GRAND COUNCIL INFORMATION
The Most Puissant Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Connecticut, organized on May 18, 1819, is the oldest Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in the world.
The Grand Council maintains a website on which this Directory and other pertinent information is posted. The address is:https://yorkritect.org/gcrsm
The Annual Assembly of the Grand Council is held on the first Saturday in June in conjunction with the Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. In 2024, it will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 2 at the Courtyard Marriott in Cromwell, CT.
The Annual Returns of each Constituent Council are due to the Grand Recorder by 30 April of each year, with a check payable to Grand Council R&SM of Connecticut and in the amount of $15.00 per capita based on the Council membership on 31 March preceding.
The Grand Council Constitution and Laws permit exemptions from the per capita tax for 50-year members and those in the care of Masonicare. Plural membership is permitted, and plural members are exempt from the Per Capita tax except in their primary Council.
Although the Grand Council of Connecticut does not belong to the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International, it has adopted as its official charity the Cryptic Masons Medical
MASONIC DATES
The calendar commonly used in Christian nations is based on the year in which Jesus Christ was thought to have been born. Years prior to that are styled B.C., “Before Christ”, or sometimes B.C.E., “Before the Common Era”. Subsequent years are called Anno Domine (A.D.) “in the year of the Lord”, or sometimes C.E. “Common Era”. When no calendar is specified, A.D. or C.E. is usually meant.
Ancient Craft Masons commence their era with creation of the world, calling it Anno Lucis (A.L.) “in the year of Light”. Add 4000 years to common time; thus 2020 A.D. becomes 6020 A.L.
Royal Arch Masons date from 530 B.C., the year of the commencement of the second Temple by Zerubbabel: Anno Inventionis (A.I.) “in the year of Discovery”. Add 530 years to common time; thus 2020 becomes 2550 A.I.
Royal and Select Masters date from the year (3000 A.L.) in which the Temple of Solomon was completed: Anno Depositionis (A.Dep.) “in the year of Deposit”. Add 1000 to the Common Era, thus 2020 becomes 3020 A.Dep.
Knights Templar date from the creation of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ in Jerusalem in 1118 A.D. Subtract 1118 from common time; thus 2020 becomes 902 A.O. (Anno Ordinis).