About Us

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction, United States of America, Incorporated, has been in the Orient of Iowa since about 1920. There are two Consistories in the Orient – William F. Powell Consistory No. 46, which was very productive until during the depression. William F. Powell Consistory No. 46, Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa was first chartered on May 5, 1921; but in 1944, the charter was surrendered to the United Supreme Council because of poor attendance. However, it was reissued on May 12, 1947.

 

Dr. Robert S. Taylor, 33°, was the first Deputy, and he was elevated May 10, 1921, and made Active in 1922; served as Deputy for 47 years. After his death, he willed the United Supreme Council a portion of money to be used for the Scottish Rite Cathedral Library. Thereafter, Illustrious John C. Buckner, 33°, his successor, became active on May 13, 1968, and served as Deputy for the Orient until May 12, 1980.

 

During this period, the State/Orient of Iowa had three Actives, they were – Illustrious Dr. Robert S. Taylor, 33°, Illustrious John C. Buckner, 33°, and Illustrious Lewis A. James, 33°; and of course, the Orient of Iowa at the time had 32 Thirty-Third Degree Masons.

 

Because the Orient is located on the Mississippi River, it was then considered the center for all activities in this area.

 

The Orient at this time was participating in many civic and religious programs in our various areas; leading to the statement that Scottish Rite Masonry was really progressing in the Orient Iowa at that time.

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The second consistory, Alexander G. Clark Consistory No. 68, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa was chartered in 1946; however, their original Charter was misplaced, and a replacement was reissued on May 13, 1947. Between 1980 and 1985, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Lewis A. James, 33°, was the Overseer and eventually the Deputy for Iowa. The first Officers of Alexander G. Clark Consistory No. 68 were Commander-in-Chief, Sublime Prince Frank Garrison, 32°, 1st Lieutenant Commander, was Sublime Prince Clarence Wallace, 32°, and 2nd Lieutenant Commander, Sublime Prince Clarence Sheppard, 32°. During the 1980s, the officers for Alexander G. Clark Consistory No. 68 were: Commander-in-Chief, Sublime Prince Sammie Day, Jr., 32°, 1st Lieutenant Commander, Sublime Prince Norris Sisk, 32°, 2nd Lieutenant Commander, Sublime Prince John Alexander, Sr., 32°, Treasurer, Sublime Prince, B. F. Tredwell, 32°, Secretary, Sublime Prince Robert E. Burt, 32°. Joseph H. Shepard Chapter Rose Croix – Most Wise and Perfect Master, Sublime Prince Remus Jones, 32°, Perfect Knight Senior Warder, Sublime Prince Ralph Hoskins, 32°, Perfect Knight Junior Warden, Sublime Prince Clifton Sisk, 32°; Frederick Douglas Lodge of Perfection – Thrice Potent Master, Sublime Prince William Stevenson, 32°, Venerable Senior Warden, Sublime Prince J. C. Hester, 32°, Hiram of Tyre Deputy Grand Master, Sublime Prince Charles Ricks, 32°, and Venerable Junior Warden, Sublime Prince James Temberlake, 32°.

 

During the celebration of the 70th Iowa Council of Deliberation, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Otis J. Dickerson, 33°, was the Deputy for Iowa and it was held in 1990, in the Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa at the Holiday Inn at 10:00 am.

 

Alexander G. Clark Consistory No. 68, along with William F. Powell Consistory No. 46 hosted the Council of Deliberation.

 

During this Annual Session, the main objective was to increase membership whether it be by elevation or reinstatement. It was noted that the Iowa Commanders of the Rite during this period reported that the Iowa Commanders of the Rite have members participation in Community projects, and special attention to charities. Also to be noted is that there were two nominees for the Thirty-Third and Last Degree – Sublime Princes Charles Ricks, 32°, (68) and Russell Johnson, 32°, (46).

 

Order of the Golden Circle – Edna K. Bell Assembly No. 77, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa, an Auxiliary of the United Supreme Council, AASR, NJ, PHA, USA, Inc., was organized July 1982.

 

Throughout its existence, Assembly No.77 membership declined and for 20 years the Assembly was inactive until 2023, when the Deputy for the Orient of Iowa began his quest to reactivate Assembly No. 77; successfully he was. Six Loyal Ladies were reinstated, and nine Sisters were initiated at the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Temple in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Past State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler, Rosie L. Webb, Past Grand Worthy Matron of the Jurisdiction of Kansas in the East.

 

Historical records of the Order of the Golden Circle in the Orient of Iowa show that there was a State Grand Assembly of Iowa, An Auxiliary to the AASR, PHA, NJ, USA, Inc. According to the ‘Proceedings of the Third Annual Communication’ held at the Savery Hotel on October 3 – 4, 1987 in the Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa; with Illustrious Roosevelt Taylor, 33°, serving as State Advisor; and State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler, Loyal Lady Hattie M. Middleton and State Grand Loyal Lady Secretary, Loyal Lady Meredith Burke. The two Assemblies were – Edna K. Bell Assembly No. 77, Valley of Waterloo, and Dorothy B. Bush Assembly No. 82, Valley of Des Moines.

 

The Orient of Iowa celebrated its One Hundred and Fourth Annual Convocation of the Iowa Council of Deliberation on October 12, 2024, at 9:00 am with Sovereign Grand Inspector General Osumana V. Cassell, 33°, as its tenth Deputy at the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Temple, 616 A Avenue Northeast, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402-1016.

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Past and Present Deputies

• S.G.I.G. Dr. Robert S. Taylor, 33°                         1921 – 1968

• S.G.I.G. John C. Buckner, 33°                               1968 – 1980

• S.G.I.G. Lewis A. james, 33°                                  1980 – 1985

• S.G.I.G. Paul L. Wilson, 33°                                   1985 – 1990

• S.G.I.G. Otis J. Dickerson, 33°                              1990 – 1992

• S.G.I.G. H. Robert Wilson, 33°                              1992 – 1997

• S.G.I.G. Donald W. Austin, 33°                              1997 – 2000

• S.G.I.G. H. Robert Wilson, 33°                              2001 – 2007

• S.G.I.G. Owen T. Sloan, 33°                                   2007 – 2021

• S.G.I.G. Osumana V. Cassell, Sr., 33°                   2021 - Present

 

Leadership

• Deputy for the Orient                                           – S.G.I.G. Osumana V. Cassell, 33° (68)

• Assistant to the Deputy for the Orient              – S.G.I.G. Patrick L. Peacock, 33° (68)

 

Iowa Council of Deliberation (IACOD) Grand Officers

• MICIC - S.G.I.G. Osumana V. Cassell, 33°       - Deputy for the Orient of Iowa

• S.G.I.G. Patrick L. Peacock, 33°                         - Assistant to the Deputy of Iowa

• GIG Eugene Taylor, 33°                                       - Ill. Grand 1st Lieutenant Commander

• GIG George T. R. Lane, 33°                                 - Ill. Grand 2nd Lieutenant Commander

• GIG Eddie N. Sauls III, 33°                                  - Ill. Grand Minister of State & Orator

• GIG Sherman L. Isaac, 33°                                  - Ill. Grand Prior

• SP Michael Brown, 32°                                        - Ill. Grand Chancellor

• SP Kenneth F. Reed, 32°                                      - Ill. Grand Secretary & Keeper of Archives

• GIG Larry Mason, 33°                                          - Ill. Grand Recording Secretary

• SP Corey Royster, 32°                                          - Ill. Grand Treasurer

• SP Saveno Seals, 32°                                            - Ill. Grand Hospitaler

• SP Jermain Henderson, 32°                                - Ill. Grand Master of Ceremonies

• GIG Maurice Evans, 33°                                      - Ill. Grand Captain of the Guard

• SP Willie C. Richardson, 32°                               - Ill. Grand Standard Bearer

• SP Lonnie Florence, 32°                                      - Ill. Grand Engineer & Architect

• SP Timothy Plato, 32°                                          - Ill. Grand Sentinel

• GIG Ike Rayford, 33°                                            - Ill. Grand Auditor

 

Valleys

• Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa

• Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa

 

Affiliated Bodies

• Lodges of Perfection – Frederick Douglas

  • Frederick Douglas No. 46, Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa

  • Frederick Douglas No. 68, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa

• Chapters Rose Croix – Joseph H. Shepard

  • Joseph H. Shepard No. 46, Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa

  • Joseph H. Shepard No. 68, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa

• Consistories – William F. Powell and Alexander G. Clark

  • William F. Powell Consistory No. 46, Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa

  • Alexander G. Clark Consistory No. 68, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa

• Order of the Golden Circle Assembly – Edna K. Bell and Dorothy B. Bush

  • Edna K. Bell Assembly No. 77, Valley of Waterloo, Orient of Iowa

  • Dorothy B. Bush Assembly No. 82, Valley of Des Moines, Orient of Iowa (currently inactive)

• Iowa Commanders of the Rite

  • All Members elevated to the Thirty-Third and Last Degree are members.

 

Resources

• Consistory Petition Form (uscnjpha.org/resources)

• Order of the Golden Circle Application Form (uscnjpha.org/resources)

• Training (uscnjpha.org/resources/educationdepartment)