Today is the Last Day of the Masonic Year…

…well – sort of.

Tomorrow, 27 December 2009, marks Saint John the Evangelist Day and – for many Grand Jurisdictions – the beginning of a new Masonic Year. Many newly elected and appointed lodge officers – that may have already been through their various installation ceremonies – will officially assume their duties tomorrow.

In South Carolina, there are three different Masonic years that are used. For purposes of lodge leadership, the Masonic year runs from the 27 December to the next 26 December. The calendar for the leadership of the Grand Lodge, however, runs from the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge to the next one ensuring. The Annual Grand Communication commences on the fourth Thursday in April. The third Masonic year used pertains to administration and the Annual Returns. The Grand Secretary and the lodge secretaries are most concerned with this year, which is simply the calendar year that begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December.

A study of other Grand Jurisdictions will show that several other Masonic years are used – one of which revolves around Saint John the Baptist Day on 24 June.