Johnson receives one of Scottish Rite Freemasonry’s highest honors

TOP PHOTO: Brandon Johnson is the first man from Jacksboro Masonic Lodge to receive the recognition in several decades.  

KNOXVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – The Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Mother Council of the World, has unanimously elected Brandon Tyler Johnson to the rank and dignity of Knight Commander Court of Honour.  This very high honor is in recognition of loyalty and devotion to the fraternity, and only bestowed upon roughly 5% of Scottish Rite Masons in the Southern Jurisdiction.  Johnson is the first man from Jacksboro Masonic Lodge to receive the recognition in several decades.  

“I’m flattered and totally undeserving by the recognition.  Freemasonry has been a huge part of my life since I joined when I was only 18,” said Johnson.

Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternal organization, open to men of any creed, faith or ethnicity, and is dedicated to the ideals of making good men better through the practice of Brotherly Love and Truth.   The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, generally known simply as the Scottish Rite, is branch of Freemasonry dedicated to providing its members with a deeper understanding of the principles of Freemasonry through a series of lessons known as ‘degrees’.   Some of the most influential people in history have belonged to the Masonic Fraternity, including President George Washington, Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Astronaut Buss Aldrin, and Magician Harry Houdini.”

“It’s been a bit of a family tradition to join the lodge.  In 1933, my great-great grandfather, Harvey Byron Wilson (photo above), served as the Master of Jacksboro Masonic Lodge.  In 2021, I was proud to follow in his footsteps to also serve,” said Johnson.

The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, is the governing body of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, founded in 1801 in Charleston South Carolina.  The full and official name of the organization is “The Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General Knights Commander of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America.”  The Southern Jurisdiction is composed of 35 states, known as Orients, and each Orient is divided into branches known as Valleys. 

“In-between my great-great grandfather and myself, several family members decided to join the fraternity, too.  I hope this recognition makes them proud,” added Johnson.

Scottish Rite Masons support numerous charitable endeavors, most notably the RiteCare Speech & Language Clinics which provide treatment to children with speech, language and communication disorders.  There are approximately 240,000 Scottish Rite Masons in the United States.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/30/2023-6AM)