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Scottish Rite Masonry started in California October 19, 1908 when Victoria Consistory No. 25 located in the city of Oakland, and Los Angeles Consistory No. 26 located in Los Angeles, received their respective Charters. Nelson Scott served as Commander-in-Chief of Victoria Consistory No. 25, and Benjamin F. Warner served as Commander-in-Chief of Los Angeles Consistory No. 26 under the direction of the United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry Prince Hall Affiliation Southern Jurisdiction Unite States of America. The United Supreme Council Headquartered in Washington, D. C. is the supreme authority of the Rite and has territorial Jurisdiction of the following States and Territories: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Korea, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Republic of Liberia, Hawaiian Islands and the Philippine Islands. After Serving two years as Commander-in-Chief of Los Angeles Consistory No. 26, Benjamin F. Warner was coronated a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty Third Degree and appointed Deputy in 1910. Due to the death of Sovereign Grand Inspector General Warner, Lillard G. Dandridge was Coronated a Sovereign Grand Inspector General in 1927 and appointed Deputy. During the period 1958 to 1961 there were two Council of Deliberations, one in Los Angeles headed by Sovereign Grand Inspector General Lillard G. Dandridge, and one in Oakland headed by Sovereign Grand Inspector General Harvey Chisom. In 1962, a third Council of Deliberation was added to the list and it was located the city of in San Francisco and was headed by Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emmitt L. Draper. To streamline the state and make it more functional, Sovereign Grand Commander John G. Lewis, Jr., in his letter dated October 16, 1967, ordered that the state of California would come under one Deputy and because of the size of the state, the deputy would recommend to the Sovereign Grand Commander, an overseer of the work to assist him supervising and promoting the work of the Rite. (Copy of letter on page 216 of the Grand Lodge History Book) In the same letter, Illustrious Sovereign Grand Inspector General Frank G. Allen was named Deputy of the states of California and Hawaii, and the three Councils were merged into one. Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emmett L. Draper former Deputy of San Francisco was elevated to Illustrious Grand Chancellor of the United Supreme Council. Sovereign Grand Inspector General Harvey Chisom Deputy of Oakland, was named Deputy Emeritus and retained his status of Sovereign Grand Inspector General and an active member of the Supreme Council. Walter C. Taylor was named administrator of the Rite and was elevated to the grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector General. Since October 1967, there has been only three Deputies of California and Hawaii; Frank G. Allen from 1967 to 1976; Robert W. Brown from November 1, 1976 to April 3, 2003; Herby Price, Jr. from April 2003 to present. There has been three Overseer of the Works to assist the Deputy in running the state. Jimmy Miller was appointed to serve under Frank G. Allen from 1967 to 1976. Herby Price, Jr. was appointed to serve under Robert W. Brown from 1983 to April 3, 2003 and Herby Price, Jr. appointed William E. Hendrix in 2004. The Council of Deliberation was named the Robert W. Brown Council of Deliberation, February 27, 2004. Source: History Book of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge State of California, Inc. Past Overseers
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