From November-December 2004

The Statutes of the Supreme Council, 33°

Scottish Rite Conference, Lynchburg, Virginia, September 24-25, 2004

Edmund Cohen, 33°

I. Introduction

Just as there is a body of Masonic law that governs Virginia Freemasonry, “The Virginia Methodical Digest,” so there is an equivalent body of Masonic law that governs the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, and that is called: “The Statutes of The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree.”

If we wanted to be more precise, in addition to these Statutes, there are the Regulations of 1762, the Grand Constitutions of 1786, the edicts and decisions of the Supreme Council, and the unwritten principles and Landmarks of Freemasonry, all of which together constitute the law of the Rite (Art. XXI). But today we will just focus on the Statutes.

Now before I got this assignment, I had never seen or read this entire body of law, and I would not be surprised if some of you are in a similar situation. So in the time allotted, let us walk through the 21 Articles into which the Statutes are divided, except for Art. XVIII which deals with trials and which I covered in a fair amount of detail at our Spring Workshop in Richmond.

For those who are into statistics, I would tell you that nine of the 21 Articles are rather short, containing only 1 to 3 sections or paragraphs, three have more than 30 sections and the longest Article, which deals with officers and employees of the Supreme Council, has 50 sections and fills 20 pages of text.

The entire book of Statutes, all 21 Articles, come to 110 pages, to which is added a 10-page index, which is helpful in finding your way around, and an 8-page historical addendum which contains forms for Application to form a New Body and to apply for a Charter, but also includes three acts of incorporation.

The first Act of Incorporation was in December 1823 by the South Carolina Legislature. There the Scottish Rite is called “Inspectors General of the Thirty-Third Degree” and is given the power to regulate all degrees from the 16th to the 33rd. This Act also clearly states that “nothing herein contained shall be construed to interfere with any powers, right or privileges heretofore granted to the “Most Worshipful Grand Lodge in this State or any other Grand Lodge of Masons heretofore incorporated.

The second Act of Incorporation is dated December 1866, again from the South Carolina Legislature, and here we are styled as the “Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-Third Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.” This Act was to continue in force for 14 years.

And the third Act of Incorporation, dated 1896, is from the U.S. Congress setting us up as a D.C. corporation for fraternal and benevolent purposes, and not to engage in any business for gain. In that Act our name has gotten even longer - “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 that is the formal name of the Supreme Council as found in Article 1 of the Statutes.

Now if you examine our law, you find that most of it concerns the Supreme Council, rather than the subordinate bodies.

II. Supreme Council Jurisdiction

So I guess we should start by noting that the jurisdiction of our Supreme Council extends to all of the states and territories of the US except for the 15 states that it gave over to the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. (These 15 states are: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.) And what is interesting is that our Supreme Council, in its Mother Council of the World role, claims jurisdiction over any Bodies of the Rite established in countries where there is no regular Supreme Council. (Art. II § 2.)

III. The Orient

The next hierarchical level under the Supreme Council is the Orient. Each state or territory is a separate Orient in the charge of a resident Sovereign Grand Inspector General (SGIG) or Deputy of the Supreme Council. If there is no resident SGIG or Deputy, the Orient falls within the general jurisdiction of the Supreme Council. (Art. II. § 3.)

Now the difference between having an SGIG or a Deputy largely stems from the fact that the Supreme Council consists of no more than 33 active members and that includes the Sovereign Grand Commander – and note: not counting the Sovereign Grand Commander, no Orient can have more than one active member. (Art. IV§1.) But there are 42 Orients or territories in the Southern Jurisdiction [In addition to the 35 States (50 minus the 15 ceded to the Northern Jurisdiction), there is D.C., Japan & Korea, NATO bases, Okinawa and Guam, Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan and China]. So in any territory or Orient where there is no resident SGIG, the Sovereign Grand Commander appoints a 33° (formally known as an Inspector General Honorary) as Deputy to the Supreme Council, with the powers and prerogatives of an SGIG within that Orient, except as otherwise provided in the Statutes. (Art. X § 2.)

The SGIG or Deputy run their Orient and have the power to disapprove the selection of, or to remove, any officer of a Subordinate Body in their Orient, or of a related corporation. (Art. IV §17 [2].)

As far as it relates to the Rite, and within his Orient, the SGIG possesses, and exercises the prerogatives equivalent to a Grand Master of Masons, and may perform all such acts as he may deem in the interests of his Orient that are not prohibited by the Constitutions or the Statutes. Thus, he may grant dispensations waiving the provisions of the Statutes of the Supreme Council or the bylaws of Subordinate Bodies within his Orient governing the time of presenting petitions of candidates, and balloting on them, the time for conferring Degrees, the time and place of meetings and other transactions of routine business. And he can pretty much consent to the suspension of bylaws whenever he believes it to be in the best interest of the Rite, and there is no statute of the Supreme Council prohibiting it. (Art. IV §§17 & 24.)

One clear difference in the authority of the SGIG and Deputy is that the SGIG has the power to confer or communicate Degrees with or without charge, and without election by a Body of the Rite, upon Brethren of great merit in his Orient. The Deputy, however, generally does not have the authority to confer or communicate Degrees, and never as a gratuity. (Art. IV §25, Art. X §3.)

According to the Statutes, this authority is used when the SGIG is assured that the candidate will be faithful and zealous in the Rite, and/or is not able to pay for the Degrees. The SGIG may confer the Degrees or direct any organized Body or Bodies within his Orient to confer such Degrees for him, again with or without charge. And finally, he may direct that such Brethren be enrolled as members of such Bodies of the Rite in his Orient as he may designate.

The SGIG also may issue Letters Temporary for the establishment of Subordinate Bodies within his Orient, and these Letters continue in force until the next regular session of the Supreme Council. (Art. IV §23.) Two additional points about the SGIG and Deputy: First, except in the case of the District of Columbia, they have to be a bona fide resident and an affiliate member of the Subordinate Bodies in the Orient for which they are appointed. Indeed, if an SGIG permanently removes himself from the Orient, he loses his Active Membership. And second, once appointed, the SGIG or Deputy is exempt from the payment of dues while serving in that position. (Art. IV §§17, 18 &19, Art. X.)

The Personal Representative: The link between the SGIG and the Valley is the Orient and Valley personal representatives. The SGIG and the Deputy have the authority to appoint an Orient Personal Representative, and also to appoint a Personal Representative of the Advisory Conference or Executive Committee in each Valley of his Orient to act for him. (Art. IV §18.)

These representatives have four duties and responsibilities, spelled out in the Statutes:

1st to serve as the eyes and ears of the SGIG or Deputy to the end that peace and harmony is promoted and brotherly love prevails.

2nd to see that customs, usages, and laws of the Supreme Council are properly observed.

3rd to carry out the instructions of the SGIG or Deputy. And 4th to exercise such powers as may be delegated to him in writing by the SGIG or Deputy. (Art. IV §18.)

And I would note that the acts of these representatives are valid when approved by the SGIG or Deputy.

Subordinate Bodies: (Art. XV.) And finally, we come to the Subordinate Bodies of the Rite, which either operate under a Permanent Charter granted by, and under the seal of, the Supreme Council and signed by the Sovereign Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, and the Grand Secretary General, or under Letters Temporary.

Here we probably are on more familiar ground.

We know there is the Lodge of Perfection, which confers the 4th to 14th Degrees and must have stated meetings at least monthly.

Next there is the Chapter of Rose Croix, which confers the 15th to 18th Degrees, and the Council of Kadosh, which confers the 19th to the 30th Degrees. Each must meet at least every two months, except during the months of July, August and September.

And finally, there is the Consistory, which confers the 31st and 32nd Degrees, and must hold regular meetings at least once every three months. (Art. III §1. Art. XV §9.)

You know also that the mandatory Degrees are the 4th, 14th, 18th, 30th and 32nd. By mandatory, we mean that they generally must be “conferred.” Indeed, the Statutes provide that these degrees shall never be “communicated” except by the SGIG or Deputy, and then only in unusual circumstances. (Art. III §2.)

There are a number of rules affecting Subordinate bodies. For example:

IV. The Candidate and the Individual Member

And finally, there are certain regulations affecting candidates and members but I’ll only touch upon a few that may not be familiar to you. First, an applicant for the our Degrees must be an affiliated Master Mason in a regular Symbolic Lodge – so an unaffiliated Mason cannot be an applicant. (Art. XVII §1.)

On the other hand, there is no residence requirement beyond residing within the jurisdiction of our Supreme Council. However if a brother resides in another Orient, upon receipt of his application, the SGIG or Deputy of the Orient in which he resides has to be notified.

If a brother resides within the territorial jurisdiction of another Supreme Council, a waiver of jurisdiction must be obtained from the appropriate SGIG or Deputy, if between the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions. If the brother resides within the jurisdiction any other foreign Supreme Council the waiver must be obtained from the Sovereign Grand Commander. (Art. XVII §3 [2].)

There is a jurisdictional exception. If a brother is in the Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, or is a civilian employee of the federal government regularly employed outside the US, or working abroad for an American firm and away from his legal residence in the United States for extended periods of time, he can petition a Subordinate Body in either the Northern or Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S., without reference to his actual or legal place of residence. (Art. XVII §4.)

With reference to the ballot, if two or more black balls are cast, the candidate is declared rejected. But, if there was only one black ball further action is postponed until the next regular meeting of the Body. Between meetings the objector may make known to the presiding officer, in secret, his objection to the candidate. And the presiding officer may, in his discretion, make this known to the Body, if he can do so without revealing the identity of the objecting Brother. The presiding officer also can 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. But, whether or not the reasons have been communicated to the presiding officer, at the next regular meeting a second ballot is taken and, if there is even a single negative vote, the candidate will be declared rejected. (Art. XVII §9 & 10.)

A rejected candidate for initiation can apply to the same Body or any other Body after six calendar months; a rejected applicant for affiliation can reapply after two months. (Art. XVII §11 & 12.)

In the Southern Jurisdiction we allow dual membership. But this is limited to no more than two Orients, the one to which he belongs at the time of his initial application for dual membership and one other which can be within or without the Southern Jurisdiction (Art. XVII §33-1, 3). If a Brother holds dual membership between the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions or between Orients within the Southern Jurisdiction, 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 (Art. XVII §33- 5).

Dual members retain the honors conferred by our Supreme Council on a reciprocal basis with other jurisdictions we recognize and in accordance with the provisions of those other jurisdictions (Art. XVII §33-4).

Note also that if a member of the Rite from another Supreme Council affiliates with a Body in our jurisdiction, he must take all the pledges and vows of the 14th, 18th, 30th, and 32nd Degrees of the Body with which he affiliates. (Art. XVII §18.)

In addition to dual membership, we also permit plural membership, which is defined as membership in two or more Valleys of the Orient of the member’s primary membership – so if you are a member of the Orient of Virginia, you can seek membership in all eight Valleys (Alexandria, Danville, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Roanoke). (Art. XVII §33-2.)

Now it is important to remember that every member of the Rite residing within the jurisdiction of our Supreme Council must remain an affiliated Master Mason in good standing in a regular Symbolic Lodge and also a member in good standing of a Subordinate Body in this or some foreign jurisdiction (Art. XVII §19). Thus, if a member demits and does not reaffiliate with some regular Lodge within two years, he ceases to be a member of any of the Bodies of the Rite and, if he then affiliates after a lapse of two years, he has to petition and be elected by a majority vote to be restored to membership in the Scottish Rite (Art. XVII §19-3). The same rule applies if a brother is suspended from his Blue Lodge for nonpayment of dues – he is also suspended from the Rite. If he is restored to good standing in the Blue Lodge within two years, he is restored to his rights in the Scottish Rite, but if he is restored to good standing in the Blue Lodge after two years, then to be restored to membership in the Rite, he must petition and be elected (Art. XVII §25).

Of course, if a brother is suspended by his Blue Lodge for any cause other then nonpayment of dues, or if he is expelled, that would similarly affect his membership in the Rite. If he is restored to membership in the Blue Lodge, in order to be restored to membership in the Rite, he must petition and be elected (Art. XVII §25[2]).

Two final points about membership: First, an unaffiliated member of the Rite must seek reaffiliation within 12 months from the date of his demit or thereafter he will be prohibited from visiting Bodies of the Rite, from receiving relief, and receiving Masonic burial from the Rite (Art. XVII §23[2]). Second, an Inspector General Honorary or a KCCH can transfer his membership between Valleys and even between Orients without loss of those honors (Art. XVII §24[2]).

V. Regalia and Honors

Next, we should briefly cover the Sections in the Statutes dealing with the various rings, hats, and decorations, and these, in broad outline, are familiar to all of us.

I don’t think I need dwell on the 14º ring, a plain band of gold or silver with a plate in the form of an equilateral triangle with the Hebrew letter “Yod” in the center of the triangle, or the 33º ring, of three small gold rings joined together with an equilateral triangular-shaped plate with the numerals 33. (Art. XIII §§14 & 15.)

You are also familiar with the caps. (Art. XIII §§16-22.)

You also probably have seen the jewels that may be worn by the 32º members, by the KCCH, and by the holders of the Grand Cross of Honour.

In addition there is the Grand Decoration of the 33º, which is worn on the left breast. Some of you may not know that this Grand Decoration is divided into four classes. The Fourth Class, which I am wearing, may be worn by all Inspectors General Honorary. (Art. XIII §§4 &5.)

The Third Class which is somewhat larger and has a white ribbon edged with purple, is worn by all Active and Emeriti Members of the Supreme Council not of the Second Class. (Art. XIII §6.)

The Second Class Decoration is worn suspended from the neck by a ribbon, but whereas the Third Class ribbon is white edged with purple, the Second Class ribbon is purple edged with white. This is for the Grand Prior, Grand Chancellor, Grand Minister of State, Grand Almoner, Active and Emeriti Members who have previously held these officers, all Active and Emeriti Members who have been such for 20 years, and by Grand Representatives of our Supreme Council in other jurisdictions. (Art. XIII §7.)

And the First Class decoration, which is on a rayed sun of silver set with diamonds, and worn on the left breast, is for the Sovereign Grand Commander, the Lieutenant Grand Commander, those who have previously held either of these offices, and eminent Masons abroad to whom this honor has been specially decreed by the Supreme Council. (Art. XIII §8.)

One last point about the jewels and decorations that some of you may not be aware of: Officers and past presiding officers of Subordinate Bodies also have jewels that they are authorized to wear. (Art. XIII §§13.)

Now speaking of these honors let me say a few words about how they are awarded and when. Well the Statutes are quite clear that no nominations of Inspectors General Honorary, of Grand Crosses, or of Knights Commander of the Court of Honour can be made or acted upon except at a regular session of the Supreme Council in Washington, which as you know is on the on the first Monday of October in each odd year. (Art. V §1.)

What happens is that thirty days before the regular session, each SGIC and Deputy files with the Grand Executive Director, written nominations to the rank and dignity of Inspectors General Honorary, and for the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. (Art. IV §9, Art. XIV §2.)

If a nomination is filed less than 30 days before the session, it will not be considered at that session, except by unanimous consent. (Art. IV §9, Art. XIV §2.)

Second, what are the qualifications for selection by the SGIG or Deputy? Well, I would start by saying that you can’t be nominated if your dues are in arrears. But, beyond that, the nominee for IGH must be a bona fide resident and member in good standing of the Subordinate Bodies under the jurisdiction of our Supreme Council, at least 35 years old, and have been a KCCH for at least 46 months. (Art. IV §9.) If the nominee is either a resident or a member of the Bodies in another Orient under the Southern Jurisdiction, the nominating SGIG or Deputy must obtain the approval of the SGIG or Deputy in other Orient but, of course, the nomination is charged against the quota of the nominating SGIG or Deputy. (Art. IV §9[3].)

For KCCH, the nominee must have been a Master of the Royal Secret for at least 46 months. (Art. XIV §5.)

In both cases the nomination includes a brief statement of his specific services rendered on behalf of the Rite.

And one additional point of law, the Thirty-third degree (Art. IV §8), the KCCH, or the Grand Cross is never asked for, directly or indirectly, and if asked for, shall be refused (Art. XIV §5[4]).

So how many are nominated? Each Orient gets 12 nominations for IGH, for its first 2,500 (or fewer) Masters of the Royal secret as of the prior December 31st, and 4 additional for each additional 2,500 members. The smaller territorial and foreign Orients may each have 4 nominations, unless the Sovereign Grand Commander determines that a larger number is needed in a particular jurisdiction. (Art. IV §9[2].)

And, in addition, each SGIG or Deputy gets an additional 2 IGH nominations for the first 100 and 2 IGH nominations for each additional 200 new Masters of the Royal Secret since the preceding regular session. (Art IV §10.)

For KCCH, each Orient has two nominations for each IGH nomination (Art. XIV §2[2]), except that the smaller territorial and foreign Orients may each have 8 nominations, unless the Sovereign Grand Commander determines that a larger number is needed in a particular jurisdiction (Art. XIV §2[3]).

And, in addition, each SGIG or Deputy gets an additional 4 KCCH nominations for each 50 new Masters of the Royal Secret since the preceding regular session. (Art XIV §3.)

Of course, if there are not appropriately qualified candidates, the SGIG or Deputy can nominate fewer than his allotment of nominations for IGH or KCCH. (Art. IV §9[2], Art. XIV §2[3]).)

A couple of additional points: You should know that in addition to the SGIG and Deputy nominations, the Supreme Council can itself elect KCCHs (Art. XIV §4) and IGHs from the jurisdiction at large. And in the case of the IGH, without reference even to the requirement that the nominee had to have first attained the rank of KCCH (Art. IV §11).

Second, the Sovereign Grand Commander has the power to elect 10 KCCHs at Large, between Biennial Sessions of the Supreme Council (Art. XIV §4[2]).

The actual ceremony of Investiture to the rank and decoration of KCCH can be held in the various Orients under the direction of the SGIG or Deputy, rather than by the Supreme Council at it biennial session. (Art. XIV §5[2].) And at the discretion of the SGIG or Deputy, 32º Brethren can be admitted to the ceremony, and with certain deletions in the ceremony, the SGIG or Deputy can even conduct an open Ceremony of Investiture (Art. XIV §5[3].)

The 33º generally is conferred by the Supreme Council, but when that is not practicable, it can be conferred by the SGIG or Deputy in the Orient in which the designate resides or in which his membership is held, or by courtesy. (Art. IV §12.)

If the Brother elected to be invested with the KCCH or to receive the 33º fails to present himself for investiture or to receive the Degree, prior to the next regular session of the Supreme Council, the election is void – although the time can be extended by unanimous vote of the Supreme Council. Art. XIV §5[2], Art. IV §13.)

Now in addition to the nominations for KCCH and IGH, each SGIG or Deputy may nominate for investiture with the dignity of Grand Cross one IGH from his Orient who has done signal service and shown unusual merit.

The nomination is sent in a sealed letter addressed to the Sovereign Grand Commander before the first day of each regular session, and then referred by the Sovereign Grand Commander to a committee consisting of all the members of the Council of Administration present at the session. They open the envelope; read the name and nomination, and select, by unanimous consent, the Grand Cross nominees. (Art. XIV §7.) The Supreme Council then votes on those selected by the committee, and a unanimous vote is necessary to elect. (Art. XIV §7[2].)

One final point with respect to these honors: Honorary membership in the Supreme Council is automatically terminated by voluntary resignation when accepted, by expulsion or suspension 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; or by expulsion or suspension from the privileges of Masonry by the Blue Lodge or Grand Lodge having jurisdiction over the member. (Art. IV §16.) And similarly, if a KCCH is for any cause suspended by or becomes unaffiliated in his Blue Lodge or any Body of the Rite for a year, or if he is expelled by any such Lodge or Body he loses his rank and decoration, together with all his rights and privileges as such. (Art. XIV §5[4].)

In addition to the KCCH, the 33º, and the Grand Cross there is emeritus membership in the Supreme Council.

As you probably know An SGIG is automatically retired at the close of the calendar year of his 80th birthday. (Art IV, § 2) And upon retirement, if he has served for at least 6 years, he can be elected by majority vote of the Supreme Council an Emeritus Member with the right to use the title Past SGIG, wear the cap and chain of an SGIG and have a double-headed eagle drop with the words “Emeritus Member” on his chain, and is exempt from the payment of dues. (Art IV § 3.)

And there is a similar honor is available to inactive members, that is for 33° IGHs. He can be nominated by the Sovereign Grand Commander, be elected by the Supreme Council at a regular session and enrolled as an Emeriti Member of Honour and his name will be continued perpetually upon the rolls of the Supreme Council. (Art IV, § 7.)

And, of course, upon the retirement of the Sovereign Grand Commander, he is given the titles of Past SGC and Past SGIG at Large. (Art VI, § 2 [3].)

Upon the death of an active emeritus member of the Supreme Council there is a promulgated a suitable memorial of his life and Masonic service and there is published in the “Transactions” a full memorial report and photograph. (Art IV, § 27-28.) For honorary members, there is a smaller picture and summary information in the “Transactions” (Art IV, § 27 [2]) and a suitable memorial page in the records of the Lodge of Perfection of which he was a member (Art IV, § 27).

VI. Organization of the Supreme Council

Let us now turn to the organization of the Supreme Council and how it does its work. Some of this will be quite familiar to you, for example, that the See of the Supreme Council is in Charleston SC, but its executive offices are located in the House of the Temple in Washington DC (Art. XIX.)

The Court of Honour:

But let’s dig deeper. We just finished talking about Honors, and you know the full title of KCCH is Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. But what is the Court of Honour? It is composed of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, the Emeriti and Honorary Members of the Supreme Council, the Grand Crosses, and the Knights Commander. (Art. XIV §1.) It assembles when called together by the Sovereign Grand Commander and is presided over by a Legate Grand Cross whom he designates. It 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 those legislative proposals. (Art. XIV §8.)

The Supreme Council:

The governing body, of course, is the Supreme Council and it consists of not more than thirty-three Active Members (the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General) and such Emeriti and Honorary Members as the Supreme Council may elect. It meets in regular session at the House of the Temple in Washington D.C. on the first Monday of October in each odd year (Art. V §1). It also meets in special session at the call of the Sovereign Grand Commander, which can be at his instigation, or upon the written request of a majority of the SGIGs (Art. V § 2). The required quorum for the conduct of business is seven SGIGs and either the Sovereign Grand Commander or the Lieutenant Grand Commander, or in the absence of both these officers, nine SGIGs (Art. V § 3).

Other than the election of officers and the amendments to the Statutes, all other questions are generally determined by voice vote of a majority of the Members present, although a roll call may be requested and upon the request of three Members, a motion or resolution has to be reduced to writing before being voted upon. (Art. IX § 1, 1[2].)

If emergency requires it, when the Supreme Council is in recess during the period between regular sessions, and without the need to call a special session, the Sovereign Grand Commander can take a vote on a proposition by polling the Active members. A proposition is adopted on the day he receives the affirmative votes of two-thirds of all Active Members of the Supreme Council. (Art. IX § 2.)

Officers of the Supreme Council:

There are eight elected officers, all of whom must be SGIGs and active members of the Supreme Council. They are elected for a two-year term at each biennial regular Supreme Council session. It takes a two-thirds vote of the Members present to elect a Sovereign Grand Commander, but only a majority is required to elect the other officers. (Art. VI §§ 1, 28, 34). Obviously the first elected officer is the Sovereign Grand Commander, who also has the title of Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Large. He is both the supreme executive and chief judicial officer of the Rite and invested with the general powers of supervision, instruction, and administration everywhere within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council. He decides all questions properly referred to him affecting the interests of the Rite. As expected, upon election as Sovereign Grand Commander, he relinquishes his authority as SGIG over his Orient. (Art. VI §1 [1] &[2].

You also know that the Sovereign Grand Commander occupies the executive offices at the House of the Temple in Washington D.C. and is expected to visit in person or by a duly commissioned representative, one or more of the Bodies in each state or territory at least once every two years and make a report to the Supreme Council at its next regular session (Art VI §3).

The second officer is the Lieutenant Grand Commander, who assumes the executive duties and powers of the office of Sovereign Grand Commander

While he is Acting Sovereign Grand Commander or when he succeeds to the office of Grand Commander, the office of Lieutenant Grand Commander remains vacant until the next election of officers by the Supreme Council.

The third officer is the Grand Prior, who in the absence of the Grand Commander, and if there is no elected Lieutenant Grand Commander, would then assume the duties of the Sovereign Grand Commander. The Grand Prior superintends the members at refreshment, and it is to him that the SGIGs may refer matters of complaint and controversy between Subordinate Bodies and their respective members, for opinion and advice. (Art. VI §13.)

The fourth ranking officer is the Grand Chancellor. He is the law officer and, therefore, the advisor to the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Supreme Council on matters of Masonic law and precedent. At the request of the Sovereign Grand Commander he renders opinions on questions of jurisprudence. He also may be called upon to deliver his conclusions on all matters of importance debated in the Supreme Council before a decision is reached and, when any matter is to be investigated or decided by the Supreme Council, he can be requested to prepare and present clear and concise statements of facts with his view of the law. In addition, he prepares charges against, and prosecutes, offenders before the Supreme Council or any tribunal created by it. (Art.