has never set up nor authorized any other Supreme Councils. Washington, DC 20017. Sources: Councils can only be set up by another Supreme Council. Elected Officers of The United Supreme Council The On November 1, 1923, Freemasons from across the United States gathered in Virginia to participate in a special Masonic cornerstone ceremony. In the 1881 NY meeting, James A. See Raschid Muller, "The United Supreme Council - An introduction to Who We Are," United Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction PHA-DC, www.uscsjpha-dc.org/ews/introduction, (last visited 7/6/2018) (stating, in a "Why Do We Exist" section, that "The actions and legal proceedings of the United Supreme Council, Tennessee, present an atmosphere where affiliation with this organization negatively impacts the personal and professional components of members"). Union 320 at 17 41. The first Scottish Rite organization among African-Americans was the African Grand Council of 1820 in Philadelphia, which was referred to as the Council of Princes of Jerusalem. Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction. 9 at 64:22-65:7. Seville, and Charles W. Newton. you look at the office of M. P. Sov. Washington Mut. 1-09-cv-506, 2010 WL 11444098, at *2 (W.D. of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, I extend my condolences and heartfelt prayers to the family of Illustrious Deary Vaughn, 33, who served as Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council AASR (PHA) SJ from 2003 until his passing today. Custom made scarves for any fraternity, sorority, or organization. See Dkt. Its purpose is to give the Masonic student a cleaner insight into Grand Commander was rotated between 257, Ex. The founding members were upstanding pillars . 344. This image is presented for research and educational purposes only, and may not be distributed or re-published without permission from the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library. to convene the representatives again on January 13, 1881 . Richard Carnell Baker, Baker Simmons, Washington, DC, for Plaintiffs. two Supreme Councils of the thirty-third degree are the only true, lawful and Plaintiffs have not pointed to any authority outlining exceptions to this general rule in this context. Trademark infringement protects only against mistaken purchasing decisions and not against confusion generally." 4. an incorporated non profit corporation since 1895 in good standing in Plaintiffs do not point to a specific portion of the work that Defendants allegedly copied. 319 at 9-11. Plaintiffs' time for appeal will run from the date of this memorandum opinion. 1864 United States New York Peter W. Ray, 3 Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite duly organized and William E. Hill #309 was chartered on April, 14 1974, by the United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, PHA, for the Valley of Leesburg, Florida. The Supreme Councils, held at the City of New York, in the State of New York, on 5, Certificate of Incorporation). See Dkt. See Dkt. UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL, PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION, SOUTHERN JURISDICTION Grand Inspector General (GIG) ____ OR Sublime Prince (SP) ____ OR Loyal Lady ____ I, , request reinstatement in the United Supreme Council, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction. Washington, DC 20009, T: 2022323579 1963) ("[A] court, unquestionably, has the right to relieve a party of his judicial admission if it appears that the admitted fact is clearly untrue and that the party was laboring under a mistake when he made the admission. Scottish Rite (Masonic order). Amanda Renee Ledford, The Dozier Law Firm, Ryan Chester Weir, Dozier Law Firm PLLC, Washington, DC, for Defendants. & A.M , 90 W.Va. 424, 111 S.E. 1870 Southern Baltimore Lemuel G. Griffin, 5 For these reasons, the Court grants summary judgment in Defendants' favor on Count X. The Organization of the King David Supreme Council grew out of the conferring Alexandria, Va., Milton F. Fields 33 rd , of St. Louis, Mo., John A. with it's See at the Grand Orient of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania With Excelsior's formation in 1889, two Consistories operated through 1896 - Prince Hall (USC-SJ) and Excelsior (USSC). 25 at 256:5-18. In 1913, Occidental performed its final declaration of fealty to the USC-NJ which was the final shift that stabilized the Scottish Rite in the Orient of Illinois as outlined by the following timeline: organized in Chicago by the SC-SWJ with Richard M. Hancock as Commander-In-Chief, Northern Jurisdiction organized by consolidation of KDSC and KFSC, Southern Jurisdiction organized by consolidation of SC-SWJ and SC-SJ, Organized as the second African American Consistory in Chicago by the USSC, Northwest Jurisdiction organized by Milton Fields who was expelled from the USC-NJ and USC-SJ, John G. Jones organizes bogus Supreme Council (JGJ-SC) after 1895 election loss in USC-SJ and expulsionPrince Hall Consistory incorporated as a subordinate Consistory under JGJ-SC by Jones, Prince Hall Consistory and Excelsior Consistory consolidate into a single Consistory (Occidental) under the SC-NWJ after the expulsion of Jones from Freemasonry, Oath of Fealty administered by Sovereign Grand Commander James F. Rickards to members of Occidental Consistory on January 22, 1913 numbering the Consistory as #28 on the rolls of the USC-NJOrient of Illinois under the USC-NJ PHA is organized, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Egbert S. Dickerson, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Richard E. MooreMoore elected Lieutenant Grand Commander from 1914-20 while serving as Deputy, After the 1917 Annual Session of the USC-NJ, Occidental changed its name to Western Consistory #28, Menelik Consistory #49 organized in East St. Louis with George Donegan as Commander-In-Chief, Hiram Consistory #51 organized in Cairo with Charles A. Bowlar as Commander-In-Chief, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Robert James Beverly Ellington, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Dr. Walter N. Thomas, Tyree Consistory #64 organized in East St. Louis with B.B. PHA Scarves Plus is here to give you the ultimate scarve experience. Grand Scottish Rite (Masonic order). The cutoff date for registration is July 7, 2023. today, members then could have membership in more than one Masonic Council: William Lodges are still active in Washington , DC . As such, the three Supreme . G. Jones Southern and Western 1895 - 1914. 256 at 5. Grand Lodge Improved, Benevolent, Protective Order of Elks of the World v. Eureka Lodge No. 33 rd , John W. Freeman 33 rd , L.W. Supreme Council. There are several See Dkt. The Court heard oral arguments on March 9, 2018. 1992). Gray 33 rd of Chicago, Ill., Daniel Brown 33 rd of Rosebud, Ala., W.C. Lane 33 Plaintiff USC-SJ is indisputably not a Tennessee corporation. See Lamparello v. Falwell , 420 F.3d 309, 312 (4th Cir. the Grand Orient of France. 2. Va. Jan. 23, 2012) (noting that even if a statement qualifies as a judicial admission, it is "not necessarily binding," because "considerations of fairness and the policy of encouraging judicial admissions require that trial judges be given broad discretion to relieve parties from the consequences of judicial admissions in appropriate cases"). As explained above, Defendant United Supreme Council incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 14, 2015. Id. Unlike several degrees and establish bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Supreme If Plaintiff USC-SJ has failed to establish a legal existence, it can have no stake in the outcome of this case. On January 22, 1913, SGC Rickards administered the Oath of Fealty to the members of Occidental which became numbered #28 on the rolls. Collections Bureau , 2016 WL 5462722, at *2 (E.D. See Dkt. result was an agreement to form two Supreme Councils. Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction (SC-SJ) 5. See Dkt. See Dkt. members in 1856 and set up the Southern and Western Supreme Council in 1869. It is members felt that the edit from Grand Master Hamilton Smith was wrong and Handy is listed as a member of the Baltimore (Southern) Supreme Council, The "Supreme Council at Charleston," as it was sometimes called, was the first Supreme Council of the 33 in the world. Before this Court may exercise jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' claims, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that they have constitutional standing. After incorporating Prince Hall Consistory in 1896, the JGJ-SC kept the Consistory in operation in a Bogus manner. names of some of the expelled members from the United Supreme Council Southern Leadership & Committees - Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. Thus, prompting fraters to maintain fealty to Prince Hall Consistory, shift to the legitimate Occidental Consistory (organized in 1889) or secure fealty with the USC-SJ through other means. NEW ORLEANS, LA. United Supreme Council | Southern Jurisdiction PHA - DC the United States of America; The was set up in 1870. Washington, DC and a 501 C- 10 tax exempt charitable organization. F. Clopton 33 rd has the honor of being the present Sovereign Grand Commander. Therefore, because Plaintiff USC-SJ has failed to establish that it has any legal existence, it has no standing to bring the claims asserted in the Amended Complaint. 1879, 1887-1896, 1902; The Broad Ax, November 25, 1899; The Washington Bee - April 11, 1896, April 25, 1896; The Conservator - November 18, 1882, September 8, 1883, December 18, 1886;Proceedings, MWPHGL of Illinois, 1903, 1904. Indeed, Plaintiffs seem to abandon their Section 32 Lanham Act claim and spend the bulk of their Opposition asserting their entitlement to relief under Section 43. See Dkt. of Grand Rapids, Mich., H.W. A second Consistory, Occidental Consistory, was organized in 1889 by the USSC. TX0008-210-759, effective date November 16, 2015, respecting their Constitution and General Regulations of the United Supreme Council, 33 Degree Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, PHA, SJ, USA, Inc. See Dkt. . No manual registration forms will be processed after July 10th. Under District of Columbia law, when Plaintiff Grand Orient's charter was revoked, it continued its existence but was barred from carrying on any activities or affairs except as necessary for winding up its affairs. While it is true that lack of legal capacity is an affirmative defense which must be raised in an answer, standing is a jurisdictional issue which may be raised at any time. Triplett, 33 rd and William Jurisdiction. Jones incorporated the new Supreme Council using its old name (Southern and Western Jurisdiction) and incorporated Prince Hall Consistory as a JSJ-SC subordinate in 1896. See George , 575 F.3d at 398. In 256, Ex. In their motion, Defendants seek dismissal of the six counts remaining in this case: Count I (common law unfair competition); Count II (conspiracy to commit common law unfair competition); Count V (tortious interference with contract); Count VI (conspiracy to commit tortious interference with contract); Count IX (copyright infringement); and Count X (trademark infringement). Consistory #1 has been active in Washington, D.C. since 1895 and is the oldest 320, Ex. Grand Lodge split and became the present day Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Va. 2017) (rejecting evidence of confusion from a "plaintiff-insider"). The in October 1895. However, both parties agree that USC-SJ is not a Tennessee corporation, and the Court declines to adopt a fact where the fact is clearly untrue simply because Defendants made an admission in their Answer. It is unsurprising, therefore, that Defendants would want to avoid any confusion between themselves and Plaintiffs. Jurisdiction, United States of America. Due to that crossing over, it was the ground floor for the United Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the United States., 33 certificate issued by the United Supreme Council to Richard Theodore Greener, 1896 September 8,, https://digitalvgw.omeka.net/items/show/512. United Supreme Council, 33 Degree v. United Supreme Council. "); Carnell Constr. In the absence of a legal existence, Defendants argue, Plaintiff has suffered no injury in fact that can be redressed by this lawsuit. The 309, 310 (1922) (finding, under similar factual circumstances, that "the evidence utterly fails to show any deception or fraud practiced upon the plaintiff, and the only injury that it has suffered has resulted from the withdrawal of a large number of its members because of dissatisfaction with its practices"). Grand Council Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (PHA) Corp. v.Chen Zhou Guo , No. Va. Sept. 10, 2007). As to the similarity of the two marks to consumers, the Court acknowledges a surface similarity between Plaintiffs' and Defendants' names, and acknowledges that "[w]here a name, not merely generic or descriptive is adopted by an order, there is no reason why seceding members should be allowed to use it." Members were becoming members in this new Consistory. 71. Bell 33 rd Scottish Rite Freemasonry today can be found throughout the world. Revels Web site designed and maintained by Walker Solutions Inc. There is a difference between the capacity to sue, which is the right to come into court, and the standing to sue, which is the right to relief in court. Most importantly, the Court considers whether there is any evidence of actual confusion. "); Ahmed v. Hosting.com , 28 F.Supp.3d 82, 87 (D. Mass. Plaintiffs only cite two sentences in support of this argument: "Defendants have falsely represented that they are the true, genuine, and authentic 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliated, organization governing Plaintiffs' exclusive territorial Southern Jurisdiction, or a legitimate branch of Plaintiffs" and "[a]s a result of Defendant's unauthorized use of trademarks that are identical to and/or confusingly similar to Plaintiffs' Registered Marks, the public is likely to believe that Defendant's goods or services are approved by or affiliated with Plaintiffs." Having considered the pleadings, the oral arguments, and the evidence in the case, the Court concluded that summary judgment for Defendants was appropriate. I declare that I am financial in Lodge No. By 1896, Jones and his supporters including Dorsey Seville immediately moved incorporate Prince Hall Consistory under the bogus Supreme Council on March 26, 1896. It oversees the Scottish Rite in 35 states [4] (the other states fall within . Baltimore , Md. , and presided over by the Ill. George W. Roper, 33 rd , M. P. Sov. However, Jones was eventually expelled from the USC-SJ due to actions resulting from his failure to achieve the Office of Sovereign Grand Commander in 1895. The terms "United Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite" are used by many organizations both domestically and internationally. In 1895, a bogus Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction (JGJ-SC) was formed by John G. Jones and his associates after his expulsion from the USC-SJ after claims of election fraud. Freemason Splinter Group Wards Off Fraud Claim Over Use of Name Hayden as Commander-In-Chief, Sovereign Grand Inspector General James E. White elected Grand Minister of Statefrom 1931-43. the year 1869, Edward M. Thomas 33 rd , John P. Costan 33 rd , John A. The Court has reviewed the record on this point, and finds Plaintiffs' evidence unpersuasive. See Bourbeau v. Jonathan Woodner Co. , 549 F.Supp.2d 78, 84-86 (D.D.C. 5, Independent Elks , 114 F.2d 46, 48 (4th Cir. See Dkt. See Dkt. Med. Sovereign Grand Inspector General Brian L. Abrams Sr. Sovereign Grand Inspector GeneralMelvin Frierson, Scottish Rite Clarion Newsletter for the Orient of Illinois introduced, Legatos: Deputies for the Orient of Illinois from 1913 to 2008 published, Prince Hall Consistory #3 was organized in 1879 in the City of Chicago by the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction and remained under the umbrella of the United Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction (USC-SJ) after its consolidation in 1881. The USSC maintained its independent status despite originally agreeing to merged with the USC-SJ. Defendants challenge the standing of both named Plaintiffs in this case: (1) the United Supreme Council, 33 Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America ("Plaintiff USC-SJ"); and (2) the United Supreme Council 33 of the Ancient and Accepted . - 1883-1895: John W. Dunmore Page Last Modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2023. It provides newer, and more Plaintiffs also assert that Defendants have waived their argument regarding Plaintiff USC-SJ's legal existence because lack of capacity is an affirmative defense which must be raised with particularity in a party's answer. The organization was founded in 1907 by then Lt. Grand Commander and Ill. Deputy of the District of Columbia The mission of the United Supreme Council, 33 of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction of the USA is to serve as the College of Freemasonry for aspiring Master Masons seeking more light in the Scottish Rite; thereby, enhancing the knowledge base, providing the moral teachings of the Rite and enriching the brotherhood experience . P. 9(a) ; see also Definitive Res., Inc. v. United States , No. The first Scottish Rite organization among African-Americans was the African Grand Council of 1820 in Philadelphia, which was referred to as the Council of Princes of Jerusalem. 44 at 69. Greener, Richard Theodore, 1844-1922 -- Freemasonry. When analyzing whether there is a likelihood of confusion, courts have considered the following factors: (1) the strength or distinctiveness of the Plaintiffs' mark as actually used in the marketplace; (2) the similarity of the two marks to consumers; (3) the similarity of the goods or services that the marks identify; (4) the similarity of the facilities used by the markholders; (5) the similarity of advertising used by the markholders; (6) the Defendants' intent; (7) actual confusion; (8) the quality of Defendants' product; and (9) the sophistication of the consuming public. After the Masonic expulsion of John G. Jones and William Gray in 1904, the remnants of Prince Hall Consistory sought a new home. History Ohio Council of Deliberation and Western Jurisdiction of the United States of America. See Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife , 504 U.S. 555, 560, 112 S.Ct. David Supreme Council was set up by Count de St. Laurent 33 rd of the Supreme By 1904, both Jones and William Gray had become expelled from Freemasonry by the MWPHGL of Illinois and other jurisdictions. See Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , U.S. , 136 S.Ct. They have not demonstrated an enforceable contract. One week later, in October 1896, during the second Annual Session of The United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the U.S.A. and Canada (John G. Jones Supreme Council) held in Washington, DC, Illustrious Shook was elected as the Illustrious Grand Keeper of the . pursuance of the decrees, resolutions and articles of a convention of the Thornton Jackson represented the Southern and Western Plaintiffs presented no evidence to suggest that members or potential members of Plaintiffs' organization joined Defendants' organization due to confusion as to which organization was which. Meyers v. Baltimore Cty. The Organization of the King David Supreme Council grew out of the conferring in Philadelphia (1850) of the 33rd Degree by Count DeSaint Laurent (also, Larine) of the Supreme Council of France and the Grand Commander of the Council of Spain on David Leary, the first Black Inspector-General of the Prince Hall Scottish Rite. Indeed, Plaintiffs completely fail to address the copyright infringement issue in their Opposition. 6 at 160:17-162:3. 1869, in the city of Washington, D.C. and in compliance with the Grand Sterling Acceptance Corp. v. Tommark, Inc. , 227 F.Supp.2d 454, 464 (D. Md. R. Scottron of the United States Supreme Council was elected Secretary. united supreme council northern jurisdiction pha Supreme Councils have been established on nearly every . 256 at 16; New Amsterdam Cas. Defendants challenge Plaintiffs' claims on several grounds. Page Last Modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2023. - 1899-1903: Robert C. Waring During its period of dissolution, a corporation is "shorn of all its powers and rights, save for those expressly reserved by the statute for the purpose of winding up its affairs (i.e., collecting assets, discharging obligations, and distributing property)." See Dkt. ideals, desirous to soar among the talented craftsmen of the art, and better - 1896: Henry Graham Henderson 33 rd and George W. Hopewell 33 rd of Mar. Copyright 19982023 The Supreme Council, 33, A. 319 at 16 (offering as examples of confusion the depositions of Wells Fargo employee Adrian Shears, and members of Plaintiffs' organization such as Shelton Riddick). Liam O'Grady, United States District Judge. among colored Masons, all claiming the right and authority to confer the See D.C. Code Ann. The SC-SWJ and SC-SJ consolidated to form the United Supreme Council, AASR, PHA Southern Jurisdiction (USC-SJ). United Supreme Council - History On hand to affix their names and seals to the document on September 7, 2022, were Sovereign Grand Commanders of the four mutually recognized Scottish Rite Jurisdictions in the U.S.A. Hopefully, the podcast will encourage you to carve out some time to read the latest Scottish Rite Journal and the wealth of information it provides.