Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ)

The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ) is a major part of the larger Scottish Rite organization, which is one of the main appendant bodies of Freemasonry. It operates as a non-profit organization and is one of two jurisdictions in the United States, the other being the Southern Jurisdiction.

History

The Scottish Rite itself was formally established in 1801 by the "Eleven Gentlemen of Charleston" in South Carolina. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was formed in 1813, when an officer from the Supreme Council at Charleston, South Carolina, initiated several New York Masons into the Thirty-third Degree and established a Supreme Council for the "Northern Masonic District and Jurisdiction" [2]. This jurisdiction oversees the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in fifteen states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin [1].

Structure

The NMJ is organized into "Valleys," each of which contains up to four subordinate bodies that confer different degrees of the Scottish Rite:

• Lodge of Perfection: Confers degrees 4 through 14.
• Council of Princes of Jerusalem: Confers degrees 15 and 16.
• Chapter of Rose Croix: Confers degrees 17 and 18.
• Consistory: Confers degrees from 19 to 32. The Supreme Council of the NMJ confers the 33rd degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, which is considered the highest honor within the Scottish Rite and is bestowed on a small percentage of members for outstanding service [3][5].

Mission and Activities

The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, NMJ, focuses on personal development and fraternal growth through its system of degrees, which emphasize core values such as reverence for God, integrity, justice, toleration, service, and devotion to country. The fraternity encourages inter-jurisdictional cooperation and supports charitable activities and educational initiatives within its regions [4][5].

Governance

The NMJ is governed by its own Supreme Council, which operates independently of other Masonic bodies but remains aligned with the broader principles of Freemasonry [3]. Its leadership includes a Sovereign Grand Commander and other appointed officers who oversee the activities of the Valleys and ensure the continuation of Scottish Rite traditions and philanthropic efforts.