The Supreme Council 33°

The Supreme Council 33°

The sovereign power of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in England and Wales is committed to a Supreme Council consisting of nine Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, as prescribed for every country by the Grand Constitutions. It has the responsibility of managing the affairs and promoting the well-being of the Order, including the consecration of new Chapters, and of maintaining fraternal relationships with other Masonic bodies, both nationally and internationally. It is mainly with this aim in view that the Sovereign Grand Commander travels extensively.

Each member of the Supreme Council holds the highest degree of the Order, the 33° as some 30 Inspectors General in England and Wales and 20 in District overseas, to whom authority is delegated to manage their appointed Districts, and a few others also contribute very significant services to the Order as it is in permanence (perpetual). These include the Grand Prefect, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and the Grand Chancellor.

Authority is further delegated to Chapters to confer degrees from the 4th to the 18th. The higher degrees are not conferred in England and Wales and it is noteworthy to see that there are comparable administrative services in the Order: 30° including 19° to 27°, 31°, 32° and 33°.