No. Established in 1869, we're an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a strong foundation of support. Select PayPal Credit at checkout to have the option to pay over time. 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. As specific evidence, Plaintiffs allege that they were aware of Defendants' false claims and demanded that they cease the unauthorized use of their intellectual property. Id. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In particular, on November 6, Parris met with Brown and non-party Larry D. Christian, who was "an influential former CEO/Grand Master of the Grand Lodge." SEC. There was no discussion of the legal claims for damages, and therefore this quotation (as well as the Independent Elks cases) is neither binding nor persuasive for this Court's fraud analysis. As is relevant for the purposes of this motion, USC-SJ I maintains that it has "exclusive authority within [the Southern Jurisdiction] to form, charter and administer unincorporated 'Subordinate Bodies' including, but [sic] limited to, the exclusive authority to confer the Fourth Degree ('Secret Master') through the Thirty Third and Last Degree" ("Grand Inspector General") of Masonry. Grand Lodge Defs' Mem. 43). Compl. Economopoulos v. Kolaitis, 259 Va. 806, 814 (2000). Despite this language, however, the Independent Elks cases did not address the legal issue of fraud. Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. Deputy Of The Orient SGIG Primus T. James 33, Active A Message From The Deputy of the Orient SGIG Primus T. James, 33, Active 45 (citing Plaintiffs' Constitution, Art. When a Council has a state "within its jurisdiction," Plaintiffs allege that the Council "ha[s] the right to establish its Bodies within the extension of that State's jurisdictional limits and have exclusive jurisdiction thereof." On November 29, 2015, Defendant Parris then published a "Letter of Dispensation" on Plaintiffs' letterhead that encouraged Plaintiffs' members and its Subordinate Bodies to abandon Plaintiffs in lieu of Defendant USC-SJ II. ; Greener, Richard Theodore, 1844-1922 -- Freemasonry. Auto. A presentation on the history of clandestine freemasonry within the african american traditions of freemasonry. . FOR THE PAST ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINE (149) YEARS. United States: Standard Shipping from Canada: Estimated between Mon, Mar 6 and Mon, Mar 13 to 23917 Third, Defendants induced members to switch allegiances. Website link will be sent out soon! The organization was founded in 1907 by then Lt. Grand Commander and Ill. Deputy of the District Attempt to steal the lineage of the Prince Hall United Supreme Council United Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Masonic This Court does not sit to enforce the Freemasons' Constitution as though it were law, and Plaintiffs cannot point to anything besides their Constitution which would suggest they had a legal right to invade the accounts of their subordinate bodies. The above divisions were made based on a boundary developed by a joint committee in Wilmington, Delaware on April 19, 1907 using the Mason-Dixon Line as an official boundary. They also own federal trademark application No. Welcomes you to The Original & Official Website of The G.G.M.C. United States ex rel. Accordingly, in order to state a claim for a civil conspiracy, Plaintiffs must establish that an underlying tort has been committed. After reviewing the briefing, and for the reasons that follow, the Court hereby GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendants' motions to dismiss. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. The constitutions for the Southern Jurisdiction were established in 1887 and revised in 1917 and 1955. Indeed, by the terms of the Constitution, "Plaintiffs' members vow to maintain their loyalty to no United Supreme Council other than Plaintiffs within the Southern Jurisdiction." These activities continued until around March 4, 2016, and consisted of Defendants Parris and/or Brown meeting with Plaintiffs' Subordinate Bodies and advising them to withdraw from USC-SJ I. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). They assert that the subordinate bodies were "commissioned and chartered by, and under the exclusive jurisdiction, dominion, and control of, Plaintiffs . No. "The Mission of the United Supreme Council, 33, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affili-ation, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America is to. As an example, Plaintiffs recite that, in Louisiana, one of USC-SJ Tennessee's subsidiary organizations, the Pelican Council on Deliberation (the "PCOD"), is involved in a legal challenge regarding its bank account at First NBC Bank. African American Freemasonry & Fraternalism, For more information contact Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library | Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives | 33 Marrett Road | Lexington, MA 02421 | 781-457-4109 | library@srmml.org, 2016-2022 Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryTerms of Use, 33 certificate issued by the United Supreme Council to Richard Theodore Greener, 1896 September 8. no. See Murphy v. Holiday Inns, Inc., 216 Va. 490, 492 (1975) ("Agency is the fiduciary relation which results from the manifestation of consent by one person to another that the other shall act on his behalf and subject to his control, and consent by the other so to act.") While the bank account conversion claim alleges some specific property (the bank accounts) that was taken, the "conversion of other personalty" claim does not identify a single tangible item. Allegedly, Brown "endorsed this concept [and took] the essence of the scheme back to the officers of [the Grand Lodge]." Members in Missouri may belong to the Valley of Saint Louis, the Valley of Columbia, the Valley of Joplin, the Valley of Kansas City or the Valley of Saint . and their agents or members, known and unknown, knowingly, intelligently and intentionally stole, misappropriated, converted, and usurped Plaintiffs' currency, name, likeness, rituals, emblems, practices, personal property, revenue, Constitution, contributions, assets, benefactor lists, and/or intellectual property for the use and benefit of Defendants." Signed by Greener, John G. Jones, D.F. The precise hierarchy of the Prince Hall Freemasons is not clear from the Complaint. Government. A fourth council was set up in Baltimore, Maryland and a fifth Council in Philadelphia. Company (referred to as either "the Company", "We", "Us" or "Our" in this Agreement) refers to United Supreme Council, 2065 Nonconnah Blvd. This claim is devoid of facts. Access additional case information on PACER . Va. Mar. The Defendants are grouped into two categories and have filed two separate motions to dismiss. You can read the details below. Also in 1864, a separate Supreme Council was formed in New York, which was made up of members from the National Compact Grand Lodge, from which a Southern Jurisdiction split off with the Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Earn up to 5x points when you use your eBay Mastercard. . In considering a motion to dismiss, the court accepts as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint, construing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Bonds v. Leavitt, 629 F.3d 369, 385 (4th Cir. Signed by Greener, John G. Jones, D.F. Councils formed the Supreme Council for the "Southern Jurisdiction," which included Virginia. . (quoting Restatement (Second) of Agency 1)). In 1717 the first Grand Lodge, an association of lodges, was founded in England. is comprised of Five Separate Ancient Free and Accepted Masonic (A.F. and the United Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction (P.H.A.). Established in 1869, we are an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a strong foundation of support. 62. Dkt. Larry D. Spires, 33 (IL) 2016 -, 2018 by The United Supreme Council, AASRM, 33rd And Last Degree Of Freemasonry, For The Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction, USA. Plaintiffs' fraud claim has no merit. Fourth, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants have attempted to take control of "certain financial banking accounts owned and controlled by [Plaintiffs]". We are happy of your interest in pursuing more Knowledge in Freemasonry through the oldest Masonic Rite known as Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. Conspiracies require some overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy, but "there can be no conspiracy to do an act which the law allows." See terms. To survive a motion to dismiss, the Plaintiff must allege enough allegations of fact "to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Id. There will be 5 person teams in the tournament. Childrenare welcome to bowl. These meetings culminated in Parris formally appearing before the officers of the Grand Lodge in Roanoake on November 21, 2015. Plaintiff claims that its "current territorial jurisdictions include the following states and territories: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, England, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Korea, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, West Virginia, Western Europe, Republic of Liberia, Hawaiian Islands, the Philippine Islands, and 'such other areas as USC-SJ Tennessee may ordain." It is not clear that Plaintiffs' claims meet any of these elements, but their deficiency is most apparent in examining the "reliance" prong of the fraud analysis. Other members of the Supreme Council are called "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General" (S.G.I.G. The names of the real signors on these accounts are all listed in the complaint, and yet none of them are Defendants here. Past Grand Sire Archon, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Original council didn't prove fraud. . Independent Elks II, 114 F.2d at 47. 154. The United Supreme Council 33 AASR Southern Jurisdiction-PHA. As far as the Amended Complaint is concerned, these entities are independent organizations with independent bank accounts. Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction (SC-SWJ) 4. ), and each is the head of the Rite in his respective Orient (or state). King Solomon Consistory No. By meetings like this, Defendants were able to misappropriate Plaintiffs' "funds, revenue, name, numbers, assets, rituals, and other personalty without Plaintiffs' authorization or consent.". 1847 from byron amerson on Vimeo. United Supreme Council, 33 Deg v. United Supreme Council, ROGER C. BROWN, Individually and as Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia Free and Accepted Masons, Incorporated and MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, INCORPORATED, RALPH SLAUGHTER, UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE FOR THE 33 DEGREE OF FREEMASONRY, PRINCE HALL AFFILIATED, a District of Columbia Non-Profit Corporation, MICHAEL A. PARRIS and JOSEPH A. WILLIAMS, 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, a Tennessee Non-Profit Corporation and UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL 33 (THIRTY-THREE) OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY (PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION) SOUTHERN JURISDICTION U.S., GRAND ORIENT AT WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, a District of Columbia Non-Profit Corporation; T. Get your fedoras, and fascinators out! Activate your 30 day free trialto continue reading. for the fourth circuit . A 33 certificate issued by the United Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for Southern and Western Jurisdictions of the United States to Richard Theodore Greener, and dated September 8, 1896. 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. In 1871 a fifth was established in Philadelphia, and was named King Fredrick Supreme Council. In other words, they recite the terms of their own Constitution for the proposition that they were entitled to possession of another entity's property. 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 as organized on April 5, 1869, in the city of Washington, D.C., by many high degree Masons from Washington , D.C. to regulate Scottish Rite Masonry from the fourth to the thirty-third degrees. "To survive dismissal, the complaint must contain enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." --------. There are no examples of Defendants stealing an emblem in the Amended Complaint. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them. Do not sell or share my personal information, 1. Under the terms of Plaintiffs' Constitution, "all papers, rituals, monies, rules regulations [sic], assets, and other real or personal property must be returned to Plaintiffs" upon the dissolution of any subordinate body. United Supreme Council, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Thirty-third Degree for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction: proceedings, proclamations, membership lists and certificates, and legal records, 1895-1963, Folder 7, Box: 28, Folder: 7. 18-2034. 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, a tennessee nonprofit corporation; united - supreme council 33 (thirtythree) of the ancient and - 86841790, filed on December 8, 2015, titled "United Supreme Council Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation Southern Jurisdiction." For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. (Thirty-Three) of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) Southern Jurisdiction U.S., Grand Orient at Washington, District Of Columbia, Appellant . Id. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. of the World, v. Eureka Lodge No. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Alexandria Division. As such, Plaintiffs' allegations do not show that Defendants themselves interfered with the ownership rights of the bank accounts. In New York City, a Supreme Council of the United States was established in 1864. This is an open forum for intellectual dialog, conversation, questions, comments, ideas, and debate. This was the date of the "Union of 1867", when it merged with the competing Cerneau "Supreme Council" in New York. Originally this organization was comprised of Independent Masons that were once 1 Organization thatwas. Therefore, the conversion claim is properly categorized as a conclusory legal allegation that cannot survive the motion to dismiss. Hechler Chevrolet, Inc. v. Gen. Motors Corp., 230 Va. 396, 402 (1985). The company's filing status is listed as Inactive - Action By Secretary Of State and its File Number is 02602210X. A Coalition of President Generals of The General Grand Masonic Congresses are seen above, representing the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons (A. F. & A.M.) from The Lineage of the, This all just brings the Wisdom of King Solomon back to Life As stated in (. "Morals and dogma has been described as 'a collection of thirty-two . 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. The constitution for the Southern Jurisdiction were established in 1887 and revised in 1917 and 1955. Statement of Unity Signing Brightens a September Day. . Enjoy access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from Scribd. Fifth, as evidence of the conspiracy, Plaintiffs point to a published letter from Roger Brown to Ralph Slaughter on March 3, 2016. In this regard, bald legal assertions without factual support need not be accepted. Even assuming this is a material and demonstrably false representation, there is no plausible argument that Plaintiffs relied on this statement. Weve updated our privacy policy so that we are compliant with changing global privacy regulations and to provide you with insight into the limited ways in which we use your data. 16, 2016). The Headquarters of the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction is the House of the Temple, located at 1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC, between R and S Streets. . Today, Nevada, is in the Southern Jurisdiction and Arizona and New Mexico are States; Europe, England, Korea, Japan and the Middle East are also a part of the Southern Jurisdiction. As a result of the conference of the Sovereign Grand Commanders of the two Supreme Councils, Northern and Southern Jurisdictions A.A.S.R., P.H.A., on August 2, 1966, were established at the Cathedral, Fitzwater & Mole St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Under this compact, the existing territories were divided between the two Supreme Councils, with any open territories declared "open territory" that was subject to invasion by any Prince Hall Affiliated Masonic Jurisdiction of the symbolic or first three degrees. Dunlap v. Cottman Transmission Sys., LLC, 287 Va. 207, 216 (2014). This amount is subject to change until you make payment. Am. Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. All About Us Who's ready to join? An appropriate order shall issue. (USC-NJ) and the United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction (USC-SJ) in 1881, it did not move forward as planned due to a lawsuit introduced by John G. Jones and Edward H. Morris on behalf of Prince Hall Consistory . 53) was filed by the other three Defendants: USC-SJ II, Parris, Slaughter, and Williams (USC-SJ II Defendants). For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, 1932 ORIGINAL VINTAGE MAP OF SOUTHERN BAVARIA BAYERN MUNICH / GERMANY. USC Predecessor amended its name in 1964, and it remains a corporation in good standing in D.C. USC-SJ Tennessee and USC Predecessor are plaintiffs in this action. June 27, 1847, Boston, MA. Cincinnati About 4 months after the Cleveland body was chartered, Commander Ray and Illustrious Reason instituted Red Rose Chapter of Rose Croix No. Compl. . It is possible that individual members of USC-SJ I relied upon Defendants' statements, but Plaintiffs do not have standing to bring those claims. . African American fraternal organizations. . In New York City, a Supreme Council of the United States was established in 1864. . Too often, we are concerned with our personal gain and blinded by the power and fame to let it all go and work for the good of the order. Scottish Rite (Masonic order). Hi i think that there are too many supreme council , why can't they call a meeting of all the supreme councils and decide to have only two united supreme councils , that mean that there would have to be a merger of these supreme council then out of the merger they would agree to have only two supreme councils one for the southern and western jurisdiction one for the northern and eastern jurisdiction and i think that the masonic world can become very strong and productded to humanurtian aid in our community ,city state and to the world .i am a member of Howard Coleman Lodge #15 which is a member of the New Most Worshipful Jerusalem Grand Lodge A.F.A.M. Therefore, the related claim for a conspiracy to commit fraud must necessarily be dismissed as well. It was a good time of learning, growing, working, and fraternizing.One of the things that we learned is that there are many different jurisdictions in Masonry, many like the other. The First Amended Complaint was filed on January 3, 2017. Notable Prince Hall Scottish Rite MasonsUnited Supreme CouncilNorthern Jurisdiction(Continued) * Deceased members are identified with asterisk (*) *Ill. William A. Seville, and Charles W. Newton. Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction. (Andrew) McClain 33. Free access to premium services like Tuneln, Mubi and more. A Freemason splinter group that adopted a name similar to the council it left isn't liable for holding itself out as an extension of that council because no one was shown to have been defrauded, the Fourth Circuit said Oct. 30 in an unpublished ruling. Something went wrong. For example, shortly after the coup, Defendant Parris (who was then Plaintiffs' Deputy of the Orient of Virginia) "defected to and joined Defendants" in their new order.