Honoring, Recognizing and Welcoming the United Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection during their 135th Triennium Convention Meeting.

WHEREAS, The Scottish Rite has often been referred to as the University of Freemasonry, for it embraces all of the higher Masonic degrees, from fourth through the thirty-third. Having been introduced in America in 1801, and subsequently to the Prince Hall Fraternity around 1820, it was adopted in 1881, upon the establishment of The United Supreme Council in the Northern Jurisdiction, which by Constitution, meets every third year in Philadelphia, with two remaining years in other cities; and

WHEREAS, Much like the Symbolic Lodge, it encourages its members to study and engage in endeavors which make good men better including believing in a Supreme Being, loving their families and being devoted to their country. It also stressed motivation, self-improvement and charity to all. Charity being one of the basic tenets; and

WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council annually contributes more than $125.000 to various organizations including the NAACP and its Legal Defense Fund, the Urban League, the United Negro College Fund and several other charitable organizations. Matching educational scholarships are given to students in each of the 26 Orients that comprise the Northern Jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, They also annually support widows and orphans and benevolent contributions are made by Consistories on the local level. In the past 24 years, two senior citizen complexes have been erected, one is a fourteen-story, 128 unit building and the other, a thirteen-story, 106 unit building, providing modern and comfortable living for senior citizens. The buildings are located at 15th and Fitzwater Streets near the Scottish Rite Cathedral in the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The Scottish Rite organization is over 120 years old and draws its membership from 20 northern states, the Bahamas, Canada, Trinidad-Tobago, Asia, the Far East and Europe-Turkey, all of which comprise the Northern Jurisdiction. Complementing their endeavors, they take pride in the Ladies of the Golden Circle, which is an Auxiliary Organization made up of the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the membership; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED

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BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

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That we hereby honor, recognize, and welcome the United Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection during their 135th Triennium Convention Meeting

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Illustrious Basil L. Sands, 33◦ Sovereign Grand Commander as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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