Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction, USA

[2]The Scottish Rite in the United States, and the awarding of degrees up to the 33rd, formally came into being with the creation of the Mother Supreme Council at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1801.

In 1806, a member of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction named Antoine Bideaud traveled to New York City and conferred the 30, 31, and 32 degrees upon John Joseph Gourgas and four other Frenchmen for $46 each.

While their dispute was multifaceted, some scholars argue that a chief difference was that the early version of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was inclusive of Jewish members, while the Cerneau Supreme Council excluded them.

[8] After the Morgan Affair, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was inactive from 1832 to 1843,[9] with "Gourgas and Yates were effectively a Supreme Council of two people, preserving the organization's records and corresponding with one another about the plight of American Freemasonry.

[12] A few months later, in May 1862, Raymond was accused of "a spirit of insubordination" and attempting to continue to function as Sovereign Grand Commander despite having been removed from office, and expelled from the original Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

[13] The Schism of 1860, which began as an internal leadership dispute ultimately led to two competing Supreme Councils operated in the Northeast until a reconciliation in 1867.

[17] In 2013, the headquarters building was sold to the town of Lexington,[18] with the offices of the Sovereign Grand Commander moving into the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library located next door.

In December 2023, Past Sovereign Grand Commander, David Glattly criticized the Supreme Council over internal bickering and financial mismanagement.

Three Sovereign Grand Commanders of the Northern Masonic Jurisdictions have been expelled from Scottish Rite Supreme Councils, either during or after their terms had ended, namely Edward Asa Raymond and Klliian Henry Van Rensselaer in 1862 and David Alan Glattly in 2024.

The current Sovereign Grand Commander is Ill. Walter F. Wheeler, 33° who was installed to the post in August 2023 at the annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.

As of 2024, the topics of the degrees are as follows:[57] and Benedict Arnold (1784)[60] (Late 1800s or early 1900s) Colonial America (late 1700s)[62] Reign of Edward II (1307–1327) East and West Rose Croix de Heredom In the Northern Jurisdiction, there is a 46-month requirement for eligibility to receive the 33rd degree, and while there is both a Meritorious Service Award and a Distinguished Service Award, they are not required as intermediate steps towards the 33°.