Benefits of Membership General Grand Council Benefits of Membership

Value Added What does General Grand Council do for my Council or Grand Council Every endeavor has the individual Cryptic Mason in mind. Membership more valuable by improving the status of Cryptic Masons in the world.

Cooperation Fostered Over 1,100 Councils, who are members of the General Grand Council. Seek to further the welfare of York Rite Masonry in general and Cryptic Masonry in particular. Encourage cooperation with all branches of the Fraternity.

Low Assessment Fees As of October 1, 2015, Per Capita is $2.00 Programs can only be maintained and supported with the help of all member Councils and Grand Councils. Cost small compared to the advantages and results received from a united membership.

Awards Program General Grand Council Awards Program: The Medal of Honor Mordhurst Medal Grand Recorder for 10 years of service The Columbian Medal One per Region per Triennium Adult Leadership Award for work with Masonic Youth. Cryptic Mason of the Year Award One outstanding Cryptic Mason per year per Grand Council Excluding Dais or Past Grand Officers

Awards Con’t Lady of the Council Jewel The Most Illustrious Grand Masters Award Ronald L. Thomas Ritualist Award

Regional Conferences Seven Conferences in the United States each year Two Conferences in Europe and Latin America in non-Triennial years

CMMRF Charity Cryptic Mason Medical Research Foundation Banner charitable program Extensive research in Vascular Biology and Medicine Endowed chair at Indiana University School of Medicine Saves lives & limbs through innovative procedures To date, over $2.5 million has been donated Consider including this Foundation in your will or bequest

Information The Cryptic Freemason Magazine Published quarterly includes timely Masonic information free on the General Grand Council Website The General Grand Council Website keeps members up-to-date Current information available the Resources and Events links http://www.ggccmi.org/

Unilateral Support The General Grand Council Encourages and supports the Grand Lodges in all jurisdictions Continued cooperation with the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Int’l and the Grand Encampment Knights Templar Membership in General Grand Council, Int., contributes to the growth of the Cryptic Rite and contributes to the growth of Freemasonry worldwide

Resource Materials Provide Educational material Unique to the Cryptic Rite “Center” for collecting outstanding publications Disseminate material that can’t be obtained from other sources Examples provided as pamphlets at Regional Conferences Cryptic Library Library at the General Grand Recorder’s office For list of books available and instructions for borrowing them, contact the General Grand Council office

Life Membership General Grand Council’s Life Membership Pre-paid program Grand Councils receive Per Capita credit after one year. Membership is per Council Most current application is on the Website Applied for individually or collectively as a jurisdiction

College of Preservation The General Grand Council has started a new organization under its auspices called the College Of Preservation.  Consisting of General Grand Officers and select individuals as College Deans.  The College Deans form the core of the selection committee for invited Companions ... by invitation-only organization.  If nominated and accepted for membership, an invitation letter will be sent There are currently 250 members. Companions of the Secret Vault are charged to preserve the degrees of the Council and preserve the General Grand Council with its sacred treasures, ours through Masonic heritage.  The honorarium is deposited in the Corporate Foundation in an effort to build it and delay or eliminate future per capita increases.

Corporate Foundation Presently the Corporate Foundation has accumulated ~$80K Funded by programs and sales 2015 Goal - reach$100K funding Triennial Goal - reach $300K level by August 2017 Your participation and support provides funding Lady of the Council Order of the Secret Vault Jeremy L. Cross Story As It Was in the Beginning Alpha & Omega Coin History of the Cryptic Rite

Emergent Leadership Training Initiated by the Grand Encampment and in conjunction with the General Grand Chapter Sponsors candidates from constituent councils Conducted during Regional Conferences Provides effective organizational management skills Culminates in developing projects

Additional Programs and Goals “The History of the Cryptic Rite”, 1931 A two volume set of the origin of the Cryptic Rite to the year 1931 “The Cryptic History”, 1931 to present. Eighty (80) years of history needs to be compiled and made available in the near future The project Historical Committee is in the formative stages and will be coordinating with constituent Councils and their Historians for data collection The “Jeremy L. Cross” story A Cryptic Prophet of the eighteenth century - a pamphlet has been printed and is available for purchase “As It Was in the Beginning” Compilation of the fifteen original lectures for the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason and available for purchase

Additional Programs and Goals Con’t General Grand Council holds the copyright Super Excellent Master Ritual Cryptic Rite Table Council ritual Exploring future copyrights of other degrees and Masonic material sought for preservation and protection. Support the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Washington, DC. Encourage leadership and administrative candidates for General Grand Council. Encourage jurisdictions to build a Cryptic Marker Generating additional funds through outreach programs to assist in providing updated educational material to the membership One such program is the sale of the Alpha/Omega coins, available for purchase.

George C. Sellar’s Preservation Council No. 1880 Chartered on 30 September 2014 Established for Companions of non-Affiliated Grand Councils Provides a say in the General Grand Council Provides voting rights to qualified Companions To join Be a member of a non-Affiliated Grand Council Submit a petition to affiliate Purchase a Life Membership in General Grand Council for George C. Sellar’s Preservation Council No. 1880.

Service Oriented Service Organization - sovereign unto itself. We cannot demand that any Grand Council surrender their sovereignty to the General Grand Council We can neither tell you what types of programs you must offer to your Grand Council Nor do we dictate customs and usage within our constituent jurisdictions

Constituent Initiative Encouraged Take the initiative Decide for yourself what type of program your Grand Council would benefit from Identify an event or curriculum that you feel would be beneficial to all Grand Councils General Grand Council will assist in designing and implementing the program for your Grand Council The General Grand Council listens to its constituents We encourage constructive recommendations for improvement and conservation of your organization. Please tell us how we can help you by sending your ideas to the General Grand Council office

We hope this information helps to answer the question of “What are the Benefits of General Grand Council membership”

Questions General Grand Officers are accessible and may also be contacted by Email or phone as noted on the GGC-CMI website Rev. E