THE SUPREME COUNCIL 33° 

OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE 10 DUKE STREET ST JAMES’S FOR ENGLAND AND WALES LONDON SW1Y 6BS AND ITS DISTRICTS 

AND CHAPTERS OVERSEAS 

020 7930 1606 January 2021 info@sc33.org.uk 

ANNUAL CIRCULAR No 138 

Dear Sir and Brother, 

This Annual Circular comprises a report on the activities of the Order since 1st January 2020, notices of  forthcoming events, announcements of administrative changes, reminders about certain Rules and guidance  and instructions on relations with foreign jurisdictions. 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL 

Membership of the Supreme Council 33° stands unchanged since 1st January 2020, as follows: M∴P∴Bro A J Englefield 33° Sovereign Grand Commander V∴P∴Bro G D A Elgood 33° Lieutenant Grand Commander M∴Ill∴Bro the Revd Dr J R H Railton 33° Grand Prior 

M∴Ill∴Bro the Rt Hon the Lord Wigram MVO 33° Grand Marshal 

M∴Ill∴Bro D K Williamson 33° Grand Chancellor 

M∴Ill∴Bro R E Furber 33° Grand Captain General 

M∴Ill∴Bro John Boyington CBE 33° Grand Treasurer General H∴ E∴ M∴Ill∴Bro J A F Thom QC 33° Grand Chamberlain 

M∴Ill∴Bro Dr G R E Shilson 33° Grand Secretary General H∴ E∴ SUMMARY OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL’S ACTIVITIES 

During the period under review Members of the Supreme Council held one meeting of the 33°, conducted two meetings of the Higher Degrees (during which 110 Brethren were invested), installed two Inspectors General,  re-presented a patent to one Inspector General and visited the Districts of: Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Wessex; North Eastern Caribbean; South Essex; and Yorkshire, West Riding. No visits to foreign jurisdictions were  conducted. During the year, Members of the National Supreme Council of France and the Supreme Council for  Finland attended meetings at Duke Street. Since March 2020 the Council has been meeting virtually. 

33RD DEGREE 

The Supreme Council records with great regret the death of the following members of the 33°: M∴Ill∴Bro P A Mann TD 33° Past Grand Treasurer General 

V∴Ill∴Bro Cdr R A Champion RN OER 33° Past Inspector General for Sussex and Hampshire & Isle of Wight V∴Ill∴Bro J M Hoare 33° Past Inspector General for the St John Group of London Chapters V∴Ill∴Bro B M Edwards 33° Past Inspector General for West Cheshire V∴Ill∴Bro B R Woodward 33° Grand Superintendent of the Camp of Baldwyn V∴Ill∴Bro A M Brace 33° Past Inspector General for Oxfordshire V∴Ill∴Bro Edward Bentley OER 33° 

V∴Ill∴Bro M J Page 33° Past Inspector General for Nottinghamshire V∴Ill∴Bro D J Biggs 33° Inspector General for North East Lancashire 

The 33rd and last Degree was conferred on the following Brethren: 

V∴Ill∴Bro Stephen Fowler 33° Inspector General, Warwickshire 

V∴Ill∴Bro Dr J F K Marzouk 33° Inspector General, Worcestershire 

The Supreme Council has been pleased to extend the following patents for a further five years: V∴Ill∴Bro Anthony le Tissier 33° Channel Islands 

V∴Ill∴Bro D R B Brown 33° Sussex 

V∴Ill∴Bro Dr R J R Dunstan 33° St Paul Group of London Chapters

V∴Ill∴Bro N R Cooper 33° East Cheshire 

V∴Ill∴Bro J R Norbury 33° North Wales 

V∴Ill∴Bro Brigadier P R Sharpe 33° St Peter Group of London Chapters 

V∴Ill∴Bro R J Wileman 33° Surrey 

V∴Ill∴Bro Francis Wakem BEM QPM 33° Wiltshire 

OFFICIALS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL 

The Supreme Council is pleased to announce the following promotion and appointment: Ill∴Bro M H Burrows 32° Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ill∴Bro A J Townsend 31°-elect Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies 

STAFF 

There were no changes to Headquarters staff during 2020. Most staff were furloughed for much of the year. CHAPTERS 

No Warrants were granted for new Chapters. 

A Centenary Warrant was granted to Faith Chapter No. 210 (Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Wessex). The following Chapters surrendered their Warrants to the Supreme Council during 2019: East Griqualand  Chapter No. 582 (South Africa, Western Natal) and Whitstable Chapter No. 1065 (East Kent). The following Chapters surrendered their Warrants to the Supreme Council during 2020: St Agnes Chapter  No. 344 (Worcestershire) and Samaritan Chapter No. 997 (Staffordshire & Shropshire). Wickford Chapter No. 886 amalgamated with Langdon Hills Chapter No. 835 to form Wickford & Langdon  Hills Chapter No. 835 (South Essex). 

HIGHER DEGREES MEETINGS OVERSEAS 

Higher Degrees Meetings were held in South Africa. 

MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS 

Largely owing to Covid-19, 696 candidates were Perfected in the year to 30th June 2020 compared with 972 in  the previous year. The number of subscriptions received fell by 815 to 25,407. The number of extant Chapters on  30th June 2020 was 903 with an average membership of 28. The average age of candidates for Perfection was 51. 

RELATIONS WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS 

The Supreme Council is currently in amity with the following jurisdictions: 

a) The Supreme Councils for the United States of America (the Southern Jurisdiction and the Northern  Masonic Jurisdiction), Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Côte  d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Ireland, Israel, Latvia,  Luxembourg, Mauritius, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  

Russia, Scotland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela; (new relations in bold face) 

b) The Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish Orders of Freemasons. 

For the avoidance of doubt, please note that relations with any body styling itself the Supreme Council for  Greece are currently suspended. 

If you intend to visit a Chapter of a jurisdiction with which we are in amity, other than Scotland or Ireland,  please obtain your Inspector General’s approval in advance. This is particularly important in the case of  territories, such as France, in which there are several Supreme Councils of which only one is considered  regular. The same applies if you wish to invite a member of another jurisdiction to visit your Chapter. If you  wish to visit a Chapter under the Supreme Council for Ireland, you must contact the office of the Grand Secretary  General beforehand. 

Communications between Supreme Councils are normally conducted by Grand Secretaries General. Brethren  should therefore not attempt, without the Grand Secretary General’s prior permission, to make direct contact  with another jurisdiction.

FINANCE—YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2020 

2020 2019 

Balance Sheet: £ £ 

Fixed assets 1,054,914 1,061,687 

Investments 1,251 1,251 

Net current assets 849,729741,406 

1,905,894 1,804,344 

Provisions -(324,536) 

Net assets 1,905,894 1,479,808 

Capital Fund 1,905,894 1,479,808 

Income and Expenditure Account: 

Income from: 

Members 651,045 661,597 

Rent/hire of rooms 187,270 211,996 

Investments & deposits 512 - 

Other income 18,399 - 

857,226 873,593 

Expenditure: 

Staff costs 392,981 403,927 

Building admin./maintenance 167,067 215,139 

Office administration 98,339 92,219 

Council activities 97,289116,431 

755,676827,716 

Surplus for the year before 

release of provisions 101,550 45,877 

Release of provisions 342,536 - 

Capital Fund brought forward 1,479,8081,433,931 

Capital Fund carried forward 1,905,894 1,479,808 

The above is extracted from the accounts audited by haysmacintyre LLP, Chartered Accountants. If any member  of the Order wishes to view the audited accounts, he may do so with prior notification to the office. Please note  that owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, which greatly affected the fourth quarter of the 2019–20 financial year,  the accounts show a significant surplus in funds; this in large part reflects committed (but deferred) expenditure.  For example, income was received for the provision of several hundred meals to members of the Order, which  will not be provided (and thus paid for by the Supreme Council) until a subsequent financial year. Please note  also that, in order to manage the financial impact of the pandemic, the Supreme Council has released the entirety  of its provisions, which had been set aside over many years for specific purposes (including buildings  maintenance and other capital works) so as to provide a flexible financial cushion during these uncertain times. 

ANNUAL DUES AND FEES 

The Supreme Council has decided that the Annual Dues payable on 1st July 2021 will remain at £20.00 (plus VAT where applicable) for every subscribing member of each Chapter during all or part of the preceding year.  Districts overseas (except where special arrangements apply) will continue to remit £16.00 per subscribing  member, retaining the balance of £4.00 to help defray District costs. 

DISTRICT/GROUP LEVIES 

The maximum levy that each Inspector General is authorised to make on each subscribing member in his  District/Group to help defray District/Group costs remains at £2.00.

QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP 

Brethren are reminded that all candidates for membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite under our  jurisdiction must profess the Trinitarian Christian faith and have been Master Masons for at least one year as  set out in Rule 36(a)(ii) of the Rules of the Order. Proposers and seconders must check that their candidates are  duly qualified. 

BRETHREN MOVING TO ANOTHER DISTRICT 

Any brother moving home to another District is strongly encouraged to advise his current Inspector General in  order to receive assistance with an introduction to the Inspector General of his new District and to a Chapter  near his new home. 

DUAL ALLEGIANCE/AFFILIATION 

Brethren are reminded that except in Cyprus, New Zealand and India, where specific arrangements are in force,  allegiance to more than one Supreme Council is not permitted. Enquiries about this subject are to be submitted  to the Grand Secretary General. 

THE 2021 YEAR BOOK 

The Supreme Council requires that a copy of the Year Book be given to every new member on his Perfection. The Year Book provides information that cannot be included in Annual Circulars, such as detailed lists of  members of the South African Branch Council, the 33°, Districts, Groups and Chapters. It also contains an  Historical Section, with chronological lists of Members of the Supreme Council (and the offices they have held) and of other members of the 33°. It should also be noted, that in the light of recent data protection legislation, it  has been decided that the contact details for Chapter Recorders will no longer be shown in the Year Book. Any  brother seeking to contact or visit a Chapter should do so through the relevant District or Group Recorder. A  copy of the Year Book, the cost of which is £12, is sent to each Chapter Recorder. You may order copies of the  2021 Year Book through your Recorder or purchase one in person from Reception at 10 Duke Street St James’s. 

HANDLING OF CHARITY MONIES 

When a private Chapter intends to disburse its charitable monies, it is advised to ensure that this intention is  circulated to all members of the Chapter prior to any disbursement. Chapters are reminded that Relief Chests  may be set up with the Masonic Charitable Foundation (www.mcf.org.uk) to benefit from Gift Aid. 

KING EDWARD VII CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT—DEMONSTRATIONS In 2021 there will be no demonstrations of the Intermediate Degrees. 

In 2022, by permission of the Supreme Council, demonstrations of the 14° will be given on: Monday 25th  April at Freemasons’ Hall, London; Saturday 14th May at the Masonic Hall, Nottingham; Saturday 11th June at  the Royal Assembly Rooms, Great Yarmouth; Saturday 18th June at Saxon Hall, Southend-on-Sea; and Saturday  2nd July at Brookfield Hall, Bolton. 

In 2023, demonstrations of the 15° and 16° will be given on: Monday 24th April at Freemasons’ Hall, London;  Saturday 10th June at Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren, Devonshire; and Saturday 24th June at the  Masonic Hall, Rochdale. 

The Members of the Supreme Council take this opportunity to thank all members of the Order for their  continued support at this challenging time, and send their very best wishes for 2021. 

Yours faithfully and fraternally, 

Dr G R E Shilson 33° 

Grand Secretary General H∴E∴