Founded on May 31, 1801 in Charleston, the first Supreme Council in history decided, in its meeting of October 10 of the same year, to send to the Symbolic Grand Lodges, Sublime Grand Lodges and Grand Councils spread over the two Hemispheres circular letters explaining the origin and nature of the Sublime Degrees of Masonry and their institution in South Carolina.

Prepared by a committee chaired by Frederick Dalcho, Lieutenant Grand Commander, this Circular was approved by the Supreme Council in December, but was not sent to its recipients until December 4, 1802.

In addition to its historical interest, this document testifies above all to the universalist will of the Rite by being addressed to both hemispheres, that is to say to the whole world, forming the wish, as the Grand Commander, John Mitchell, indicated in his accompanying letter, that the Universal Society of Freemasons, Ancient, Modern and Sublime, should be united both in its ceremonies and in its principles, and that a general mutual recognition should be instituted

(text in French)