Allegiance

"Deus Meumque Jus"

"God and My Right"

The Bodies of the Scottish Rite sitting in the Valley of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, Thirty-third Degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America whose Grand East is in Lexington, Massachusetts and whose Officers are:

Ill. John W. McNaughton, 33°	*Sovereign Grand Commander*
Ill. Jim S. Deyo, 33º	*Grand Lieutenant Commander*
Ill. Norman L. Christensen, 33°	*Grand Minister of State*
Ill. C. DeForrest Trexler, 33°	*Grand Secretary General*
Ill. Donald G. Hicks, Jr., 33°	*Grand Treasurer General*

Active Members of the Supreme Council for the State of Pennsylvania

Ill. William L. McCarrier, 33°	*Deputy for Pennsylvania*
Ill. C. DeForrest Trexler, 33°	*Active Member*
Ill. Thomas K. Sturgeon, 33°, RWDGM	*Active Member*
Ill. Russell W. Baker, 33°	*Active Member*
Ill. Jeffrey W. Coy, 33º, RWGT	*Active Member*

Active Emeritus Members

Ill. Arthur J. Kurtz, 33°, RWPGM	Ill. Drew W. Washabau, 33°
Ill. Ira B. Coldren, 33°	Ill. Richard G. Hawk, 33°
Ill. George R. Moad, 33º

The Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors-General of the Thirty-third and last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, is the governing body of the Rite. It is founded upon and governed by the Regulations of 1762, the Constitution of 1786 as modified, and the unwritten principles and landmarks of Freemasonry.

The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree consists of not exceeding sixty-six members; also, of Emeritus, Past Active and Honorary Members. Each State in the Jurisdiction is entitled to at least one Active Member. The authority of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction extends over the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

A Deputy of the Supreme Council for each State, who must be a Sovereign Grand Inspector-General of the Thirty-third Degree, represents the Supreme Council in his District, and performs the duties of supervision and inspection assigned him by the Supreme Council or by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

A Council of Deliberation in each State possesses the legislative and judicial powers not reserved to the Supreme Council and not inconsistent with the Constitution and Regulations. It is composed of the active and honorary members of the Supreme Council resident in the State, the Past Commanders-in-Chief of the Consistories, the Past presiding officers of each Coordinate Body, the first three officers of Consistories and Chapters of Rose Croix, the first four officers of Councils of Princes of Jerusalem and Lodges of Perfection. The Deputy of the District is ex-officio Commander-in-Chief. The Council of Deliberation meets annually.

Supreme Council Declaration of Principles

This Supreme Council reaffirms its unswerving loyalty to the fundamental purpose of Freemasonry, which purpose from time immemorial has been to improve and strenghten the character of the individual man, and through the individual, the character of the community, reinforcing those spiritual and moral values which gave the community its strength and stability.

This Supreme Council believes that this purpose is to be attained by laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect, and opinion may unite.

Believing that good and true men can be trusted to act well and wisely, this Supreme Council considers it the duty of the Fraternity to impress upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility to enlighten them as to those things which make for human welfare, and to inspire them with that feeling of charity, or well-wishing toward all mankind which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

To that end Freemasonry requires of its members a belief in God and encourages faith in God's divine purposes and worship of God in conformity with the dictates of individual conscience. It stands for truth and justice, liberty and enlightenment, fraternity and philanthropy.

This Supreme Council expects of its members strict obedience to the laws of the land and respect for their country's flag.

Such principles unite men and encourage the pursuit by them individually and collectively of worthy endeavors and the attainment of the purposes inherent in them. In that unity human character achieves its highest unfolding and provides man's bet hope for peace on earth and good will among men.

To the futherence of these principles, all of our ritual is directed and all our efforts are aimed. To their furtherence each Master Mason has pledged himself, and at the portal of the Scottish Rite has renewed that pledge.

This Supreme Council discountenances and rejects any attempt by any international groups or confederations of Scottish Rite Supreme Councils to legislate for the individual Supreme Councils.

Recognizing that principles unite men, that programs sometimes divide them, and that preservation of unity of purpose and devotion to principle is essential to Freemasonry, the Supreme Council affirms its continued adherence to the ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which forbids the discussion within tiled doors of creeds, politics, or other topics apt to excite personal animosities.

This Supreme Council further affirms its conviction that it is not only contrary to the fundamental principles of Freemasonry, but exceedingly dangerous to its unity strength, usefulness and welfare for Masonic Bodies in their official capacity to take formal action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence for or against any particular legislative project or proposal, or in any way attempt to procure the election or appointment of Government officials, whether executive, legislative, or judicial, or to influence them, whether or not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties.

*Adopted-September 20, 1923*	*Affirmed-September 18, 1929*
*Re-affirmed-September 27, 1934*	*Revised-September 24, 2001*

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Massachusetts