Organization

The Scottish Rite in the United States has two Supreme Councils:  One which governs the Southern Jurisdiction; the other, the Northern Jurisdiction. The Southern Jurisdiction encompasses many territories outside the United States and all but 15 of the Continental United States.  These 15 states are governed by the Northern Jurisdiction.  Each state is designated an "Orient" and is headed by a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or a Deputy of the Supreme Council.  This official's tenure is for an indefinite period.

Operating within an Orient are the bodies that carry out the activities of the Rite in a number of locations. These locations are designated "Valleys", such as "Valley of Baltimore."

The larger valleys have four Bodies, the title of the presiding officer, and the degrees under the auspices of each are:

LODGE OF PERFECTION - Venerable Master
4° - 14°  The Ineffable Degrees

CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX - Wise Master
15° -18°  Historical and Religious Degrees

COUNCIL OF KADOSH - Commander
19° - 30°  Philosophical and Chivalric Degrees

CONSISTORY - Master of Kadosh
31° & 32°  Ceremonial and Official Degrees

The Orient of Maryland consists of five Valleys, each with its own officers.  The Valley of Baltimore and the Valley of Cumberland have all four Bodies. The Valley of Salisbury has three Bodies - a Lodge of Perfection, a Chapter of Rose Croix, and a Council of Kadosh. The Valleys of Frederick and Southern Maryland each have two bodies - a Lodge of Perfection, and a Chapter of Rose Croix. For those Valleys which do not have a Council of Kadosh and/or a Consistory, the membership of these Valleys are members of the Valley of Baltimore's Council of Kadosh and/or Consistory.