–31
Signature 34, 36 Voting. See also Elective Offices (Officers) of the
Thirty-third Degree. See Inspector Supreme Council: Voting; See also Supreme
General Honorary Council: Voting
Transactions Report 25 Prohibited Due to Conflict of Interest 32
Transfer of Membership, Inspectors General
Honorary and Knight Co 94 W
Travel Expenses Provided 51 Wills Executed per Ritual 99
Trials and Penal Statutes 101–107. See also Tribunal
Active Members (SGIG) 105
Balloting 103–104

Current as of August 19, 2023 Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., U.S.A. – Page 133