SGIG at age 50 years, 2 months, and 24 days
November 9, 1973 – January 1, 1993
Duration of Supreme Council Tenure: 19 years, 1 month and 21 days
July 27, 1925 – Died April 8, 1998
Life span: 72 years, 8 months, and 11 days
Salesman
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: November 7, 1950, invested by Birmingham Lodge of Perfection, Birmingham; 15°-18°: November 8, 1950, invested by Birmingham Chapter of Rose Croix, Birmingham; 19°-30°: November 8, 1950, invested by Birmingham Council of Kadosh, Birmingham; 31°-32°: November 9, 1950, invested by Birmingham Consistory, Birmingham.
– 32°, KCCH: October 20, 1959; 33°, IGH: elected October 22, 1963; coroneted October 25, 1963; Deputy: November 9, 1973 – October 21, 1975; SGIG: elected October 16, 1975; crowned October 21, 1975; retired January 1, 1993; Emeritus February 5, 1993.
Scottish Rite Bodies created during tenure:
– 1975, October 21 – Dothan Council of Kadosh, Dothan.
– 1975, October 21 – Dothan Consistory, Dothan.
Offices in the Supreme Council:
– Grand Herald: October 25, 1985 – April 21, 1987.
– Grand Sword Bearer: April 21, 1987 – October 22, 1987.
– Grand Standard Bearer: October 22, 1987 – May 9, 1988.
– Second Grand Equerry: May 9, 1988 – July 12, 1988.
– First Grand Equerry: July 12, 1988 – October 18, 1989.
– Grand Minister of State: elected, October 13, 1989, installed, October 18, 1989 – January 1, 1993.
Committees Membership:
– Fraternal Relations: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991.
– Nominations: 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991.
– Rituals and Ceremonial Forms: 1989, 1991.
– Visitation Foreign and Domestic: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981.
Subcommittees Membership:
– Insurance: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991.
Representative:
– Supreme Council for Brazil: 1989, 1991.
– Supreme Council for Greece: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Brother Rogers was raised a Master Mason in Acipco Lodge, No. 855, Birmingham, in 1946, he embraced Freemasonry wholeheartedly, and held important offices in a variety of Masonic organizations. Among them was the Scottish Rite.
Made a Master of Royal Secret in 1950 in the Valley of Birmingham, his outstanding work as a ritualist and promoter of Scottish Rite programs caused him to be elected a KCCH in 1959, coroneted a
33°, IGH in 1963, and crowned Active Member of the Supreme Council in 1975, serving until 1993. Elected Grand Minister of State, he also served as a member on the Ritual Committee.
Illustrious James Richard Rogers, 33°, was devoted to the cause of Masonry. An esteemed advisor to the Supreme Council, he led the Masons of Alabama and guided and nurtured the Scottish Rite’s Childhood Language Disorders Program to establish five clinics. In all his work, he gave his best in service to others and gained the respect and admiration of all his Masonic Brethren.
Bibliography:
– Grand Commander Appoints Deputies. James R. Rogers, 33º. The New Age, February, 1974:35-36.
– Rogers, James R. Masonic Influence Needed in America. The New Age, May, 1975:17-18.
– Inspector Rogers Receives DeMolay’s Highest Honor. The New Age, February, 1979:34-35.
– Ill. Rogers Addresses Huntsville Brethren. The New Age, April, 1979:40.
– Rogers, James R. Washington and Freemasonry. The New Age, February, 1982:14-20.
– Rogers, James R. Albert Pike – The Freemason. The New Age, April, 1986:5-12.
– Honorary Past Grand Master Rogers. The New Age, August, 1986:18-20.
– A Deserving Honor. The New Age, February, 1988:33-34.
– Rogers, James R. Supreme Council of Brazil Celebrates 159th Anniversary. The New Age, October, 1988:20-22.
– Karl F. Reed Appointed Deputy in Alabama. The Scottish Rite Magazine, March, 1993:33.
– In Memoriam. Transactions. 1999:207-208.