Headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, the Supreme Council is the governing body for Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction oversees 15 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Vermont.

The role of chief executive officer for the Scottish Rite, NMJ is performed by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

The Supreme Council is composed of 49 trustees. They are known as Active Members. Each of the 15 states within the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has an Active Member designated as a Deputy. The Deputy serves as the executive officer for Scottish Rite Freemasonry within his state. He is supported by the remaining Active Members of the state. There is at least one Active Member in addition to the Deputy in each state. Some states have as many as five Active Members.

State organizations in the NMJ are known as Councils of Deliberation. Local bodies are organized into what are known as Valleys. Degrees from the 4°-32° are conferred in the Valleys.

The Supreme Council meets on an annual basis, at which time the business of the fraternity is done and the 33° is conferred on those who have been elected to receive this honor.

Sovereign Grand Commander

Ill. Brother Samiec was raised a Master Mason at St. Patrick’s Lodge No. 4 in Johnstown, New York in 1982, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1991, the year of the lodge’s 225^th anniversary. He affiliated with Gloversville Lodge No. 429 in 1985, serving as Master for two terms. He is also a member of Amsterdam Lodge No. 84 and Kosciuszko Lodge #1085.

On November 6, 1982, he was created a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in Sigma Consistory, Valley of Schenectady, New York, where he served as Commander-in-Chief for Sigma Consistory from 1995-1997. In 1991, he received the Meritorious Service Award at the NYS Council of Deliberation. He has served on numerous Valley committees and was Deputy for New York from 2008-13.

Ill. Brother Samiec was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33° Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 29, 1998. He was crowned an Active Member of Supreme Council in 2003. He has served as Grand Lieutenant Commander under both Commander John William McNaughton and Commander David A. Glattly. He has served as the Grand Almoner since 2015. Ill. Brother Samiec was installed as Sovereign Grand Commander in Cleveland on August 31, 2021.

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