Statutes of the supreme council 33 degree 2009

8/14/2019 Statutes of the supreme council 33 degree 2009

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Statutes ofThe Supreme Council

of theThirty-third Degree

Ancient & Accepted Scottish Riteo Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A.

Revised and ApprovedOctober 2009


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Article I Te Supreme CouncilName

Article II Jurisdiction

Article III Degrees

Article IV Members

Article V SessionsQuorum

Article VI Ofcers and Employees

Article VII Committees

Article VIII Council o Administration

Article IX Procedure

Article X Deputies o Te Supreme Council

Article XI Revenues, Fees, and Assessments

Article XII Rituals, Programs, Books, and Libraries

Article XIII Clothing and Uniorms, Grand Decorations,Jewels, Rings, Caps

Article XIV Court o Honour

Article XV Regulations Governing Subordinate Bodies

Article XVI Formation o New Bodies

Article XVII Regulations Aecting Candidates and Members

Article XVIII rials and Penal Statutes

Article XIX Ofcial Locations

Article XX Amendments

Article XXI Declaratory Disposition

Addendum Acts o IncorporationForm o Application or New Bodies

Form o Application or Charter o New Bodies

Index

Contents

Rs 2009


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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

Oce of the Grand Commander

Washington, D.C., October 2009

I, Ronald A. Seale, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Tirty-third De-gree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the UnitedStates of America, certify that the following is a true copy of the Statutes and Regulations of said SupremeCouncil, as amended through the Biennial Session of the Supreme Council in October 2009.

Grand Secretary General

Sovereign Grand Commander


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ART. I & II - 1

Name

ARTICLE I

The Supreme Council

I N

SEC. 1. Te name of this Supreme Council is Te SupremeCouncil (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors GeneralKnights Commanders of the House of the emple of Solomon ofthe Tirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Riteof Free Masonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United Statesof America. (SeeActs o Incorporation in Addendum.)

ARTICLE II

I J

SEC. 1. Te jurisdiction of this Supreme Council includes all theterritory over which the United States of America exercises do-main of powers of government, except the states of Maine, NewHampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Il-

linois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which were apportioned by thisSupreme Council to the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of theUnited States. Te jurisdiction of this Supreme Council also in-cludes those countries where it has established, or may hereaerestablish, Bodies of the Rite, and over which countries no regularSupreme Council has acquired jurisdiction.

SEC. 2. Each state and territory within the general jurisdiction ofthis Supreme Council, unless otherwise ordered by the Supreme

Council, is hereby declared to be a separate Orient within itself.Other like Orients may be created and dened by the SovereignGrand Commander from time to time at and over territory orcountries over which this Supreme Council has acquired or mayacquire jurisdiction, who shall prescribe the boundaries of eachsuch like Orient.

Jurisdiction,

General

Jurisdiction,

Composed of Orients


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I & II - 2

Article II Its Jurisdiction

1999

[2] Army Lodge of Perfection, Army Chapter of RoseCroix, Army Council of Kadosh, and Army Consistory con-stitute a separate jurisdiction attached to the Orient of Kansasand under the control of the Sovereign Grand Inspector Gen-eral in Kansas, while said Bodies are located on the Military

Reservation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

SEC. 3. Te Sovereign Grand Commander or the SupremeCouncil is authorized to attach or detach any state or terri-tory within the general jurisdiction of this Supreme Councilin which there is not a resident Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral to or from the Orient of any Sovereign Grand In-spector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 4. Te policy is as follows: Te Supreme Council of the33 for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States shallonly recognize other Supreme Councils whose members be-long to regular Grand Lodges. Should any Active Memberof a recognized Supreme Council be suspended, expelled, orif he should withdraw from or allow his regular Blue Lodgemembership to lapse and yet retain his Active Membership inhis Supreme Council, the Supreme Council of the 33 for theSouthern Jurisdiction shall withdraw recognition from said

Supreme Council.

Jurisdiction, Army

Orient, Change In

Recognition Policy,

Qualications for

Foreign Supreme

Councils


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ART. III - 1

Subordinate Bodies

ARTICLE III

D

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

A. Lodges of Perfection, by which are conferred the Degreesfrom the Fourth to the Fourteenth, inclusive; namely, Secret Mas-ter, Perfect Master, Intimate Secretary, Provost and Judge, Inten-dant of the Building, Elu of the Nine, Elu of the Fieen, Elu of thewelve, Master Architect, Royal Arch of Solomon, Perfect Elu.

B. Chapters of Rose Croix, by which are conferred the De-

grees from the Fieenth to the Eighteenth, inclusive; namely,Knight of the East, Prince of Jerusalem, Knight of the East andWest, Knight of Rose Croix.

C. Councils of Kadosh, by which are conferred the Degreesfrom the Nineteenth to the Tirtieth, inclusive; namely, Ponti,Master of the Symbolic Lodge, Noachite or Prussian Knight,Knight of the Royal Axe or Prince of Libanus, Chief of the ab-ernacle, Prince of the abernacle, Knight of the Brazen Serpent,Prince of Mercy, Knight Commander of the emple, Knight of

the Sun or Prince Adept, Scottish Knight of St. Andrew, KnightKadosh.

D. Consistories, by which are conferred the Tirty-rst andTirty-second Degrees; namely, Inspector Inquisitor, Master ofthe Royal Secret.

SEC. 2. Te mandatory Degrees are the Fourth, Fourteenth,Eighteenth, Tirtieth, and Tirty-second and they shall never be

communicated except by the Sovereign Grand Inspector Generalor Deputy of the Supreme Council, and then only in unusual cir-cumstance.

Lodges of Perfection

Chapters of

Rose Croix

Councils of Kadosh

Consistories

Obligatory Degrees


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III - 2

Article III Degrees

Degrees,

Conferral by

e Supreme Council

[2] None of the Degrees of the Ancient and AcceptedScottish Rite may be conferred within the jurisdiction of thisSupreme Council except by Subordinate Bodies established byits authority, nor be communicated except by Sovereign GrandInspectors General in their discretion and within their Orients,

or by Deputies of the Supreme Council, as authorized in ArticleX, Section 3 of these Statutes, or by a Subordinate Body havinga special dispensation for that purpose from a Sovereign GrandInspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council. All feesreceived for Degrees communicated as herein authorizedshall be immediately paid to the Supreme Council, unless theDegrees were communicated for the purpose of establishing,or as the agent for, an organized Body, in which event they shallbe immediately paid to such Body.

SEC. 3. Te Supreme Council reserves to itself the power ofconferring any of the Degrees of the Rite upon any Brotherwhom it may deem worthy to receive them.

Degrees,

Communication

and Conferral

Degrees,

Fees for

Communicating


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ART. IV - 1 2003

ARTICLE IV

M

Active Members,

Election and Age

Limitations

Active Members,

Elections, Time,

Place and Manner Of

e Supreme Council,Members Of

Emeriti Members,

Election upon

Retirement as S.G.I.G.

and Privileges

SEC. 1. Tis Supreme Council consists of not more than thirty-three Active Members (Sovereign Grand Inspectors General) andsuch Emeriti and Honorary Members as the Supreme Council mayelect. Te Active Members shall be so distributed that no Orientwithin its general jurisdiction shall have more than one Member.

SEC. 2. Whenever a vacancy exists in an Orient, the SupremeCouncil may, at any regular session thereaer held, elect from theInspectors General Honorary resident and aliated within that

Orient, one person to the oce of Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral in the Orient, who becomes ex ofcio an Active Memberof the Supreme Council. A Sovereign Grand Inspector Generalshall become automatically retired at the close of the calendar yearof his 80th birthday.

[2] Such elections shall be aer nomination in executivesession as a special order of business at each regular session, andthe vote shall be taken viva voce on roll call, beginning with theyoungest Member and must be unanimous, all present voting.

SEC. 3. Upon retirement a Sovereign Grand Inspector Generalwho has served for a period of at least six years shall, upon requestof the Sovereign Grand Commander or by recommendation of anActive Member of the Supreme Council, be elected, by majority

vote, an Emeritus Member, with the rank and dignity possessed byhim at the time of his retirement, together with the right to use thetitle of the highest oce attained by him, with the prex Past. AnEmeritus Member shall have the privilege of attending all regular

meetings of the Supreme Council except executive sessions, serv-ing on committees at the request of the Sovereign Grand Com-mander, and he shall be given an Emeritus Membership Card andshall be exempt from the payment of dues. An Emeritus Memberwill 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 thewords Emeritus Member thereon on his chain.


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IV - 2

Article IV Members

Emeriti Members,

Election upon

Removal from Oce

Elective Ocers and

Active Members,

Removal from Oce

Active Members,

Vacancies

Emeriti Members of

Honour, Election Of

Emeriti Members,

Election upon

Resignation as S.G.I.G.

and Privileges

SEC. 4. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General who has re-signed may be elected, by unanimous vote, an Emeritus Mem-ber, with the rank and dignity possessed by him at the time ofhis resignation, together with the right to use the title of thehighest oce attained by him, with the prex Past. Upon

election he shall have the privilege of attending all regularmeetings of the Supreme Council except executive sessions,serving on committees at the request of the Sovereign GrandCommander, and he shall be given an Emeritus MembershipCard and shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

SEC. 5. Whenever any elective ocer of the Supreme Councilor a Sovereign Grand Inspector General shall have become un-able or unwilling to discharge his duties, the Supreme Coun-

cil may, for the good of the Order, upon motion and by a two-thirds vote of the Members then present at any regular or specialsession of the Supreme Council, remove said ocer or Sover-eign Grand Inspector General from oce. Upon motion andby a unanimous vote of the Supreme Council Members then

voting, such ocer or Sovereign Grand Inspector General maybe elected an Emeritus Member, and he shall then be given anEmeritus Membership Card and shall be exempt from the pay-ment of dues.

SEC. 6. Upon resignation or retirement under any of theforegoing sections, the oce of Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral, and any oce in the Supreme Council held by theMember so resigned or retired, shall immediately become va-cant and may be lled at that or any future regular session ofthe Supreme Council.

SEC. 7. Te Supreme Council may, at any regular session,

elect from among the members of the Tirty-third Degreeof any other jurisdiction such Brethren as may be nominatedby the Sovereign Grand Commander, to be enrolled upon itsableau as Emeriti Members of Honour, whose names shallbe continued perpetually upon its rolls.


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Members Article IV

IV - 3 2009

Honorary Members,

Election by the

Supreme Council

Honorary Members,

Qualications

SEC. 8. Te Supreme Council may, at any regular session,elect to receive the Tirty-third Degree and to be HonoraryMembers of the Supreme Council with the rank and dignity ofInspectors General Honorary, such Masters of the Royal Secretpossessing the qualications and regularly nominated as herein

provided, as it may select by unanimous vote taken on a voicevote. Te Tirty-third Degree shall never be asked for, directlyor indirectly, and if asked for, shall be refused. Nominationsshall be referred to the Committee on Nominations and reporthad therefrom before ballot is taken. No nomination shall bemade of a member of any Body who is in arrears in his dues.

SEC. 9. Not less than thirty ninetydays before each regu-lar session of the Supreme Council each Sovereign Grand

Inspector General and each Deputy of the Supreme Coun-cil may le in the oce of the Grand Executive Director,in the number below specied, the written electronicallysubmitted nominations for Inspectors General Honorary,Masters of the Royal Secret who are bona de residents andmembers in good standing of Subordinate Bodies of this

jurisdiction, who have attained the age of thirty-ve yearsand who have had conferred upon them the rank and dec-oration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour atleast forty-six months before the session at which the nom-

inations are to be voted on, to receive the Tirty-third De-gree and to be Honorary Members of the Supreme Councilwith the rank and dignity of Inspector General Honorary.

[2] Te number of such earned nominations for In-spectors General Honorary for each Orient in the UnitedStates, Southern Jurisdiction, shall be twelve six for its rst2,500 (or fewer) Masters of the Royal Secret as of the pri-or December 31, and four two for each additional 2,500.Fractions le over are to be carried forward as credits.

Te smaller territorial and foreign Orients may each havefour nominations for Inspectors General Honorary, exceptwhen in the judgment of the Sovereign Grand Commandera larger number is needed in a particular jurisdiction. Tenominations set forth in this numbered paragraph maybe a lesser number at the option of the Sovereign GrandInspector General or Deputy of each Orient. Any unusednominations will be carried forward to the next Session.

Honorary Members,

Number of

Nominations Based

on Existing

Membership


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IV - 4

Article IV Members

2009

Honorary Members,Number of

Nominations Based on

New Members

Honorary Members,

Nomination

Procedure

[3] Nominations led less than thirty ninety days be-fore any such session shall not be considered at that session,except by unanimous consent. Nominations shall be made onblanks furnished by the Grand Executive Director enteredinto the Supreme Council Sentinel Database Management

System, and must state the name in full of each nominee, hisidentication number, the place and date of his birth, his oc-cupation, his residence, his Blue Lodge name, number, andlocation, the conferral dates when he received the Tirty-sec-ond Degree and the rank of Knight Commander of the Courtof Honour, the names and location of the Bodies of the Ritewith which he is aliated, and a brief statement of his specicservices rendered in behalf of this Rite. Provided, that whenthe nominee is either a resident of, or a member of Bodies in,another Orient under this general jurisdiction, the approval

of such nomination by the Sovereign Grand Inspector Gen-eral or Deputy of the Supreme Council in such other Ori-ent shall be obtained, and such nomination shall be chargedto the Orient of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General orDeputy of the Supreme Council making the same.

[4] Tis section and the resulting eect will be reviewedat each Supreme Session.

SEC. 10. In addition to the earned nominations provided forin the preceding section, and in addition to the number stand-ing to his credit, and in the same form and manner, and com-plying with the same conditions, each Sovereign Grand In-spector General and each Deputy of the Supreme Council maynominate to receive the Tirty-third Degree with the rank anddignity of Inspector General Honorary and Honorary Mem-ber of the Supreme Council, two Knights Commander of theCourt of Honour for the rst one hundred, and two for eachadditional two hundred Masters of the Royal Secret who have

received the Tirty-second Degree in his Orient since the pre-ceding regular session. Whatever fractions are le over fromone such session may will be counted in the quota for the nextSession. Te nominations set forth in this numbered paragraphmay be a lesser number at the option of the Sovereign GrandInspector General or Deputy of each Orient.


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Members Article IV

IV - 5 2009

[2] Nominations under this and the preceding sectionshall be referred to the Committee on Nominations forreview not less than 60 days before each regular session ofthe Supreme Council. A Supreme Council electronic vote inrecess shall follow not less than 45 days prior to such session

with names submitted to Sovereign Grand Inspectors Generaland Deputies following ratication of vote. and report hadthereon before ballot is taken.

SEC. 11. Te Sovereign Grand Commander may nominateten Knights Commander of the Court of Honour for electionas Inspectors General Honorary of the Supreme Councilwhenever, in his judgment, the interest of the Rite will bethereby promoted. Said nominations shall be in accord

with the procedures established by the Supreme Council forthe election of all other Inspectors General Honorary andshall not be credited against the quota assigned to any givenOrient.

SEC. 1112. Te Supreme Council reserves to itself the rightto elect Inspectors General Honorary from the Masters of theRoyal Secret of the jurisdiction at large, whenever in its judg-ment the interests of the Rite will be thereby promoted, and

without reference to the rank of Knight Commander of theCourt of Honour.

SEC. 1213. Te Tirty-third Degree must, when practicable,be conferred by the Supreme Council, but when not practi-cable it may be conferred by the Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral or Deputy of the Supreme Council in the Orient inwhich the designate resides, or in which his membership isheld, or by courtesy.

SEC. 1314. If a Brother elected to receive the Tirty-thirdDegree does not present himself to receive it at or prior tothe regular session of the Supreme Council next succeedinghis election, such election shall be void, but the time may beextended by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council.

irty-third Degree,

Where Conferred

irty-third Degree,

Forfeiture of Election

Honorary Members,

the Supreme Council

May Elect at Large

Honorary Members,

Sovereign Grand

Commander May Elect

at Large


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IV - 6

Article IV Members

2009

Active Members,

General Powers

Active Members,

Reports to Sovereign

Grand Commander

Honorary Members,

Rights

Honorary Members,

Loss of Membership

irty-third Degree,

Not Given

Gratuitously

SEC. 1415. Te Tirty-third Degree shall not be given gra-tuitously except by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council.

SEC. 1516. Honorary Members have the right to be present

at all sessions of the Supreme Council except executive ses-sions, and to have a voice therein but without a vote.

SEC. 1617. Honorary Membership in the Supreme Councilis ipso acto terminated by voluntary resignation duly accept-ed; by expulsion or suspension from the Supreme Council orany of its Subordinate Bodies; by voluntary non-aliation fora 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 havingjurisdiction over the member. Permanent removal from thegeneral jurisdiction of this Supreme Council by a memberdoes not terminate the membership, provided the memberremains aliated and in good standing with the SubordinateBodies of the Rite in this general jurisdiction.

SEC. 1718. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General possesses,and may exercise within his Orient, all the prerogatives of

Grand Master of Masons, so far as relates to this Rite, andmay do and perform all such acts as he may deem for its in-terest which are not prohibited by the Constitutions or bythese Statutes. When rendering a decision involving the in-terpretation of these Statutes or concerning the practice ofthe Rite, he shall immediately make a full report thereof tothe Sovereign Grand Commander.

[2] A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy ofthe Supreme Council has the power to disapprove the selec-

tion of, or to remove, any ocer of a Subordinate Body in hisOrient, or of a related corporation. (See 1947 Trans., p. 303;1963 Trans., p. 234.)


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Members Article IV

IV - 7 2009

S.G.I.G. or Deputy

Personal

Representatives,

Appointment Of

Representatives,

Duties Of

SEC. 1819. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputyof the Supreme Council may appoint a Personal Represen-tative of the Advisory Conference or Executive Committeein each Valley of his Orient to act for him, and the acts ofthese representatives are valid when approved by the Sover-

eign Grand Inspector General or Deputy, who is responsiblefor these acts. In addition, he may appoint an Orient PersonalRepresentative for the Orient.

[2] Te duties and responsibilities of such Valley andOrient Personal Representatives are as follows:

A. o serve as the eyes and ears of the Sovereign GrandInspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council to theend that peace and harmony may be promoted and brotherly

love prevail;

B. o see that customs, usages, and laws of the SupremeCouncil are properly observed;

C. o carry out the instructions of the Sovereign GrandInspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Council; and

D. o exercise such powers as may be delegated to himby the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the

Supreme Council in writing.

SEC. 1920. If a Sovereign Grand Inspector General removespermanently from his Orient, except that of the District ofColumbia, he ipso acto loses his Active Membership. (SeeArticle X, Section 2 of these Statutes.)

SEC. 2021. Any Sovereign Grand Inspector General absent

from two successive regular sessions of the Supreme Coun-cil without excuse adjudged sucient may, at the close of thesecond session, be deemed to have resigned his membershipin the Supreme Council.

S.G.I.G., Loss of

Active Membership

S.G.I.G., Absence fromthe Supreme Council

Sessions


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IV - 8

Article IV Members

2009

S.G.I.G.,

Letters Temporary

Issued By

S.G.I.G., Rights and

Limitations

of Dispensation

S.G.I.G., May

Communicate

Degrees in Unattached

Foreign Countries

S.G.I.G., Member of All

Bodies in His Orient

S.G.I.G., May Confer orCommunicate

Degrees without

Charge

SEC. 2122. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General cannot bean ocer of a Subordinate Body of the Rite. He shall be amember of all Subordinate Bodies within his Orient, with allrights and privileges of such membership, but shall be exemptfrom the payment of dues.

SEC. 2223. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General is autho-rized to communicate any of the Degrees of this Rite, exceptthe Tirty-third, in any foreign country where no SupremeCouncil exists.

SEC. 2324. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General may issueLetters emporary for the establishment within his Orient

of Subordinate Bodies, which Letters shall continue in forceuntil the next regular session of the Supreme Council. (SeeArticle XVI, Section 7.)

SEC. 2425. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General may grantdispensations waiving the provisions of the Statutes of the Su-preme Council or the bylaws of Subordinate Bodies within hisOrient governing the time of presenting petitions of candi-dates, reference and reports of committees thereon, and bal-

loting therefor, and delays in the time for conferring Degreesupon qualied and elected candidates, and all other statutesand bylaws governing the time and place of meeting and thetransaction of routine business by such Subordinate Bodies.He may give his consent to Subordinate Bodies suspendingthe provisions of their bylaws in particular instances when in hisopinion such action is for the best interest of the Rite, and thereis no statute of the Supreme Council prohibiting it.

SEC. 2526. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General has thepower to confer or communicate Degrees, either with orwithout charge therefor, and without election by a Body ofthe Rite, upon Brethren of great merit and desert in his Ori-ent, 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 di-rect any organized Body or Bodies within his Orient to confersuch Degrees for him, either with or without charge therefor.


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Members Article IV

IV - 9 2009

Te Sovereign Grand Inspector General may direct that suchBrethren be enrolled as members of such Bodies of the Rite inhis Orient as he may designate.

[2] In cases where the Degrees are conferred or com-

municated without charge, the Subordinate Bodies confer-ring same, or in which the Brethren are enrolled as mem-bers, shall not be required to pay to the Supreme Council thecustomary fees for Degrees; and the Supreme Council shallfurnish to such Brethren the usual English Patents withoutcharge.

[3] But a Deputy of the Supreme Council is not autho-rized to confer or communicate Degrees, or have it done,without charge therefor.

SEC. 2627. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General shallmake, whenever requested by the Sovereign Grand Com-mander so to do, a full report of his ocial acts and decisionsduring such period as may be prescribed by the SovereignGrand Commander. In this report he may also make suchrecommendations for the good of the Rite as he may deempertinent.

SEC. 2728. Upon the death of a Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral, Active or Emeritus, notice thereof shall be given theSovereign Grand Commander, who shall cause to be pro-mulgated a suitable memorial of his life and Masonic service.Upon the death of an Inspector General Honorary, the Sov-ereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy of the SupremeCouncil for the Orient shall notify the Grand Executive Di-rector. Te Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputyof the Supreme Council shall also cause a suitable memorial

page to be set apart in the records of the Lodge of Perfec-tion of which the deceased Inspector General Honorary was amember. Tis section, however, shall not be construed as pro-hibiting the Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy ofthe Supreme Council, or the Lodge, from promulgating anyother suitable memorial if desired.

Deputy, May Not Confer

or Communicate Degrees

without Charge

S.G.I.G., Ocial Reports

to the Sov. Gr. Cmdr.

Active or Emeritus

Member, Death and

Memorial


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IV - 10

Article IV Members

2009

Active, Emeriti, and

Grand Cross

Members, Obituaries

and Memorial

Tablets

Albert Pike

Memorial Service

Insp. Gen.Honorary, Tableau

upon Death

Mourning Badges,

May Be Dispensed

With

[2] Te Albert Pike Memorial Services shall be held uponthe Sunday preceding the regular sessions of the SupremeCouncil and the Sovereign Grand Commander shall appoint acommittee to make necessary arrangements therefor.

SEC. 2829. Te Committee on Obituaries shall include in itsreport to the regular session, the tablets, not previously re-ported, in memory of deceased Active and Emeriti SovereignGrand Inspectors General and Grand Crosses of the Courtof Honour prepared by the Supreme Council, which shall bepublished in the Transactions o the Supreme Councilin full,together with a reproduction of a photograph of each of thedeceased.

[2] Tere shall also be published in the Transactions atableau of deceased Inspectors General Honorary.

SEC. 2930. Te Sovereign Grand Commander may dispensewith the wearing of the prescribed badge of mourning or thedraping of the altars and working tools upon the death of anActive or Emeritus Member of the Supreme Council. Te Sov-ereign Grand Inspector General may, in like manner, dispensewith these memorial acts on the death of an Inspector General

Honorary of his Orient.

SEC. 3031. All ocial correspondence with the SovereignGrand Commander, and between Bodies of the Rite locatedin dierent Orients within this general jurisdiction, relatingto the status of members, to questions of jurisdiction, to Ma-sonic intercourse, to appeals for Masonic charity or Frater-nal assistance, and to every subject requiring legislation bythe Supreme Council shall be carried on through the Sover-

eign Grand Inspectors General or Deputies of the SupremeCouncil in charge of the respective Orients. All ocial cor-respondence with Bodies located in other jurisdictions relat-ing to similar matters must be carried on by the SovereignGrand Inspector General or Deputy of the Supreme Coun-cil through the Sovereign Grand Commander, unless and asotherwise ordered or directed by him.

Ocial

Correspondence,

Carried on through

S.G.I.G.s or Deputies


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Members Article IV

IV - 11 2009

Member,

Resignation Of

SEC. 3132. Te resignation of a Member shall be made to theSupreme Council when in session, subject to its acceptanceby a majority vote. In recess it may be made to the SovereignGrand Commander, who is authorized to accept the same or toreport it to the Supreme Council for action.


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HIS PAGE INENIONALLY LEF BLANK.


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ART. V - 1 2009

ARTICLE V

SQ

Sessions, Regular,Time and Place

SEC. 1. Te Supreme Council shall meet in regular sessionbiennially at the House of the emple in the city of Washington,District of Columbia, between the eenth rst day of the monthsof August and the 15 dayof October in each odd year, as speciedby the Sovereign Grand Commander and in special sessionas provided in Section 2 of this Article.; but No nomination ofInspectors General Honorary, of Grand Crosses, or of KnightsCommander of the Court of Honour shall be made or actedupon except at a regular session in Washington. Nominations ofInspectors 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 GrandCommander to be held at such time and place as he may name inthe call. It shall be his duty to call special sessions upon the writtenrequest of a majority of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors Generalat such time and place as may be designated in their request. Tedate of a special session shall be not less than een days nor more

than sixty days aer the date of summons except by unanimousconsent, and notice of a special meeting shall be given by wire andfollowed immediately by formal written notice to each SovereignGrand Inspector General.

SEC. 3. Seven Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, theSovereign Grand Commander or Lieutenant Grand Commanderbeing present, or nine Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, inthe absence of these ocers, shall constitute a quorum for the

transactions of business.

Sessions, Special,

Time, Place, and

Manner of Calling

Quorum,

Requirements For


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ART. VI - 1

ARTICLE VI

O E

Ocers of

the Supreme Council

SEC. 1. Te dignitaries and ocers of the Supreme Council areas follows:

ELECTIVE

1. Sovereign Grand Commander2. Lieutenant Grand Commander3. Grand Prior4. Grand Chancellor5. Grand Minister of State6. Grand Secretary General

7. Grand reasurer General8. Grand Almoner

APPOINTIVE

9. Grand Chaplain(may be an Honorary Member)

10. Grand Orator11. Grand Master of Ceremonies12. Grand Chamberlain13. First Grand Equerry14. Second Grand Equerry15. Grand Standard Bearer16. Grand Sword Bearer17. Grand Herald

[2] Te Sovereign Grand Commander shall appoint a GrandExecutive Director from the Honorary Membership to serve un-der his supervision and may appoint such other ocers from the

Honorary Membership as he may designate, including GrandStewards, Grand Organist, and Grand yler, all of whom shallserve at his will and pleasure.

Ocers, Elective

Ocers, Appointive

Ocers Appointed

from Honorary

Membership


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VI - 2

Article VI Ocers

SEC. 2. Te Sovereign Grand Commander is the supremeexecutive and the chief judicial ocer of the Rite within the

jurisdiction of this Supreme Council. He is the representativeof the Supreme Council when that Body is not in session, andis invested with general powers of supervision, instruction,

and administration everywhere within its jurisdiction; and hemay decide all questions properly referred to him aectingthe interests of the Rite, and shall report his decisions, in suchmanner as he may deem best, to the Sovereign Grand Inspec-tors General and Deputies of the Supreme Council.

[2] He shall occupy and maintain the executive oceslocated in the House of the emple at the city of Washingtonin the District of Columbia to perform his duties and super-intend the business of the Supreme Council during his tenure

of oce as Sovereign Grand Commander.

[3] He shall upon his election as Sovereign Grand Com-mander relinquish all authority of his jurisdiction as Sover-eign Grand Inspector General and in addition to the title ofSovereign Grand Commander shall be designated and be-come Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large. On his re-tirement as Sovereign Grand Commander, he shall relinquishhis oce as Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large andshall possess the titles of Past Sovereign Grand Commander

and Past Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large.

SEC. 3. He shall, if practicable, visit, either in person or byduly commissioned representatives, one or more of the Bod-ies in each state or territory at least once every two years andmake report thereof to the Supreme Council at its next regu-lar session.

SEC. 4. He shall, at each regular session, make report to theSupreme Council of all ocial acts performed and judicialdecisions rendered by him in recess. An appeal from any de-cision rendered by him shall not operate as suspensive. All ofhis ocial acts are subject to review by the Supreme Council.

Sovereign Grand

Commander,

Powers Of

Sovereign Grand

Commander, Oces

and Residence

Sovereign Grand

Commander,

Additional Title and

Title upon

Retirement

Sovereign Grand

Commander,

Visitation By

Sovereign GrandCommander, Report

to and Review by the

Supreme Council


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SEC. 5. Under the supervision of the Sovereign Grand Com-mander, the Grand Executive Director shall keep all of theaccounts of the Supreme Council, receive all monies due it,and ensure proper receipt thereof, and shall immediately de-posit, in the name of the Supreme Council, in a depository or

depositories designated by it, all monies received, and rendera due account thereof to the Grand reasurer General. Tebooks and accounts of the Grand Executive Director shallat all times be open for inspection by any Sovereign GrandInspector General. Te Grand Executive Director shall alsobe custodian of the House of the emple and of all property,real and personal, belonging to the Supreme Council and ischarged with the safekeeping of the same. He shall performsuch other duties as may be delegated to him by the SovereignGrand Commander.

SEC. 6. Te Grand Executive Director shall make to the Su-preme Council on the rst day of each regular session a fullreport of the transactions of his oce, both general and -nancial, since the last regular session. He shall also report allproperty in his possession belonging to the Supreme Coun-cil. He shall, if required by the Sovereign Grand Commander,make reports to any session of the Supreme Council.

[2] Te nancial accounts of the Grand Executive Direc-tor shall be closed on December thirty-rst in each year.

SEC. 7. Te Grand Executive Director shall cause to be re-produced a full report of the transactions of each regular andspecial session of the Supreme Council, omitting only suchportions as the Supreme Council or Sovereign Grand Com-mander shall direct.

SEC. 8. Te Grand Executive Director is in charge of the em-ployees in his oce, and under his direction as custodian ofthe House of the emple and its grounds, and in such otherdepartments as are placed under his direction or control,subject to the supreme executive authority of the SovereignGrand Commander.

Sovereign Grand

Commander

Supervises Grand

Executive Director

and Delineates

Duties

Books and Accounts

of Grand Executive

Director, Open for

Inspection

Grand Executive

Director, Custodian

of the House of the

Temple

Grand Executive

Director,

Reports Of

Fiscal Year

Grand Executive

Director, Responsible

for Reporting and

Printing Transactions

Grand Executive

Director, In Charge

of Employees


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Article VI Ocers

Investments, Surplus

Funds

Disbursements and

Check Signatories

Grand Executive

Director, Responsible

for Quarterly Financial

Statements

SEC. 9. Te Grand Executive Director as soon as practicableaer the close of each calendar quarter shall cause the nan-cial report to be distributed to each Active Member of theSupreme Council, showing receipts and disbursements andbudget variations for the quarter and for cumulative quarters

from the start of the biennium.

SEC. 10. Te Sovereign Grand Commander and the GrandExecutive Director, at the beginning of every quarter year,beginning January rst, shall report to the Committee on Fi-nance the amount of money in the treasury of the SupremeCouncil not otherwise appropriated, and their estimate of theamount necessary for the conduct of business of the SupremeCouncil for the succeeding three months, and the Commit-

tee on Finance shall thereupon direct the investment by theSovereign Grand Commander and the Grand Executive Di-rector in such amount of the surplus funds of the SupremeCouncil as in the judgment of the Committee on Financemay be safely withdrawn for that purpose. Such investmentmay be made in obligations or securities, provided that theaggregate amount of common stocks shall at the time of in-

vesting not exceed 75% of the total current market value ofall such investments, and provided further that when makingany investment an independent investment advisor shall be

consulted.

SEC. 11. Te funds of this Supreme Council shall be paid outby checks drawn on the depositories of the Supreme Counciland signed by the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Lieu-tenant Grand Commander as provided in Section 12 of thisArticle, and by the Grand Executive Director and the Grandreasurer General, payable to the order of the persons forwhose benets said checks are drawn. Te Committee on

Finance may specify a dollar limit under which only one sig-nature of the above-listed ocers is required.


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Lt. Grand

Commander,

Assumes Sovereign

Grand Commanders

Duties upon Request

Lt. Grand Commander,

Assumes Sovereign

Grand Commander's

Oce upon Death,

Resignation,

or Disability

Grand Prior, Assumes

Duties of Sovereign

Grand Commander

if No Lt. Grand

Commander

Lt. Grand

Commander's Oce

Remains Vacant When

Lt. Grand Commander

is Acting Grand

Commander

Lt. Grand Commander

Serving as Acting

Grand Commander,

Salary Of

SEC. 12. Te Lieutenant Grand Commander, in the absenceof the Sovereign Grand Commander from the jurisdiction ofthe Supreme Council or upon the special request of the Sov-ereign Grand Commander, shall assume the executive dutiesand powers of the oce of Sovereign Grand Commander,

acting as Lieutenant Grand Commander, and shall have au-thority to issue Letters emporary for the organization of newbodies, decide questions submitted to him, sign checks andwarrants, and perform such other acts as the emergency mayrequire.

[2] In the event of the death, resignation, or disabilityof the Sovereign Grand Commander, the Lieutenant GrandCommander shall assume the oce of Sovereign GrandCommander, as Sovereign Grand Commander, and as such

shall possess all the powers and be charged with the dutiesand responsibilities of the oce.

[3] He shall render a report of his acts to the SupremeCouncil at the next regular session. If there be no electedLieutenant Grand Commander, the rights and duties hereinset forth shall inure to, and be discharged by, the Grand Prior.

[4] If under these statutes and during his elected termof oce, the Lieutenant Grand Commander should become

Acting Sovereign Grand Commander or succeed to the oceof Sovereign Grand Commander, he shall so remain duringsaid period and have the title Sovereign Grand Command-er, and the oce of Lieutenant Grand Commander shall re-main vacant until the next election of ocers by the SupremeCouncil.

[5] When the Lieutenant Grand Commander assumesthe oce of Sovereign Grand Commander as authorizedunder these statutes, he shall be paid and be entitled to the

salary, expenses, and benets, as determined by the FinanceCommittee.


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2002

SEC. 13. Te Grand Prior presides in the absence of theSovereign Grand Commander and the Lieutenant GrandCommander. He is, in the Supreme Council when convened,what the Junior Warden is in a Chapter of Rose Croix, andthe Cra are under his superintendence while the Members

are at refreshment. o him are referred in the rst instance,at the request of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, allmatters of complaint and controversy between SubordinateBodies and their respective members, for opinion and advice.He shall also discharge such other duties as may from time totime be required of him by the Sovereign Grand Commanderor the Supreme Council.

SEC. 14. Te Grand Chancellor is the law ocer of the Su-

preme Council. As such he is advisor of the Sovereign GrandCommander and the Supreme Council on matters of Ma-sonic law and precedent, to whom all questions thereof areto be referred; and upon all matters of importance debatedin the Supreme Council he may be called upon to deliver hisconclusions before the Supreme Council decides. o him itbelongs to prepare charges against and prosecute oendersbefore the Supreme Council or any tribunal created by it; andwhen any matter is to be investigated or decided by the Su-preme 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 jurisprudenceupon the request of the Sovereign Grand Commander.

SEC. 15. Te Grand Minister of State is the minister of for-eign aairs and shall, when directed by the Sovereign GrandCommander, conduct all the correspondence with foreignbodies and report upon it to the Supreme Council. He shallalso perform such other like duties as may from time to time

be required of him by the Sovereign Grand Commander orthe Supreme Council.

SEC. 16. Te Grand Secretary General shall keep a faithfulrecord of the transactions of the Supreme Council and ofthe Council of Administration, and shall keep in his posses-

Grand Chancellor,

Duties Of

Grand Minister of

State, Duties Of

Grand Prior,

Duties Of

Grand Secretary

General, Duties Of


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sion and ax to such papers as may require attestation, theocial seal of the Supreme Council. He shall perform suchother duties as properly appertain to his oce, or which maybe required of him by the Supreme Council or the SovereignGrand Commander.

SEC.17. Te Grand reasurer General is the nancial ocerof the Supreme Council. He shall serve as the Chairman ofthe Committee on Finance and report to the Supreme Coun-cil as delineated in Article XI, Section 7, of the statutes of theSupreme Council. At each regular biennial session of the Su-preme Council, he shall present a proposed budget for theensuing biennium on behalf of the Committee on Finance.

SEC. 18. Te Grand Almoner exercises management re-sponsibility over and maintains the Almoners Fund of theSupreme Council. He dispenses its charities, regardless ofrace, creed, sex, age, or national origin to widows, orphans,the poor, the distressed, and the physically handicapped. Athis discretion he may also distribute monies for other educa-tional and charitable purposes.

SEC. 19. Te Grand Chaplain conducts the customary devo-tions of the Supreme Council as are established by usages ofthe Rite and oers prayer during the Supreme Councils cer-emonies and reections when called upon by the SovereignGrand Commander.

SEC. 20. Te Grand Orator is the orator of the SupremeCouncil and is charged with the duty of causing distinguished

visitors to be suitably presented and properly welcomed. He

will also be called upon to pronounce eulogies on deceasedBrethren and perform such other like services as may fromtime to time be required of him by the Sovereign GrandCommander or the Supreme Council.

Grand Almoner,

Duties Of

Grand Chaplain,Duties Of

Grand Orator,

Duties Of

Grand Treasurer

General, Duties Of


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SEC. 21. Te Grand Master of Ceremonies shall direct theformation of all processions of the Supreme Council, escortand introduce all distinguished visitors, and perform suchother duties as the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Su-preme Council may direct.

SEC. 22. Te Grand Chamberlain shall assist the Grand Mas-ter of Ceremonies in the performance of his duties and per-form such other duties as the Sovereign Grand Commanderor the Supreme Council may direct. In the absence of theGrand Master of Ceremonies the Grand Chamberlain shallact as his substitute.

SEC. 23. Te First Grand Equerry and the Second GrandEquerry are, when called upon, to assist the other ocers inthe performance of their respective duties, and are otherwiseto perform such other duties as the Sovereign Grand Com-mander and the Supreme Council may direct.

SEC. 24. Te Grand Standard Bearer has in his charge andcare the Great Banner of the Supreme Council. It is his dutyto carry the Great Banner in all processions of the Supreme

Council, and perform such other duties as the SovereignGrand Commander and the Supreme Council may direct.

SEC. 25. Te Grand Sword Bearer has in his charge and carethe great cross-hilted double-edged two-handed sword. It ishis duty to bear the great sword in all processions, and when-ever the Supreme Council is in session to guard and protectthe Great Banner of the Supreme Council, and perform suchother duties as the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Su-

preme Council may direct.

SEC. 26. Te Grand Herald shall assist the Sovereign GrandCommander in opening and closing the Supreme Council,lead all processions of the Supreme Council, and performsuch other duties as the Sovereign Grand Commander andthe Supreme Council may direct.

Grand Standard

Bearer, Duties Of

Grand Sword Bearer,

Duties Of

Grand Chamberlain,

Duties Of

First Grand Equerryand Second Grand

Equerry, Duties Of

Grand Master of

Ceremonies, Duties Of

Grand Herald,

Duties Of


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SEC. 27. Te ocial titles of the elective and appointive of-cers of the Supreme Council are as given at the beginning ofSection 1 of this Article.

SEC. 28. Commencing at the regular session of the SupremeCouncil in October 1961, and each two years thereaer, theelective ocers shall be elected for a term of two years; theappointive ocers shall hold oce at the will and pleasure ofthe Sovereign Grand Commander.

SEC. 29. Te resignation of an ocer shall be made to the Su-preme Council when in session, subject to its acceptance bya majority vote, but in recess shall be made to the Sovereign

Grand Commander, who is authorized to accept the same.

SEC. 30. All of the rights, privileges, and perquisites of theocers are ipso acto terminated by voluntary resignationduly accepted, by permanent removal beyond the general

jurisdiction of this Supreme Council, by expulsion or sus-pension from the Supreme Council or any of its SubordinateBodies, by voluntary nonaliation for a period of one yearin either a Blue Lodge or the Scottish Rite, or by expulsion

or suspension from the privileges of Masonry by the GrandLodge or the Lodge of Symbolic Masonry having jurisdictionover such member.

SEC. 31. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any of the elec-tive oces of the Supreme Council, except that of Grand Sec-retary General, Grand reasurer General, or Grand Almoner,the duties pertaining to the oce so becoming vacant shall beperformed by the next succeeding elected ocer or ocers

in the order of their respective rank until said oce shall belled by election.

[2] Te elected ocer, however, shall retain and also per-form the duties of the oce to which he was elected. In sign-ing for the oce becoming vacant he shall sign as acting asthe ocer whose oce has become vacant and the duties ofwhich oce he is at the time performing.

Titles, Ocial

Ocers, Term Of

Ocers, Resignation Of

Ocers, Loss of Rights

and Privileges

Elective Oces,

Vacancy and

Succession In


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Article VI Ocers

1995

SEC. 32. If the oce of the Grand Secretary General or theGrand reasurer General becomes vacant, the vacancy shallbe lled by appointment by the Sovereign Grand Command-er or Acting Sovereign Grand Commander until an electionis held to ll the same.

[2] If the oce of the Grand Almoner becomes vacant,the duties of this oce shall be performed by the Grand rea-surer General until the next election.

SEC. 33. If a vacancy occurs in the oce of Sovereign GrandCommander or any other elective oce, the same shall belled by election on the second or some subsequent day ofthe next regular session, or at a special session, unless the Su-

preme Council is then in session.

[2] Te Supreme Council has power by a majority voteto adjourn such election from time to time until the vacancyis lled.

SEC. 34. A two-thirds vote of the Members present shall benecessary to elect a Sovereign Grand Commander; a majorityshall be sucient in all other cases, except when otherwise

provided in these statutes.

SEC. 35. No vote by proxy or letter for the election of any of-cer shall be received or counted.

SEC. 36. Te Supreme Council of the Tirty-third Degree,Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, South-ern Jurisdiction shall indemnify any Active Member, Depu-

ty of the Supreme Council, ocer or trustee or any formerActive Member, Deputy of the Supreme Council, ocer ortrustee of such Supreme Council, or any person who mayhave served at its request as an ocer or trustee of anothercorporation against court costs, attorneys fees, judgmentsand other expenses actually and necessarily incurred by himin connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceed-ing in which he is made a party by reason of being or having

Vacancies in Grand

Secretary Generals

Oce and Grand

Treasurer Generals

Oce, Filled by

Appointment

Vacancy in Grand

Almoners Oce

Vacancy in Elective

Oces

Vote Necessary To

Elect

Proxy Vote not

Acceptable

Indemnication of

Active Members,

Deputies, Ocers, and

Trustees

Adjournment of

Elections


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VI - 11

been such ocer or trustee, except in relation to matters asto which he shall be adjudged in negligence or misconduct inthe performance of a duty. Tis indemnication shall not bedeemed exclusive of any other right to which such trustee orocer may be entitled, under any bylaw agreement, vote of

board of trustees, or otherwise.

[2] All ocers and employees of this Supreme Councilshall be placed under bond furnished by a surety company,which bonds shall be in the amount of $1,000,000 each, thecost of which shall be paid by the Supreme Council.

SEC. 37. Active Members, Deputies, and ocers of the Su-preme Council shall disclose any possible conict of interest

with respect to any matter coming before the Council or anyof its committees. In the event a member of the Council orany of its committees has any such possible conict, he shalladvise other members of the Council or its committees of anysignicant reasons, known to him but unknown to such othermembers, why the matter being considered may not be in thebest interests of the Scottish Rite.

SEC. 38. A Member making such a disclosure shall not use

his inuence nor vote on the matter giving rise to the possibleconict. Te minutes of the meeting shall reect on such dis-closure and the abstention from voting.

SEC. 39. Te foregoing shall not be construed to prevent anymember of the Council or its committees from answering rel-evant questions of other members on which his knowledgemay be of assistance.

Conict of Interest

of Active Members,

Deputies andOcers, Disclosure

Of

Abstention From

Voting if Conict ofInterest Disclosed

Conict of

Interest, Does Not

Prevent Sharing of

Information

Bonding of Ocers

and Employees


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Article VI Ocers

2005

Conict of Interest of

Ocers and Trustees

of Scottish Rite

Related Corporations,

Disclosure Of

SEC. 40. All ocers and trustees of Scottish Rite related cor-porations shall disclose any possible conict of interest withrespect to any matter coming before the Scottish Rite relatedcorporations. In the event an ocer or trustee of a ScottishRite related corporation has any such possible conict, he

shall advise other ocers or trustees of any signicant rea-sons, known to him but unknown to such other ocers ortrustees, why the matter being considered may not be in thebest interests of the Scottish Rite.

SEC. 41. An ocer or trustee making such a disclosure shallnot use his inuence nor vote on the matter giving rise to thepossible conict. Te minutes of the meeting shall reect onsuch disclosure and the abstention from voting.

SEC. 42. Te foregoing shall not be construed to prevent anyocer or trustee of Scottish Rite related corporations fromanswering relevant questions of other ocers or trustees onwhich his knowledge may be of assistance.

SEC. 43. As a special order of business during each regularsession of the Supreme Council, there shall be a call of the

roll of representatives of other Supreme Councils with whichthis Supreme Council is in fraternal relation, at which timean interchange of communications from and to the respectiveCouncils may be had for the purpose of bringing them intocloser and more frequent actual intercommunication.

SEC. 44. All representatives of our Supreme Council to otherSupreme Councils and all representatives of other SupremeCouncils to our own shall obtain all documents and informa-

tion of interest to the Rite and present the same to the Sover-eign Grand Commander as early as possible, before each reg-ular session of the Council. All information thus furnishedshall be full, clear, and comprehensive. Te Sovereign GrandCommander is hereby fully authorized and empowered to re-move any representative from our Supreme Council who failsto comply fully with his duties hereunder and to ll his placeby the appointment of another, and in case any foreign rep-

Conict of Interest,

Does Not Prevent

Sharing of Information

Representatives,

Roll Call

Representatives,

Duties Of

Conict of Interest,

Abstention from

Voting


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VI - 13 2005

Sovereign Grand

Commander,

Ocial Signature

Sovereign Grand

Inspector General,

Ocial Signature

Deputy, Ocial

Signature

resentative shall fail to comply with his duties, our SovereignGrand Commander is hereby fully authorized to request theCouncil from which such representative comes, to removehim from his position and appoint another in his place.

SEC. 45. It is the policy of this Supreme Council not to au-thorize or permit any of its ocers or Members, Active orHonorary, or any of the members of Subordinate Bodies un-der its jurisdiction to engage in any conferences, formal orinformal, or to carry on any communications concerning anymatter pertaining to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Riteof Freemasonry with any alleged Masonic Body or organiza-tion which is not fully recognized as legitimate and regular byRegular Symbolic Grand Lodges within the general jurisdic-

tion of this Supreme Council.

O S (D)

SEC. 46. Te distinctive symbol to be used before the signa-ture of the Sovereign Grand Commander is a cross with threecross-bars, near the extremities of which and of the sha aresmall cross-bars; the signature to be followed by a rayed equi-

lateral triangle enclosing the gure 33. Violet ink to be used.

[2] Te symbol cross to precede the signature of a Sov-ereign Grand Inspector General has two cross-bars, near theextremities of which and of the sha are small cross-bars; thesignature to be followed by a rayed equilateral triangle en-closing the gure 33; the title may be written out or abbrevi-ated Sov Gr Insp Genl Purple ink to be used.

[3] Te symbol cross to precede the signature of a Dep-

uty of the Supreme Council is a plain cross with two cross-bars (no cross-bars at the extremities); the signature to befollowed by a rayed equilateral triangle enclosing the gure33; the title may be written out or abbreviated Dep of theSupreme Council. Crimson ink to be used.

Conferences with

Irregular Bodies

Prohibited


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Article VI Ocers

[4] Te symbol cross to precede the signature of an In-spector General Honorary is a plain cross with two cross-bars(no cross-bars at the extremities); the signature to be followedby a rayed equilateral triangle enclosing the gure 33; the ti-tle may be written out or abbreviated Insp Genl Hon

Crimson ink to be used. Te use of the abbreviation Hon.aer the name of an Inspector General Honorary is unau-thorized. Te Inspector General Honorary may sign himselfsimply John Doe, 33. If he desires his ocial designation,he should write it under his name. Te title may be le oprograms and ocial.

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

[6] In each of the above, the cross-bars are to be horizon-tal and except where shown dierently, the sha is inclined tothe right to correspond with the angle of the strokes of slant-ing writing.

[7] Te shas of the crosses used by the Court of Honourare vertical, the end of the sha and cross-bars being pro-

vided with a small cross-bar at the extremities.

[8] For the Rose Croix the symbol is a Passion Cross set

on the apex of a pyramid or equilateral triangle.

[9] By usage and custom the double-headed eagle has be-come an accepted emblem of the 32.

Court of Honour,

Ocial Signature

Inspector General

Honorary, Ocial

Signature

Rose Croix,

Ocial Signature


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O S (S)


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Article VI Ocers

1995

OFFICIAL SEALS

SEC. 48. Te Seals attached to the Patents and ocial docu-ments of this Supreme Council are as shown below:

Seal ofthe Grand Secretary General

Great Seal of The Supreme Council

Seal ofthe Sovereign Gr Commander

Petty Seal ofThe Supreme Council

Seal ofthe Grand Chancellor


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E R P

SEC. 49. Te Retirement Plan for Certain Employees of theSupreme Council, as follows, is subject to the right of the Sov-ereign Grand Commander to amend, if necessary, to comply

with the law. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstand-ing, reference is made to the controlling Retirement Plan ofCertain Employees of the Supreme Council on le with theGrand Executive Director. Upon reaching the normal retire-ment age of sixty-ve, or any time thereaer, and aer veyears of vested service, employees may retire with full benetsat their request. Te annual retirement pension shall be one-and-one-half percent of their annual salary computed on thebasis of their highest consecutive sixty months salary, mul-tiplied by the number of years they have worked for the Su-

preme Council. Te normal form of payment is a straight lifeannuity; however, unless an election to the contrary is made,an employee who has a spouse on the date pension paymentsare scheduled to commence will automatically receive an ac-tuarially equivalent joint and survivor benet as set forth inthe plan. Te benet shall be in addition to those receivedfrom the United States Social Security and shall be withoutcost to the employees. Elective Ocers of the Supreme Coun-cil are not eligible for pension benets under this plan.

[2] Employees who have completed ve years of servicewill be 100% vested in the benet described above.

[3] Subject to a requirement of ten years of vested ser-vice, early retirement at the minimum age of sixty will be atthe option of the employee, with benets reduced by 1/2%per month for the period of dierence between early retire-ment date and normal retirement date.

Employees Retirement

Plan, General

Description

Vesting Rights

Early Retirement


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Article VI Ocers

2007

[4] Subject to a requirement of ten years of vested service,an employee who is adjudged to be totally and permanentlydisabled may retire with accrued benets on an unreducedbasis.

[5] Te spouse of a 100% vested active employee will re-ceive 50% of the employees accrued pension benet deter-mined as of his date of death and based on the 50% joint andsurvivor benet.

[6] Te Supreme Council shall pay the entire cost of theplan. Te Supreme Council may discontinue or modify theplan. If it is necessary to discontinue the plan, the then assetsof the trust fund will be used to provide benets according tothe terms of the plan.

SEC. 49. Te Supreme Council may, with the consent andapproval of the Sovereign Grand Commander, from time totime and at anytime, establish, amend, freeze, or terminate aretirement plan or plans for its employees.

D E S O

SEC. 50. Te elective salaried ocers of this Supreme Coun-cil shall receive their full salary for the length of the term forwhich they were elected; should they become incapacitated,or for any other reason be unable to perform full-time ser-

vices, they shall thereaer receive one-third of their salaryduring the balance of the term to which they were elected.

Pre-RetirementDeath Benet

Retirement Plan, Cost

and Modication

Disability for Elective

Salaried Ocers

Disability Retirement

Employees

Retirement Plan


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ART. VII - 1 2009

ARTICLE VII

C

Standing Committees,Appointment

SEC. 1. Te Sovereign Grand Commander shall, within sixty daysaer each regular session of the Supreme Council, appoint thestanding committees to serve until the close of the next regularsession of the Supreme Council. He may, during the recess of theSupreme Council, ll any vacancy in any committee caused bydeath, resignation, or removal of Members. Te following are thestanding committees of the Supreme Council:

Appeals and GrievancesAudit

Benevolence and Fraternal AssistanceEducation and AmericanismFinanceFraternal RelationsHouse of the empleJurisprudence and LegislationLibrariesMembershipNominationsObituaries

PublicationsRitual and Ceremonial FormsState of the Order and Unnished BusinessStrategic Planning

SEC. 2. Te Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputiesof the Supreme Council shall make separate reports of theirdecisions and of their acts. Te reports of their decisions shall

be referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Legislation,and the reports of their acts to the Committee on the State of theOrder and Unnished Business.

Standing Committees,

Names Of

Reports of Active

Members and Deputies


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Article VII Committees

SEC. 3. When in the opinion of the Sovereign Grand Com-

mander the business of the Supreme Council would be facili-

tated thereby, he may convene any committee at any time.

Committee Meetings


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ART. VIII - 1 1999

ARTICLE VIII

C A

Council ofAdministration,

Members and

Quorum Of

SEC. 1. Te rst nine ocers of the Supreme Council shall constitutethe Council of Administration. Te Sovereign Grand Commander,or in his absence the Lieutenant Grand Commander, with any fourof said Members will constitute a quorum.

SEC. 2. Te Council of Administration, the Sovereign GrandCommander, or in his absence the Lieutenant Grand Commander,being present, aer thirty days notice to all its members of thetime and place of meeting, shall assemble for the purpose of

advising with the Sovereign Grand Commander on such mattersas may be submitted.

Council of

Administration,

Meetings Of


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HIS PAGE LEF INENIONALLY BLANK.


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ART. IX - 1

ARTICLE IX

P

Voting Procedureof the Supreme

Council in Session

SEC.1. All questions, other than election of ocers or amend-ments to the Statutes, shall be presented to the Supreme Councilby motion or resolution, and shall be determined byviva voce voteof a majority of Members present, unless otherwise provided bystatute. Any motion or resolution, upon the request of three Mem-bers, shall be reduced to writing before being voted upon.

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

SEC. 2. Whenever in the opinion of the Sovereign Grand Com-mander the emergency requires it, a vote of the Sovereign GrandInspectors General may be taken in recess upon a proposition nototherwise provided for by these Statutes, and when such vote is sotaken, each vote shall be regarded as cast on the day of its receiptby the Grand Executive Director, and the proposition shall be re-corded as adopted on the day when he has received the armative

votes of two-thirds of all Active Members of the Supreme Council.Te result shall be made known to the Sovereign Grand Inspec-tors General by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

Voting Procedureof the Supreme

Council

While in Recess


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ART. X - 1

ARTICLE X

D S C

Deputy,Appointment Of

SEC. 1. Te Sovereign Grand Commander may appoint andcommission an Inspector General Honorary as the Deputy of theSupreme Council in any territory not occupied by it or by any otherregular Supreme Council, with power to confer or communicatethe Degrees and establish Subordinate Bodies of the Rite insuch territory under Letters emporary issued by the SovereignGrand Commander, and to perform such other acts as shall bespecied in the commission issued to him by the Sovereign GrandCommander.

[2] Te Sovereign Grand Commander may also appoint andcommission an Inspector General Honorary as the Deputy of theSupreme Council for the American Military Scottish Rite BodiesNAO Bases, with such powers given to Deputies as providedherein.

SEC. 2. Te Sovereign Grand Commander may also appoint andcommission an Inspector General Honorary as the Deputy of theSupreme Council in any Orient which is unattached and in which

there is no resident Sovereign Grand Inspector General, with thepowers and prerogatives of a Sovereign Grand Inspector Generalwithin such Orient, except as otherwise provided in these Statutes.Te Deputy of the Supreme Council thus appointed must be at thetime of appointment a bona de resident and an aliated memberof Subordinate Bodies in the Orient for which he is appointed,and shall be exempt from the payment of dues while serving assuch Deputy, provided, however, that the residency requirementshall not apply to a Deputy of the Supreme Council appointed forthe District of Columbia.

SEC. 3. A Deputy of the Supreme Council shall not have thepower to confer or communicate Degrees, except for the purposeof immediately establishing, or as agent of, an organized Body.Nor shall he have the power to confer or communicate Degrees asa gratuity.

Deputy forAmerican Military

Scottish Rite

BodiesNATO Bases

Deputy, May

Be Appointed

for Unattached

Jurisdictions

Deputy, Exempt

from Dues

Deputy, Residency

Not Required for

District of Columbia

Appointment

Deputy, Power to

Confer Degrees

Limited


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X - 2

Article X Deputies of the Supreme Council

2007

SEC. 4. All fees collected by a Deputy of the Supreme Councilmust be paid over by him to the Body for which the Degreeswere conferred, or to the Supreme Council if a Body is notorganized. He shall be reimbursed for all monies necessarilyexpended by him in the discharge of his duty in organizing

Bodies in unoccupied territories, upon accounts rendered toand approved by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

SEC. 5. A Deputy of the Supreme Council shall make,when requested by the Sovereign Grand Commander or theSupreme Council, a full and detailed report of his acts anddecisions together with any recommendations he may haveto oer.

SEC. 6. Te appointment or commission of a Deputy of theSupreme Council shall be in force no longer than the close ofthe ensuing regular session of the Supreme Council, unlessconrmed at such session by the Supreme Council andcontinued in force by the Sovereign Grand Commander. NoDeputy of the Supreme Council whose appointment has failedof conrmation shall again be appointed or commissionedwithout the consent of the Supreme Council.

SEC 7. When a Deputy of the Supreme Council retires with atleast six years of service, he shall be entitled to be called PastDeputy of the Supreme Council and to wear the Deputy cap.

Deputy, Reports

Deputy, Term

Deputy, Retirement

Deputy, Fees,

Expenses


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ART. XI - 1 2009

ARTICLE XI

R, F, A

Revenue SourcesSEC. 1. Te revenues of the Supreme Council shall be derivedfrom fees for Letters emporary and Permanent Charters; fromfees for Patents and Diplomas; from fees and assessments fromBodies under its jurisdiction to cover operating costs; from feesfor Degrees conferred by it and by Sovereign Grand InspectorsGeneral or Deputies, and from the sale of its books.

SEC. 2. Te fees for Letters emporary and Permanent Chartersand the cost of books as listed below may be increased by the

Sovereign Grand Commander at his discretion.

Letters emporary:

Lodge of Perfection ............................................$50.00 60.00Chapter of Rose Croix .......................................$60.00 75.00Council of Kadosh .............................................$60.00 75.00Consistory ...........................................................$80.00 90.00

Permanent Charters:

Lodge of Perfection ............................................$60.00 70.00Chapter of Rose Croix .....................................$80.00 100.00Council of Kadosh ...........................................$80.00 100.00Consistory ...................................................... $100.00 120.00

[2] Te cost of books for organizing Subordinate Bodies (inaddition to the above) shall be as follows:

Lodge of Perfection ............................................$57.00 65.00Chapter of Rose Croix .......................................$17.50 20.00Council of Kadosh .............................................$37.50 40.00Consistory ...........................................................$15.00 20.00

Fees for Permanent

Charters

Cost of Books


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XI - 2


2009

SEC. 3. All Patents and Diplomas of the Degrees and LadiesCerticates shall be issued by the Supreme Council: allDiplomas in Latin, and also Patents in English of EmeritiMembers and of Emeriti Members of Honour, and Letters-Patent of Credence to foreign representatives, under the great

seal, with the individual seals and signatures of the SovereignGrand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, and the GrandSecretary General; and those of the 14, 18, and 30 also tocarry the seal of the Body and the signatures of the presidingocer and the Secretary (or Registrar) of the Body of suchDegree, respectively; Patents in English of Masters of theRoyal Secret, under the great seal, signed by the SovereignGrand Commander and the Grand Secretary General, andby the presiding ocer and Registrar of the Consistory; andPatents in English of Knights Commander of the Court of

Honour, Inspectors General Honorary, Sovereign GrandInspectors General, and Ladies Certicates, under the pettyseal, with the signatures of the Sovereign Grand Commanderand the Grand Secretary General.

[2] Te fees, if any, for such Patents, Diplomas, and Cer-ticates shall be as follows:

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

33 Insp Genl HonOriginal ................................................................. No FeeDuplicate ..........................................................$3.00 5.00

Grand Cross Court of Honour (Latin only)Original ................................................................. No FeeDuplicate ................................................................$10.00

Knight Commander Court of HonourOriginal ................................................................. No Fee

Duplicate ..........................................................$3.00 5.00

32 Master of the Royal SecretOriginal ............................................................$7.00 8.00Duplicate or Corrected ..................................$3.00 5.00

Patents, Diplomas, and

Ladies Certicates,

Description

Fees for Patents,

Diplomas, and Ladies

Certicates


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Revenues, Fees, and Assessments Article XI

XI - 3 2009

Ladies CerticateOriginal ............................................................$3.00 5.00Duplicate or Corrected ..................................$2.00 5.00

Letters-Patent of Credence to Foreign

Representative ...................................................... No FeePatent of Aliation from the Jurisdiction

of Another Supreme Council .....................$3.00 5.00

SEC. 4. With the approval of the Sovereign Grand InspectorGeneral or Deputy of the Supreme Council, the minimumfees for conferring Degrees shall be as follows:

A. For the Degrees from Fourth to Fourteenth,

inclusive, including 14 Ring.................... $40.00 50.00B. For the Degrees from the Fieenth to the

Eighteenth, inclusive ..................................$20.00 25.00C. For the Degrees from the Nineteenth

to the Tirtieth, inclusive ..........................$20.00 25.00D. For the Tirty-rst and Tirty-second

Degrees, Patent included ...........................$20.00 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 ofthe Supreme Council shall confer either E or F for anyless or greater fees than those provided and all fees shall bepaid in advance to the Supreme Council.

E. For the Knight Commander Court ofHonour, Patent included ................................... $200.00

F. For the Tirty-third Degree, Patent

included................................................................ $300.00

Fees A through D

May Be Increased By

Subordinate Bodies:

All Fees To Be Paid In

Advance

Fees for Conferring

Degrees

Fees for E and F

May Not Be Less

or Greater than as

Provided: All Fees

Payable in Advance


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XI - 4


2009

Assessment on

Degrees Paid to the

Supreme Council

Per Capita Assessment

Due from Bodies

Contd under Letters

Temporary

Per Capita Assessment

Due the Supreme

Council

SEC. 5. PromptlyWithin thirtydays aer the conferring ofthe Fourth Degree the Secretaries of the Lodges of Perfectionshall remit to the Supreme Council the sum of seven eightdollars for each newly created Secret Master; and aer theconferring of the Fieenth Degree the Secretaries of the

Chapters of Rose Croix shall remit the sum of four vedollars for each newly created Knight of the East; and aerthe conferring of the Nineteenth Degree the Recorders of theCouncils of Kadosh shall remit the sum of four ve dollarsfor each newly created Ponti; and aer the conferring of theTirty-rst Degree the Registrars of the Consistories shallremit the sum of four ve dollars for each newly createdMaster of the Royal Secret, the Registrars of the Consistoriesshall remit the sum of seven eight dollars for each Patent, andno Patent shall be issued by the Grand Executive Director

until these sums are received by him except as provided inArticle IV, Section 25.

SEC. 6. Te Grand Executive Director shall, annually, on orbefore the rst day of April, make for each Subordinate Bodythe annual report as provided in Article XV, Section 17, of theseStatutes. Commencing January 1, 2005,2010, and payable onJanuary 1, 2011, and thereaer on members carried on the rollsthe last day of December of the previous year, the per capita

assessment is of four dollars for the Lodge of Perfection and twodollars each for the Chapter of Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh,and Consistory, payable on January 1, 2006, and thereaer,on members carried on the rolls the last day of December ofthe previous year.will increase eighty cents for the Lodge ofPerfection and forty cents each for the Chapter of Rose Croix,Council of Kadosh, and Consistory each year for ve years.Bodies working under Letters emporary, whose Chartersare granted at the regular session next aer their formation,shall not be liable for the per capita assessment during the

period covered by the Letters emporary, but their liability willcommence January rst aer the Charter is granted.

[2] Bodies continued under Letters emporary shall beassessed for the per capita assessment from following Janu-ary rst, unless the Supreme Council shall order otherwise.


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Revenues, Fees, and Assessments Article XI

XI - 5 2007

SEC. 7. At each session of the Supreme Council the Committeeon Finance shall report by itemized list the appropriationsnecessary for the expenses of the Supreme Council, andin no case shall the money drawn from the treasury uponany account exceed the amount appropriated for such

account; provided that in case of an emergency or unusualcircumstances any item in the budget may be increased uponthe recommendation of the Finance Committee and theapproval of the Sovereign Grand Commander.

SEC. 8. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and Deputyin attendance upon any session of the Supreme Council or ofthe Council of Administration, or any member of a committeein attendance upon a meeting of such committee called to sit

in recess, shall receive suchper diem for each days attendanceas prescribed by the Supreme Council, and thirty-seven centsper mile travel expense by land from the place of his residenceto the place of meeting or, if travel by air, actual economy airfare. Te same rates will be applied for the return to his home.

[2] Active Members shall receive like per diem for eachdays actual attendance aer crowning at the session at whichthey are crowned, and also like mileage while traveling ontheir return home aer crowning.

Mileage and Per Diem

of Active Members upon

Crowning

Mileage and Per Diem

of SGIGs, Deputies, and

Committee Members

Appropriations Report

by Finance Committee

Emergency Increaseof Budget Items


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ART. XII - 1

ARTICLE XII

R, P, B, L

Title to Rituals, Secret

Works, and Rubrics

Retained by the

Supreme Council

R

SEC. 1. Te Supreme Council retains title to all the Rituals, SecretWorks, and Rubrics, and if a Body ceases to exist, they shall beimmediately returned to the Supreme Council.

SEC. 2. Each Sovereign Grand Inspector General and eachDeputy of the Supreme Council may have issued to him one copyof each Ritual, Secret Work, and Rubric of the Degrees from the

Fourth to the Tirty-second, inclusive, for all of which he shallreceipt to the Grand Executive Director and agree that if he ceasesto be such ocer, all the books shall be immediately returned tothe Supreme Council.

SEC. 3. Each Lodge of Perfection must obtain for its use from theGrand Executive Director the following books published by theSupreme Council, viz.:

4 Rituals of the Degrees conferred by it1 Secret Work of the Degrees conferred by it1 Rubric of the Degrees conferred by it1 Liturgy of the Degrees conferred by it1 Legenda of the Degrees conferred by it3 Funeral Ceremony and Lodge o Sorrow1 Grand Constitutions1 Morals and Dogma1 Ceremony o Installation and Dedication

1 A Bridge to Light1 Te Synopses and Communications for the Degrees

Rituals and Related

Publications for

Lodges of Perfection

Rituals for Active

Members and

Deputies


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XII - 2

Article XII Rituals, Programs, Books, and Libraries

1995

[2] Te Secretaries shall assemble a sucient supply ofPikesMorals and Dogma for a loan and return on request, andreceipt, of interested Brethren. In lieu of the distribution ofPikesMorals and Dogma, the Supreme Council will providea copy ofA Bridge to Lightto each candidate who completes

the 14.

[3] Te Synopses and Communications for the Degrees isadopted as the ocial and required form for communication ofa Degree when for good reason it is not exemplied in full form.

[4] Te other Subordinate Bodies must obtain for theiruse the same number of Rituals, Secret Work, Rubric, andGrand Constitutions; and in addition thereto each Chapter ofRose Croix must obtain one copy of the Liturgy of the Chapter;

each Council of Kadosh one copy of each of

Documents

Statutes of the supreme council 33 degree 2009