My Brethren:

The busiest Month of the year in our Lodge is the month of February! From February 10th. through the 13th, your Officers will attend the Grand Lodge Session at the John Marshall Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.

On George Washington's Birthday, February 17th, we begin our day by laying a wreath on the tomb of our Illustrious Charter Master, at Mt. Vernon, together with the Worshipful Masters of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 and Washington Lodge No. 21

A coffee hour will follow at the Mt. Vernon Inn, to which all members and their wives are most welcome to attend.

At 4:00 PM on the 17th, we will open our Annual Stated meeting to celebrate the 243rd. birthday of the Charter Master of this Lodge, Brother George Washington. Most Worshipful Brother Seymour J. Levy, Grand Master Of Mason's in Virginia, will make his Official Visit to the Lodge on this occasion.

The annual Birthday Banquet will begin at 6:00 PM in the dining room, followed by a program in the auditorium at 7:30 PM, at which time we will welcome Wor. Bro. John L. Crofts, Grand Master of the Supreme Council, International Order of DeMolay. Please see our good Secretary or any of the Officers for tickets to the banquet.

At the Stated meeting on the 13th. I have asked our representative to the Memorial Association, Wor. Bro. 0. Lloyd Onion, to explain to our members the background of the agreement which exists between our Lodge and the Association which owns the magnificent building in which we meet. Please attend this important meeting to more full understand the unique position this Lodge holds by meeting in this National Shrine to the Father of our Country.

At our Stated meeting on the 27th. the Officers who attend the Grand Lodge session will report to the membership on the various business that transpires at this year's session. Our Education Committee will also have a short presentation at this meeting.

I urge all members to attend this necessary communication of this Lodge to stay abreast of the changes in our Masonic Laws and also to learn the latest recommendations of the Committee on Work regarding the Ritual work of our Order.

On the 24th, at 7:30 PM, the District School of Instruction will be held at Kemper Lodge No.64 in Falls Church, Those members who have not attended any of these schools are missing out on a good evening of Masonic Fellowship and Education, and I encourage all members to join with the Officers at these schools each month.

The District Deputy Grand Master for 1975, for Masonic District I-A, will be installed in Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 on the 20th of this month, please support our sister Lodge here in the Memorial by attending this installation ceremony.

Anyone who is interested in traveling to New York City on March 6th. (Thursday) for the 175th. Anniversary Communication of Washington Lodge No.21 should contact our Treasurer, Rt. Wor. Godfrey Runaldue, regarding reservations. We plan to leave early on the morning of the 6th. to attend the meeting that night and stay in a hotel in that area and return home on Friday the 7th. This will be a stag trip. Another trip will be made on May 2nd by bus, to Toledo, Ohio to raise a candidate in Colonial Costume in the Lodge Room of Rubicon Lodge No.237. This is the Lodge which presented to us a complete set of King Solomon's costumes last year. We plan to depart from the Memorial at 11:00 PM on the 2nd (Friday) and travel all night to arrive in Toledo early Saturday Morning. Rubicon Lodge is celebrating their annual "Old-Timers Day" on this date and will also raise a candidate. We plan to stay over Saturday night and return on Sunday. Wor. Bro Edward J. Gondella and Bro Dennis McCraney will be coordinators for this trip. Please contact them about reservations.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Donald M. Robey
Worshipful Master

CANDIDATE INSTRUCTION - Every Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:00 until 9:00 in Alex-Wash Lodge Room.

YOUTH MEETINGS AT GWMNM - Alexandria-Washington Chapter, Order of DeMolay meets in North Room 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 7:30 P.M. All Master Masons Are Invited to Attend.

February 12, 1925 - The Lodge officially received Right Worshipful Brother Percy Esom Clift, District Deputy Grand Master of the First Masonic District and a past Master of this Lodge.

February 23, 1925 - At the George Washington Birthday Celebration, the representative of Liberty Lodge, Beverly, Massachusetts, Worshipful Brother Harland E. Cates was received by the Lodge. The Birthday Banquet was held at Elks Hall and the Honorable A. J. Montague, Congressman from the State of Virginia was the after dinner speaker.

February 4, 1875 - The following amendment to a resolution offered by Brother George R. Hill was adopted vis; That Alexandria-Washington Lodge having received an application from the Ladies of Baltimore thru their representative, Worshipful Brother Barry, for the use of some of the Washington Relics belonging to it, to be used at the Martha Washington Tea Party to be held on February 22, 1875 for the benefit of certain charitable objects, do hereby agree to loan same, to be taken in charge by Brother George R. Hill and by him returned to the Lodge.

February 21, 1825 - The Lodge opened on the Third Degree with the usual ceremony. The Marshals, Brothers James C. Barry and Samuel McLean being admitted, and announced the arrival of our Illustrious Brother, Marie, Paul, Joseph, Rock-Yves, Gilbert de Motier, Marquis de LaFayette, accompanied by Brother LaVasseur at the City Hotel, where they were informed that the Lodge was ready to receive them.

Our Chaplain, the Reverent Brother William Hanley appeared and took his seat.

Our Brother LaFayette and La Vasseur attended by Brothers James Carson, the Worshipful Master of Brooke Lodge; Thomas Sandford, John Roberts, and James Sandersoul, were then introduced by the Marshals.

The Worshipful Master then addressed our Illustrious Brother, expressing the happiness the brethren enjoyed in receiving him among them, to which he replied;

"Worshipful Sir and Brethren of Alexandria - Washington Lodge; I receive with peculiar sensation, this mark of kindness and attention, and these expressions of esteem from my Masonic Brethren, and it is particularly gratifying to my feelings to visit a Lodge over which our lamented, Illustrious Brother Washington presided. I shall ever cherish a high regard for Masonry, and pray you, Worshipful Sir, and the rest of the Brethren, to accept my particular and grateful acknowledgements. "

The Worshipful Master then presented him with his Honorary Membership Diploma which had been conferred on him on the Eleventh of October, 1824.

The Lodge being called from Labour to Refreshment, our Illustrious Brother was severally introduced to the Brethren.

Labour being resumed at the sound of the gavel, the Lodge was formed in procession by the Marshals, at five o'clock, and proceeded to the City Hotel where they partook of an elegant entertainment prepared for the occasion.

At half past eight o'clock the Lodge returned to the Hall in Good Order.

No further business appearing, the Lodge closed in perfect harmony.

Dr. James Gillis, P.M. was born in Scotland, in 1758; was a practicing physician at Alexandria for a number of years. At a Funeral Lodge called on the 16th of December, 1799, to make arrangements for the interment of General Washington, he was present, and on the following Wednesday (18th) attended the funeral as a member of the Lodge. He was buried at Alexandria, August 25, 1807, with the honors of Masonry; aged forty-nine years.