Since the Supreme Council was formed in Charleston on May 31, 1801, we elected to return there in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of that event.  The program began on Sunday afternoon, September 30, 2001, with an ecumenical church service at the newly constructed Convention Center, North Charleston, followed by the public greeting and reception of the Grand Commander for attending Masonic leaders from around the world.  In the late afternoon, a Scottish Rite exhibit formally opened at the Charleston Museum in downtown Charleston, which was followed by a reception in the museum.
     Planning had been in progress for several years for celebration of the 2001 Biennial Meeting of the Supreme Council and the 200th Anniversary of the Supreme Council at the same time in the city of origin, Charleston, South Carolina, from Sunday, September 30 through Wednesday, October 3, 2001.  Since its formal beginning in May 1801, the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Mother Council of the World, has seen the establishment of more than 40 additional regular Supreme Councils located around the world.  A large number of these Supreme Councils were represented in Charleston and joined us in the celebration.  In fact, this was one of the largest gatherings of Masonic dignitaries and leaders ever seen.
     The Supreme Council last met in Charleston in 1924.  Ill:. H. Wallace Reid, 33°, S. G. I. G. in South Carolina, ably assisted by Ill:. Brothers Jesse Branham, Richard Wooden, Charles Frampton, and many other Brethren stepped in to handle the hundreds of details in support of this major meeting.  Ill:. Brother Reid must be given credit as the head lobbyist for promoting Charleston as the site for these events and  never wavered in his enthusiasm for hosting it.