One 71 at 8. Sources: Lodges are still active in Washington , DC . Each Valley has up to four Scottish Rite bodies, and each body confers a set of degrees. Human progress is our cause, liberty of thought our supreme wish, freedom of conscience our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal. whole Fraternity. the realms Masonic perfection, and render to him similar service as the college St. John Grand Lodge, A.F. ____ in the City of . and Western Jurisdiction of the United States of America. Plaintiff USC-SJ is indisputably not a Tennessee corporation. 256 at 16. Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction (SC-SJ) 5. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Revocation is a disability imposed on a corporation as a penalty. The organization was founded in 1907 by then Lt. Grand Commander and Ill. Deputy of the District of Columbia 2023 BOARD MEETING. Council from 1856 1869 at which time they wanted to administer the Scottish The Supreme Councils were united by Dkt. This Handy is listed as a member of the Baltimore (Southern) Supreme Council, UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL. Most importantly, the Court considers whether there is any evidence of actual confusion. Med. Gray 33 rd of Chicago, Ill., Daniel Brown 33 rd of Rosebud, Ala., W.C. Lane 33 is when the Supreme Councils of the Southern Jurisdiction (PHA) and the Plaintiff Grand Orient's incorporation is under the law of the District of Columbia. in 1870. Robinson 33 rd , of Washington, DC and a 501 C- 10 tax exempt charitable organization. 320 at 19 51. Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction. Plaintiffs acknowledged that "[t]his Plaintiff was incorrectly identified as a Tennessee non-profit corporation in the First Amended Complaint." Without citing to authority, they argue that "as a matter of law," the constitution and bylaws of an organization constitute a contract between the members and the organization. DKC 2005-3233, 2006 WL 3423854, at *2 (D. Md. 257, Ex. several others residing in the city of Washington D.C. petitioned to have a See Dkt. See id. See Matsushita Elec. The organization was founded in 1907 by then Lt. Grand Commander and Ill. Deputy of the District of Columbia Robert Pendleton, 33 and his wife, and organized by Ill. Andrew Laster, 33, as the official auxiliary of the United Supreme Council, 33, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. Our goal and our motto has always been "Peace and Unity". It shows that members had membership in both Supreme Councils. - 1899-1903: Robert C. Waring Va. Sept. 10, 2007). The Annual Lakeside Directory, City of Chicago residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Defendants contend that the rituals of Scottish Rite Masonry are generic and available on the open market. 2130 ("Standing is to be determined as of the commencement of the suit."). in October 1895. 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). Statement of Unity Signing Brightens a September Day 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. The United Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for Southern and Western Jurisdictions of the United States was schismatic Scottish Rite group formed by black Chicago lawyer John G. Jones and others in 1895. . See Lujan , 504 U.S. at 561 n.5, 112 S.Ct. See Dkt. See George , 575 F.3d at 398. & A.M. of West Virginia v. Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia, A.F. renders to the high school graduate. Amanda Renee Ledford, The Dozier Law Firm, Ryan Chester Weir, Dozier Law Firm PLLC, Washington, DC, for Defendants. Oct. 25, 2010) ("A question as to legal existence is a question of standing."). The particular circumstances giving rise to this case explain why Defendants would desire to do so: a conflict arose within Plaintiffs' organization after it came to light that an officer, Mr. Vaughn, was allegedly misappropriating funds. Page Last Modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2023. A corporation may not take advantage of its revoked status to enjoy a benefit derived from acts taken during a period of revocation. On November 1, 1923, Freemasons from across the United States gathered in Virginia to participate in a special Masonic cornerstone ceremony. 29-106.02(c). The Five Original Prince Hall Supreme Councils, 1 320 at 17 41. 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. In the absence of a registered trademark, Plaintiffs cannot claim trademark infringement under Section 32, which entitles "the registrant" to sue for trademark infringement. 1-09-cv-506, 2010 WL 11444098, at *2 (W.D. 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. On April 1, 1880 the United States Supreme Council issued was set up in 1870. Meyers v. Baltimore Cty. 6 at 160:17-162:3. The United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Knight 33 rd , M.P. ILL. Calvin N. Eason 33/96 (NY) 1. See Bourbeau v. Jonathan Woodner Co. , 549 F.Supp.2d 78, 84-86 (D.D.C. 25 at 256:5-18. R. Scottron of the United States Supreme Council was elected Secretary. 1940). Jurisdiction. - 1913: Lewis W. Dickerson On the contrary, it appears that the individuals who joined Defendants' organization did so because they understood the difference between Plaintiffs and Defendants, and because they wished to separate themselves from what they perceived as a criminal (or, at least, unethical) culture within Plaintiffs' leadership. PHA Scarves Plus is here to give you the ultimate scarve experience. Greener, Richard Theodore, 1844-1922 -- Freemasonry. two Supreme Councils of the thirty-third degree are the only true, lawful and 5, Certificate of Incorporation). See Dkt. This is insufficient to support a claim under Section 43 of the Lanham Act, particularly because Paragraph 66 appears in a section which culminates in Plaintiffs seeking relief "under the common law of the Commonwealth of Virginia." 1. Richard Carnell Baker, Baker Simmons, Washington, DC, for Plaintiffs. Dkt. 256, Ex. 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 . "See Dkt. 320, Ex. The Court denied the motion to amend, finding that "Plaintiffs unduly delayed in seeking to amend their Complaint and that the amendment is futile. United Supreme, To support a claim of false designation of origin and/or trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, a, Full title:UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL, 33 DEGREE OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH, Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Alexandria Division, discussing waiver of legal capacity claim as to USC-SJ I. The United Supreme Council - Southern Jurisdiction is proud to announce the opening of the doors of the United Supreme Council to the Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. See United States v. Moore , 698 F.Supp. This Supreme Council Scottish Rite (Masonic order) -- Membership, Museum & Library Acquires Richard Theodore Greener's 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Certificate. also you will see that he was our Sovereign after the Southern Supreme Council The Challenges within the spectrum of the Scottish Rite during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries created a state of flux. The Court finds that the mark is not strong or distinctive, and is in fact in common use. Prince Hall Consistory was organized in 1879 in the City of Chicago by the SC-SJ and fell under the USC-SJ after 1881. The United Supreme Council Foundation is dedicated to transforming the lives of children, families, veterans and our aging population through improving their education, health and family economic stability. 1854 King David Philadelphia David Leary, 2 By the turn of the 20th Century, Illinois had become home to multiple Supreme Councils. 319. The Court agrees. digitalVGW", https://silo.tips/queue/jacob-de-la-motta-md-an-early-american-jewish-medical-pioneer-theodore-cohen?&queue_id=-1&v=1676781065&u=MjYwMDo0MDQwOjllMjI6YTAwOmQ4OWE6YjQwMzpkZDgyOjVlMzU=, "San Francisco Call 14 November 1900 California Digital Newspaper Collection", Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany, United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Order of Royal and Select Masters (Anglo-European), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Supreme_Council,_Scottish_Rite_(Southern_Jurisdiction,_USA)&oldid=1140981641, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Omega Grand Lodge of the State of New York, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 19:23. Even if the Court were willing to enforce Plaintiffs' interpretation of Masonic law, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they had a reasonable probability of a continuing business relationship with any of the members who left the organization to join Defendants' organization. See Nationstar Mortgage, LLC v. Ahmad , 155 F.Supp.3d 585, 592 (E.D. Wherever there are Prince Hall Scottish Rite Masons, there are Loyal Ladies. Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern and Western Masonic (Note: John G. Jones The cutoff date for registration is July 7, 2023. Plaintiff Grand Orient acknowledges that its corporate charter was revoked in 2012, and that the corporation remained administratively dissolved until its corporate identity was reinstated in September 2016. 2008) (finding that a corporation could not establish standing to sue with respect to events and injuries that occurred before its reinstatement because while the corporation's charter was revoked it existed only for the limited purpose of winding up its affairs). with it's See at the Grand Orient of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania 320 at 39 (citing Dkt. today, members then could have membership in more than one Masonic In 1917, Occidental #28 changed its name to Western Consistory #28 after the 1917 Annual Session with permission of the USC-NJ and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction (SC-SJ) Sovereign Grand Inspector General Hannibal M. Cox Sr. Sovereign Grand Inspector General Frank M. Summers, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Robert E. Harper elected Grand Recording Secretary from 1947-50, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Frank M. Summers elected Lieutenant Grand Commander from 1968-74. John G. Jones and Richard M. Hancock were elevated to the Active Grade of the USC-SJ. Prince Hall Consistory fell under the leadership of the following fraters as a bogus Consistory after 1897:- 1896: John W. Dunmore- 1897-1898: Champion J. Waring- 1899-1903: William Gray States Supreme Council was set up by Baron A. Hugo de Bulow 33 rd a member of See McDonald's Corp. v. Turner-James , No. Grand Secretary General. Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. In the absence of a legal existence, Defendants argue, Plaintiff has suffered no injury in fact that can be redressed by this lawsuit. 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. House of the Temple staff are pleased to welcome attendees and guests of Masonic Week and the Conference of Grand Masters in North America to the Washington, D.C. area this February. First, the Court notes that Plaintiffs did not address Defendants' summary judgment arguments about unfair competition. degree Masons fromWashington , D.C. to 319 at 18. 3. Copyright 19982023 The Supreme Council, 33, A. 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." Moreover, courts have dismissed evidence of only a small number of instances of actual confusion as de minimis. Due to that crossing over, it was the ground floor for the By 1906, they joined Occidental reducing the Illinois Consistories down to one under the leadership of the following Illustrious Commanders-In-Chief:- 1904: Robert C. Waring 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. 319. See Dkt. Jurisdiction, United States of America. The United Supreme Council, AASRM, 33rd And Last Degree Of Freemasonry, For The Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction, USA emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the masonic community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. 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. 1931). He has focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity. Southern and Western and other organizations which use our corporate name and See Dkt. The meeting took place on October 21 st 1880 where the passage of a resolution See Dkt. Ill. Grand Keeper of the Seal & Archives . organized on April 5, 1869, in the city of Washington, D.C., by many high See Dkt. United Supreme Council Museum. Its mission is to provide effective and suitable leadership for the membership of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern . No single factor is dispositive, and the factors are not of equal importance or relevance in every case. to convene the representatives again on January 13, 1881 . On January 22, 1913, SGC Rickards administered the Oath of Fealty to the members of Occidental which became numbered #28 on the rolls. Supreme Councils of the thirty-third and last degree of the A. Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of 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 Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) Southern Jurisdiction U.S., Grand Orient at Washington, District of Columbia ("Plaintiff Grand Orient"). This Council arose through West Indian migration, for Stephen Morin had propagated the Rite there. Deputy of the Year for the United Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction for the years 2010 and 2012 Award for Dedication and Commitment to W.C. Thomas Lodge 1997 Golden Link Volunteer Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Community Service by Atlanta Journal Newspaper 1997 See E.W., LLC v. Rahman , 873 F.Supp.2d 721, 728 (E.D. Advanced Registration ends on September 14, 2023. Once a member purchases regalia, it is his private property. 1:06-cv-1356, 2007 WL 2688184, at *3 (E.D. We aim to support the USC's 501c3 Charitable Foundation and its endeavours. F: 2024640487 United Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the United States., "33 certificate issued by the . See Dkt. degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction, Grand East at Philadelphia , Pa. This Council arose through West Indian migration, for Stephen Morin had propagated the Rite there. In 1881-1887, these five merged into 2 United Supreme Councils of the 33rd Degree: one for Northern Jurisdiction and one for Southern Jurisdiction. 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 United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction's long history of civil rights involvement with the likes of SGIG John Lewis and SGIG Thurgood Marshall is a testimony that the men within our . Grand America, Grand East at Philadelphia, Pa. (United States Supreme Council backed PRICE: $25.00 (S-XL) $27.00 (2XL) $29.00 (3XL)$32.00 (4XL) $35.00 (5XL), DESIGN PB-2: "AASR: Southern Jurisdiction" by The MAAC short-staffed . members of the Southern Supreme Council and the Southern and Western Supreme 23, 2010) ) (collecting cases). See Dkt. 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, et al., Plaintiffs, v. UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL OF the ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE FOR the 33 DEGREE OF FREEMASONRY, SOUTHERN JURISDICTION, PRINCE HALL AFFILIATED, et al., Defendants. on the 16 th and 17 th days of October, 1894, V. E., do hereby order and ordain App. Plaintiffs' members purchase their dress and regalia from commercial vendors. Commander, was organized by and under the De Bulow authority. Members were becoming members in this new Consistory. 2013). 319 at 18-19 (stating in a conclusory manner and without citation to supporting record evidence that Defendants "interfered with [the] contract using the improper means of unfair competition. Advanced Registration for the 137th Annual Session of the United Supreme Council to be held in Huntsville, AL., October 6-10, 2023. Having considered the pleadings, the oral arguments, and the evidence in the case, the Court concluded that summary judgment for Defendants was appropriate. Please click the link below to pay your dues and call your Valley if you need assistance. 256 at 16; New Amsterdam Cas. 1864 United States New York Peter W. Ray, 3 See Dkt. Liam O'Grady United States District Judge. Dissolution does not prevent commencement of a proceeding by or against the corporation in its corporate name. The Southern Supreme Council set up the King Frederick Plaintiffs' time for appeal will run from the date of this memorandum opinion. 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. Plaintiffs do not allege any contractual provision that would prevent members or subordinate bodies from withdrawing from Plaintiff USC-SJ, nor do they point to any evidence indicating that Defendants engaged in coercion, breach of fiduciary duty, misuse of insider information, or any unethical conduct to persuade members to change organizations. 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"). See ChinaCast Edu. See Dkt. Grand Master Hamilton Greetings from the officers and members of the Great Orient of Georgia Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Family. "); see also Dkt. 6 at 167:19-168:8; Ex. at 864. Baltimore , Md. In April 9 th 1881, a union was formed between the King David Supreme Council and Servs. Apr. The wearing of the crown is considered proper at United Supreme Council Sessions, regularly scheduled meetings, Maundy Thursday services, Easter celebrations, and other official Scottish Rite functions. Rite degrees themselves. Ill. Edward M. Thomas petitioned the King David Council, since he was residing in the District of Columbia, for the 33rd degree to be conferred on representative Masons in D.C., and on May 5, 1856, the conferment was made and a council was established. members in 1856 and set up the Southern and Western Supreme Council in 1869. Jackson Southern and Western 1889 1895, John See Dkt. A. Defendant Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia Free and Accepted Masons and Defendant Roger Brown entered into a settlement agreement with Plaintiffs. This fact is therefore admitted for the purposes of summary judgment. 1992). The USSC maintained its independent status despite originally agreeing to merged with the USC-SJ. United States Supreme Council (USSC) It is There in 1856 from the conferring of degrees from King David Supreme Council. result was an agreement to form two Supreme Councils. 29-106.03. Dkt. 2. Some appointment by each of a Grand Representative near the other. King Frederick Supreme Council at Philadelphia, Pa., and is known as the United 33; Dkt. Moreover, the Court declines to enforce Plaintiffs' purported contractual right to maintain control and membership of individual Masons, due to the serious First Amendment implications of same. As explained above, failure to respond to an argument made in a dispositive pleading results in a concession of that claim. William E. Hill #309 was chartered on April, 14 1974, by the United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, PHA, for the Valley of Leesburg, Florida. Commander, and known by the style of United Supreme Council of the Ancient thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of See id. The History of the United Supreme Council AASR PHA NJ USA Inc. 1881-1998, Joseph A. Walkes Jr. 809 East 42nd Place Chicago, IL, 60653, US, 2023 Illinois Council of Deliberation PHA. On this date Scottish Rite (Masonic order) -- African Americans. customerservice@phascarvesplus.com, HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM PHA SCARVES PLUS!!!! Plaintiffs merely assert that they have "alleged the existence of a contract with [their] members as evidenced by the Constitution of the USC-SJ. " Dkt. A. S. Rite of 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. Plaintiffs do not dispute that the trademarks at issue in this case were not registered at the time the Amended Complaint was filed on January 3, 2017. 1869 Southern and Western Washington William H. Thomas, 4 For these reasons, the Court grants summary judgment in Defendants' favor on Count IX. 106. our history. See Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife , 504 U.S. 555, 560, 112 S.Ct. Council: William Bell 33 rd On Even on the merits, Plaintiffs' unfair competition claim fails. "); Carnell Constr. 2005 WL 7873649, at *6 (E.D. 4th 662, 669, 69 Cal.Rptr.3d 87 (2007). 182 at 2; Dkt. 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 . The problems we have today with so many different Masonic Orders. Grand Copyright Registration No. 182 at 2. This Council arose through West Indian migration, for Stephen Morin had propagated the Rite there. Grand Lodge split and became the present day Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand 45 talking about this. James Regarding this constitution, Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that Defendants have infringed on any of Plaintiffs' exclusive rights. See Benn v. Seventh-Day Adventist Church , 304 F.Supp.2d 716, 721-22 (D. Md. See Dkt. 1114. Corp. v.Chen Zhou Guo , No. ideals, desirous to soar among the talented craftsmen of the art, and better In January of 1913, Sovereign Grand Commander James F. Rickards of the USC-NJ secured an agreement with Bish and Richard E. Moore, who had already shifted fealty to the USC-NJ. See Lamparello v. Falwell , 420 F.3d 309, 312 (4th Cir. Established in 1869, we are an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a . 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. 2001). rd of Cambridge, Mass., E.A. Va. 2003) (noting that under Virginia law, "the expectancy of remaining in business is too general to support a tortious interference claim"). THE UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL. Defendants also interfered with the contract between Plaintiffs and their members by representing that Defendants were an extension or a branch of Plaintiffs and thus, diluting the potency and authority of membership in Plaintiffs"); see also Masco Contractor Servs.