ESTABLISHED 1993

 In August of 1993, the Most Powerful Sovereign Grand Commander of the National Supreme Council A&ASRM. relieved Dr. Elizabeth Moore, National Supreme Council Grand Matron and 17 Grand Matrons from the National Supreme Council which created a split in the organization. The Grand Deputies of these 17 states were told to return to their states and enforce his directive. The Grand Deputies, however, threw their support behind Dr. Moore and the Grand Matrons. This created a problem because the Most Powerful SGC had vowed that if his orders were not followed the Grand Deputies would also be relieved of their states, and he proceeded to do so. Only 2 Grand Deputies were not relieved of their duties, Grand Deputy Clarence Plummer (New York) and Grand Deputy Ronald Warren (New Jersey). This was not because they agreed with the Most Powerful SGC, but because he needed their support. However, they both notified the Most Powerful SGC that they would be sending written notice of their resignations. Now we were all without an organization. But Dr. Moore, like a field general, kept the sisters focused and together.                                                                            

In September of 1993, the brothers and sisters of New York hosted a meeting at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Sisters and brothers from north, south, east and west attended the meetings to express their discontent and to show their support of Dr. Elizabeth Moore. The meeting ended with no statement as to what direction we would follow. During the next few weeks Dr. Moore and Grand Deputy Plummer were bombarded with phone calls about what we should do. Around this time, Sister Lucy Beverly (Associate National Supreme Grand Matron) visited New York on a Baptist convention and took time out to meet with Bro. Plummer over dinner and pleaded with him for the brothers to do something.

Bro. Plummer and Bro. Warren were on the phone with each other every day and late at night trying to come up with a decision about our situation. During one of their conversations, it was decided that we had to have a get-together in January and see what the outcome would be. Two meetings were held prior to January at the home of Grand Matron Sis. Edith D. Warren (New Jersey) to work out the details. In attendance was ILL. Clarence Plummer (NY), ILL. Ronald Warren (NJ), ILL. Roy L. Prince (DC), ILL. Stewart Isles (PA), ILL. Ernest Austin (DC), ILL. Alphonso Cohen (PA), ILL. McCain (DC), Dr. Elizabeth Moore (NY), Sister Edith D. Warren (NJ), Sister Armentres Holness (NY), Sister Lolita Solomon (NY), Sister Katie Byrd (DC), Sister Mattie Williams (DC), and Sister Justine Austin (PA). The foundation was laid. At the second meeting a the Clarion Hotel Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, assignments were issued. Bro. Plummer held New York together, Bro Warren coordinated the other states and meetings, Bro. Prince was the administrator and Bro. Isles handled the constitution and convention sites. Bro. Vernis King and Bro. Franklin Webster (NJ) made the arrangements for our first Mid-Winter Summit to be held at the Clarion Hotel in January 1994. Bro. Stewart Isles chose the name of our organization, and thus was the beginning of the Supreme Council of America.

Our first Mid-Winter Summit was a tremendous success. Everyone was overwhelmed at the turnout. There were representatives from Alabama, Bahamas, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and the District of Columbia. Bro. Roy L. Prince presented the members with the Incorporation papers of the Supreme Council of America A&A.S.R.M. dated December 16, 1993, in Washington, DC. Grand Deputy R.C. Adams (AL) made a motion that Bro. Plummer, Bro. Warren, Bro. Prince and Bro. Isles continue to oversee the rebirth of our organization. The first elected officers of the Supreme Council of America A&A.S.R.M., Inc. were chartered as ILL. Roy L Prince, Sovereign Grand Commander, ILL. Stewart B. Isles, Lt. Sovereign Grand Commander, ILL. Clarence Plummer, Acting Grand Treasurer and Supreme Grand Patron, ILL. Melvin Chapman, Grand Attorney General, ILL. Ronald Warren, Grand Chancellor, ILL. Eugene Jones, Grand secretary General, The original board of Directors were ILL Ernest Austin (DC), ILL. Alphonso Cohen (PA), ILL. Walter Collins (NY), and ILL. Earvin D. Kelly (PA). The original Committee appointed to draft and complete the Constitution of the Supreme Council of America were ILL. Stewart B. Isles, Chairperson, ILL. Samuel Daniels Sr., ILL. Eugene Royal, ILL. John Vanoy and ILL. Harold Rodgers.

Our sisters were incorporated as the Supreme Grand Chapter of America, O.E.S. on March 23, 1994, in Washington, DC. The incorporations of the Supreme Grand Chapter of America were Dr. Elizabeth Moore (NY), Sister Lucy Beverly (ID), Sister Edith D. Warren (NJ), and Sister Juanita Dandridge (DC). The elected chartered officers were Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Supreme Grand Matron, Sister Lucy Beverly, Associate Supreme Grand Matron, Sister Darnette Leak (MI), Supreme Financial Secretary, Sister Edith D. Warren (NJ) Treasurer, and Sister Catherine Jones (OH) Supreme Recorder. The original board of Directors were: Grand Matron Ann S. Reid (NC), Grand Matron Ida Jackson (NY), Grand Matron Bernice Johnson (OH), and Grand Matron Rachel Cowan (VA).

We began planning our first annual convention and looking into convention sites. ILL. Ray L. Hunter and ILL. William Walker (MI) volunteered to finance whatever move we made. New Orleans was available. and became the city for our first convention. With the love and support of our dedicated sisters under the leadership, we filled the hotel.