Deputy's Allocution

To: The Sovereign Grand Commander, all Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals, the Grand Secretary General of the Holy Empire, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Commanders-in Chief, Illustrious Sirs, Officers and Sublime Princes, Officers of the Lodges of Perfection, of the Chapters of Rose Croix, of the Councils of Kadosh, and all members in the Orient of Georgia. To all visiting Illustrious Sirs and Sublime Princes from other Orients, all heads of houses Prince Hall Affiliation, United States of America.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

The Orient of Georgia depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to your communities. I am proud of all Scottish Rite Masons, and it is an honor to be your Deputy. I say thank you. It is my pleasure as your Deputy to extend greetings to each of you. We are living in a moment that calls for hope, light, and love. Hope is for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you provide all three. So, as we turn the page from 2025 to 2026, let us step into the future together with unity and purpose, upholding the spirit of scholarship, integrity, and brotherhood that define who we are.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our visitors who are here with us today. I invite each of you to stay active, contribute your wisdom, and take part in the efforts that move our mission forward. I extend a special word of gratitude to the elected and appointed officers, and thanks to this team for your continued support. Your dedication, loyalty, and willingness to serve do not go unnoticed. Thank you for standing in the gap as you step into your respective roles. Always remember that leadership is not defined by the title you hold.

The story of Masonry teaches us brotherly love; charity reminds us of our duty to offer relief to those in need. Things are changing all around us. Only very recently did one have to have a voting card acceptable to those who try to control us. The right to vote is slowly being stripped away from us. Even more disturbing is the fact that now the boundaries for voting are such that one or the other parties can be removed from a territory, landmark, or district.

I was told when a person petitions to join an organization, they may smile and give you a firm handshake; they will give you the answer they believe you want to hear. Behind all of that is the inner turmoil they are facing. What about the person who gave the petition? What role do they play in this? Is this about being a generational Mason or a good brother? On the other hand, someone’s storm can turn into everyone else’s bad weather. Know yourself enough to know when to move and when to be still. Also, let them know that to be a good brother and friend, this may not be the right time. Always take care of your home first. I wish I had a crystal ball and could see into the future, but unfortunately, I do not. I can only try to follow the examples of many of the greats of our past who put their lives on the line for us and are watching what we are doing today. One of the biggest components in becoming a Scottish Rite Mason is knowing your limitations. This component is evidenced in the lesson of the point within the circle, which symbolizes our boundary line of conduct. Another component is understanding the power of the tongue, because words have power, and once words are released, they cannot be taken back. As a Mason, we are taught that the tongue is a precious jewel.

We must be mindful of what we convey to others. I must say — all 24 Consistories in the Orient of Georgia have one common goal, and that is to support the Orient of Georgia. At the heart of Scottish Rite Masonry is the bond formed between members, which often mirrors the friendship of brotherly love, trust, respect, and support, where brothers can express their thoughts and struggles without fear of judgment. This sense of brotherhood is cultivated through regular meetings, community activities, and charitable endeavors, each reinforcing the idea that no man is an island; no man stands alone. The purpose of personal growth and community service strengthens these bonds, making the Consistories feel like an extension of one’s own family. This must be taken as a testimony of our brotherhood to lift Scottish Rite Masons everywhere to a higher standard of life.

To the Commander-in-Chief, leadership is the art of motivating and guiding individuals toward achieving common goals through self-awareness rather than just formal authority. We must remind ourselves that every brother has the same right to his opinion and faith as we have to ours. Friendship and brotherhood go hand in hand. The gift of friendship is one of the most precious gifts God gives us. A friend is a person who knows you “off stage.” A friend knows your strengths and your weaknesses and yet loves you anyway. A friend is not judgmental, but a friend is also a person who will point out to you when and where you need to check yourself and change your behavior.

We must be mindful of the stress in our lives. When thinking about disease prevention, think about the true meaning of health. We must take care of our physical well-being, keeping your body, mind, and spirit strong and healthy, because it is important to be concerned about your physical being. This could be as simple as drinking a glass of water or taking a morning run. Do not let stress take over your life. Whatever concern you may have, your body is one of the first gifts that the Lord entrusted to you as your responsibility. Mental health is real. As men, we often neglect going to the doctor for various reasons. How can you fulfill your duty as the head of your household, as Christ is the head of the church, if you do not take care of your temple?

Our Regional Coordinators have held workshops that covered the Kadosh services, Maundy Thursday services, opening and closing, and other topics. If you are up to the challenge, contact the Director of Ritualistic Work, Henry Davis Sr., the Minister of State Ill. Christian Brown, or your Regional Coordinators. Ill. Larry Jackson held his regional workshop on August 2, 2025, in Statesboro, Georgia. The Valley of Statesboro hosted. Ill. Arthur Willis Jr. held his regional workshop on November 1, 2025, in Albany, Georgia. The Valley of Albany hosted. Ill. Sherman M. Lofton Jr. held his regional workshop on September 20, 2025, in Monroe, Georgia. The Valley of Athens hosted. All three workshops were phenomenal. Education is the broad process of learning and acquiring knowledge, skills, and values. Learning how to study is not limited to just knowledge from books, but it also teaches you how to experience and think outside of the box. They were all well attended.

Necrology

I was told the most sobering lesson comes from the hourglass, whose swiftly falling sands remind us of life’s fleeting nature. It teaches us to value each moment, knowing that time, once passed, cannot be reclaimed. A man that is born of a woman has but a few days to live. I found myself making more trips to Kadosh services. Sometimes we must check ourselves. There is a reason for darkness, and there is a reason for light, and there is a reason for sunshine and rain, and there is a reason for everything, and it goes by the name of time. We have lost so many Sublime Princes and Grand Inspector Generals, and even an SGIG, all good brothers who have gone on to glory since our last Council. There is an old saying: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, and today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.” We should take full advantage of this opportunity to get our house in order. We do not know when death will come, which is why we must learn to love one another with agape love.

This is just a reminder, my brothers: please revisit the qualifications for new membership for Scottish Rite Masonry. First, you must be 18 years of age, a person of good moral character, believe in a Supreme Being, be free of any felony convictions or judgment as a criminal under any state or national laws, and be made a Prince Hall Master Mason. To be elevated to the 33rd degree, you must live in your valley for at least two years and be 33 years of age, and have supported your local Consistory, community, and the Council of Deliberation over the years. Many of you try to skip the rules. Remember, someone is always watching. Brothers, respect and obey the qualifications.

I want to thank the Valley of Atlanta for hosting the 73rd and 63rd Annual Georgia Council of Deliberation, which was held at the Atlanta Marriott Hotel in College Park, Georgia. Let me give special thanks to the 1st and 2nd Lieutenants, Henry Davis Jr. and Sherman M. Lofton Jr., KSA Pete Simmons, along with all other elected officers, for the work you did during the previous year. To the Area Coordinators, auditors, medical staff, Dr. Howard, Dr. Brissett, Dr. Gilbert, training staff, Minister of State Cris Brown, Director of Ritualistic Work Henry Davis Sr., and all committees, chairpersons, and members, I appreciate all your hard work in the Orient of Georgia.

It is time to turn the page. Once again, I must remind each Consistory to establish and ensure that all four Scottish Rite bodies have their own chapter and are functioning in their valley. The Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh, and Consistories are separate bodies, and we need to work together to confer degrees and ensure that each body is working to its fullest potential. Every year there is an election; it is the duty of the previous officers to pass on information to the newly elected officers for that station. The support of each Consistory in Georgia is necessary in the United Supreme Council. Scottish Rite is one of the two branches of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed after he has completed the three degrees of Symbolic or Blue Lodge Masonry.

To the leaders of the Scottish bodies, I challenge you to make sure that our degree teams are in order, and we are using the Constitution of the United Supreme Council, and that they are fully competent with the ritualistic work on the degree they are working in. Scottish Rite in America, as in any other Masonic organization, does not exercise any jurisdiction or authority over the first three Symbolic degrees. Here in America, by agreement, the Supreme Councils do not confer or exercise authority over the first three degrees. Such would be considered an infringement upon the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Symbolic Masonry. The significant fact to remember is that the governing body over Symbolic Masonry is titled the “Grand Lodge,” while that of Scottish Rite Masonry is called a “Supreme Council.” To our new Sublime Princes, we should inspire them with a dedication to Scottish Rite and all that it stands for.

United Supreme Council

I attended the 139th Annual Session of the United Supreme Council, 33rd Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation Southern Jurisdiction, USA, that convened at the Sheraton Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, October 10–14, 2025. There were approximately 145 members in the delegation from the Orient of Georgia. It was an honor to be supported by, and I will only name a few: SGIG Corey Shackelford Sr., SGIG Derwin Canty, SGIG Danny West, Past Grand Master Bruce A. James, 1st Lt. Henry Davis Jr., 2nd Lt. Sherman Lofton, and several members of the Georgia Council of Deliberation, officers, and members of the COR, yours truly MWGM Primus T. James, and GSLLR Stephanie Wimbush and Loyal Ladies from across the state and her officers.

There were 187 candidates elevated into the Dr. Donald Ware Class of 2025, and twenty-three of them were from the Orient of Georgia. Our own Illustrious Turvon Casey of J.H. Walker Consistory No. 14 was elected Vice Class President. The local class elected Ill. Gerald Jackson from J.H. Walker Consistory No. 14 as their President. There were workshops and class meetings. I would like to thank the 33rd Class Leadership Committees for preparing these candidates for elevation from start to finish. Great job. Special thanks to all members from the Orient of Georgia who worked on several committees at the United Supreme Council. The class was under the instruction of S.G.I.G. Lucius Turner from the Orient of Mississippi. There were 16 candidates elevated to KCCH under the leadership of S.G.I.G. Wilbur Curtis.

Election

2025 was an election year. The officers for the United Supreme Council remained the same. The current officers for 2025 are: Sovereign Grand Commander Corey D. Hawkins Sr., Lt. Grand Commander SGIG Antony T. Stafford, Grand Chancellor SGIG Alonzo Haynes, Grand Minister of State SGIG X.L. Butler, Grand Secretary General H.E. SGIG Ken Collins, Grand Treasurer General H.E. SGIG Maurice Lucas, Grand Auditor SGIG Walter Gulley, Assistant Grand Auditor SGIG Silas Williams, Grand Prior SGIG Robert Jamerson.

charitable

The Charitable Foundation of the United Supreme Council, under the leadership of SGIG Gregory Clark, approved $4,000.00 to be given to Morris Brown College. It was presented October 25, 2025, to President Kevin James at the Atlanta Consistory Banquet. Here in the Orient of Georgia, we encourage the youth to continue to further their education. Therefore, to do our part, once again we gave three $1,500.00 scholarships from our Willis Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. They were presented to Naimah Hall of Savannah, Georgia, who will be attending Savannah Technical College in Savannah, Georgia; Trenda Blackshear of Macon, Georgia, who will be attending Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Georgia; and Taylor Davis of Madison, Georgia, who will be attending Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia. Thanks to S.P. Dr. Demetrius Byno and his outstanding committee.

During our Deputy workshop, we have an annual project, a toy drive. Atlanta Consistory #24A and Ester R. Walters Assembly #24A of Atlanta, Georgia, participated. The recipients of our toy donations were given to an unknown domestic violence shelter for women. We should never forget those who are in need of help. For that, I say thank you for everything you have done for our beloved organization.

In closing, as we step into this brand-new year, let us take a moment to look back with gratitude and look forward with hope. People touch our lives, if only for a moment, and yet we are not the same from that moment on. The time is not important; the moment is forever. Having purpose does not necessarily guarantee success. Discipline brings the return. Stop wasting time on things that are distractions, because you may be wasting your purpose. Discipline is the stewardship of purpose. Discipline is not punishment, but it is about preparing you for something with purpose. You can achieve success in any situation you choose. Try turning your discipline into your purpose and watch what happens. The past year has been a journey of growth, perseverance, and accomplishments. This is a true reflection of our collective spirit and dedication within our organization. Together, let us keep striving to make a positive difference in everything we touch. I need all members to gear up and get ready with boots on the ground for the awesome things that we will be doing in 2026.

Fraternally Submitted,

Primus T. James

Primus T. James

Deputy for the Orient of Georgia

The Deputy's Allocution

United Supreme Council · Southern Jurisdiction

The 2026 Address

Opening Address

Leadership & Brotherhood

Personal Well-Being

Masonic Education

Necrology

Work of the Scottish Rite

United Supreme Council

Elections

Charitable Endeavors

Closing Reflections

About the Deputy

United Supreme Council, 33°

SGIG Primus T. James, 33°

Deputy for the Orient of Georgia