United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. 2026 Biennial Session Meeting will be held August 5-9, 2026
UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL BIENNIAL SESSION
The Biennial Session Meeting will be held
August 5-9, 2026.
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
500 Canal St, New Orleans
LA 70130.
Registration Deadline
July 5, 2026
2026 Biennial Session
August 5-9
$175/person
Banquet Ticket Included
USC Closeout Banquet
Saturday August 8 at 8pm
Monochrome Theme
Mask Required
Extra Ticket: $75
The Shriners and Daughter’s Ball
Friday August 7 at 8pm
Jazzy Night in New Orleans
Color = White
Tickets: $50
Illustrious Joseph L. Thomas, 33
Past Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander
With profound respect and heartfelt gratitude, we honor the life and legacy of Illustrious Joseph L. Thomas, whose unwavering dedication and visionary leadership shaped the United Supreme Council of the Southern and Western Jurisdiction for more than four decades.
Illustrious Thomas devoted his life to service—not only to the state of Louisiana but to the entire fraternity. His commitment was marked by tireless effort, steadfast integrity, and an enduring passion for uplifting others. For over 40 years, he worked diligently to strengthen our organization, ensuring its growth and stability while preserving its cherished traditions.
Beyond his remarkable leadership, Illustrious Thomas was a mentor and guide to countless members. His willingness to invest in the next generation reflected his belief that true greatness lies in empowering others. Through his wisdom and generosity, he inspired future leaders to carry forward the torch of excellence.
Today, we celebrate a life well-lived—a life of honor, service, and devotion. Though he has passed from our sight, his influence remains etched in the history of our Council and in the hearts of all who had the privilege to know him.
Rest in eternal peace, Illustrious Joseph L. Thomas. Your legacy will forever illuminate our path.
THE VISION
Our vision is to be a leading Masonic body recognized for transformative charitable impact, principled leadership, and enduring service throughout the Southern and Western Jurisdiction. We envision empowered communities strengthened by collaboration, guided by moral clarity, and uplifted through acts of compassion and justice. Through unwavering commitment to Masonic values, the United Supreme Council seeks to leave a lasting legacy of hope, unity, and service for present and future generations.
OUR MISSION
The United Supreme Council of the Southern and Western Jurisdiction is dedicated to advancing the enduring Masonic principles of truth, justice, integrity, and religious tolerance through moral leadership and purposeful service. We are committed to addressing societal needs by empowering communities, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering practical solutions that uplift those facing poverty, injustice, and the challenges of aging. Through our actions, we seek to inspire our members to live beyond ritual—serving as active agents of charity, ethical leadership, and positive change within the communities we serve.
In the year 1856, several members of Washington DC petitioned King David Supreme Council of Philadelphia Pa. for the Scottish Rite degrees.
On May 5, 1856 they were given the Scottish Rite degrees. They worked under King David Supreme Council from 1856 – 1869 at which time they wanted to administer the Scottish Rite degrees themselves.
In the year 1869, Edward M. Thomas 33°, John P. Costan 33°, John A. Gray 33°, Henry H. Dade 33°, John H. Smallwood 33°, Adolphus Hall 33° , and several others residing in the city of Washington D.C. petitioned to have a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite duly organized and constituted at Washington, D.C. WM. Thompson 33°, Jonathan Davis 33°, J. W. Warlett 33°, W. H. Riley 33° , Cyrus G. Burton 33° , J.W. Henderson 33° and George W. Hopewell 33° of the King David Supreme Council of Philadelphia, Pa. on the 5th day of April, 1869, in the city of Washington, D.C. and in compliance with the Grand Constitutions of 1786, regularly organized and opened a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction, United States of America. William H. Thomas 33° was elected its first M. P. Sovereign Grand Commander.
This United Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction have continued to meet regularly since 1869 down to the present time and Ill. Joseph L. Thomas 33° has the honor of being the present Sovereign Grand Commander.
The Five Original Prince Hall Supreme Councils
1. 1854 King David Philadelphia David Leary
2. 1864 United States New York Peter W. Ray
3. 1869 Southern and Western Washington William H. Thomas
4. 1870 Southern Baltimore Lemuel G. Griffin
5. 1871 King Frederick Philadelphia Joshua D. Kelley
King David Supreme Council was set up by Count de St. Laurent 33° of the Supreme Council of France. It in turn conferred the degrees on Washington, D.C. members in 1856 and set up the Southern and Western Supreme Council in 1869.
United States Supreme Council was set up by Baron A. Hugo de Bulow 33° a member of the Grand Orient of France. It in turn set up the Southern Supreme Council at Baltimore, MD. in 1870. The Southern Supreme Council set up the King Frederick Supreme Council in 1871.
The five Supreme Councils became Masonic rivals, competing for members and at times for the same members. On April 1, 1880 the United States Supreme Council issued a call for representatives of all the Supreme Councils to meet in New York. The meeting took place on October 21st 1880 where the passage of a resolution to convene the representatives again on January 13, 1881. On this date eighteen Inspector Generals convened in Corinthian Hall, New York City. John S. Chase of the United States Supreme Council was elected Chairman and Samuel R. Scottron of the United States Supreme Council was elected Secretary. The result was an agreement to form two Supreme Councils.
In pursuance of the decrees, resolutions and articles of a convention of the Supreme Councils, held at the City of New York, in the State of New York, on the 13th day of January, 1881, it was agreed to form two Supreme Councils for the United States of America. The three in the north to form one Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction, and the two in the south to form one Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction.
On April 9th 1881, a union was formed between the King David Supreme Council and King Frederick Supreme Council at Philadelphia, Pa., and is known as the United Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, Grand East at Philadelphia, Pa. (United States Supreme Council backed out due to a law suit filed against it in Chicago Ill.)
On January 27th 1887, a union was formed between the Southern Supreme Council of Baltimore, Md. , and the Southern and Western Supreme Council of Washington, D. C., and is known as the United Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America.
Minutes, October, 1894
Union of Supreme Councils in the United States. The Supreme Councils were united by the following resolutions:
The United Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the United States, having its See at Washington, D. C., the Grand Orient, aforesaid, duly and lawfully assembled in annual session at Kansas City, in the State of Missouri, on the 16th and 17th days of October, 1894, V. E., do hereby order and ordain the following
Greetings:
We do hereby make it known unto you that there are only two regular and legal Supreme Councils of the thirty-third and last degree of the A. A. S. Rite of Freemasonry among colored Masons in the United States of America.
One with it's See at the Grand Orient of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, and presided over by the Ill. George W. Roper, 33°, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, and known by the style of United Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America; The other, with it's See at the Grand Orient of Washington, in the District of Columbia, and presided over by the Ill. Thornton A. Jackson, 33°, 96th, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, and known by the style of the United Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the United States of America.