PRINTER'S NO. 1637
No. 291 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, JAMES, THOMAS, D. EVANS AND BLACKWELL,
MAY 22, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 22, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the week of May 24 through 31, 2007, as "United
2 Supreme Council Week" in Pennsylvania and acknowledging the
3 42nd Triennium Convention in Philadelphia.
4 WHEREAS, The Scottish Rite has often been referred to as the
5 University of Freemasonry, for it embraces all of the higher
6 Masonic degrees from 4th Degree through 33rd Degree; and
7 WHEREAS, Having been introduced in the United States in 1801
8 and subsequently in the Prince Hall Fraternity around 1820, the
9 United Supreme Council in the Northern Jurisdiction was
10 established in 1881; and
11 WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council, by Masonic Constitution,
12 meets in Philadelphia every third year and meets in other cities
13 in other years; and
14 WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council encourages its members to
15 study and engage in endeavors which make good men better, the
16 belief in a Supreme Being and the love of family and devotion to
17 country by stressing motivation, self-improvement and charity to
18 all; and
1 WHEREAS, Charity being one of the basic tenets, the United
2 Supreme Council contributes annually to several charitable
3 organizations and provides thousands of dollars in 26 Orients
4 which comprise the Northern Jurisdiction; and
5 WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council supports widows and
6 orphans through other charitable donations made annually and
7 through benevolent contributions made by Consistories on the
8 local level; and
9 WHEREAS, A 14-story, 128-unit housing complex completed in
10 1985 for low-income seniors and a second tower containing an
11 additional 106 units completed in 1996 are located near the
12 Scottish Rite Cathedral in the City of Philadelphia; and
13 WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council is 126 years old, with
14 membership from 20 northern states, the Bahamas, Canada,
15 Trinidad-Tobago, Asia, the Far East, Europe and Turkey, all
16 comprising the Northern Jurisdiction; and
17 WHEREAS, The United Supreme Council is meeting in the City of
18 Philadelphia May 25 through 29, 2007; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, with
20 appreciation for the work of the United Supreme Council of the
21 Northern Jurisdiction, recognize the week of May 24 through 31,
22 2007, as "United Supreme Council Week" in Pennsylvania; and be
23 it further
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives welcome the
25 members of the United Supreme Council and its leaders, the
26 Honorable Solomon Wallace, Sovereign Grand Commander, and the
27 Honorable Reverend Herbert M. Gibbons, Deputy for the Orient of
28 Pennsylvania, on the occasion of the 42nd Triennium Convention
29 in Philadelphia.
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