My Brethren:

On our first Stated Communication this month on the 10th it will be our privilege to officially receive Right Worshipful Brother Lester Herman Conway, the District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 1-A. I sincerely hope that there will be a large number of our brethren in attendance on this night to show our support for the program outlined for this year by our Grand Master. Brother Conway is well known among the members of our Lodge as a Past Master of our Sister Lodge here in the Memorial, Andrew Jackson No. 120.

The second Stated this month on the 24th is the 187th Anniversary of our Charter being granted by the Grand Lodge of Virginia. We will open the meeting in the "Replica Lodge Room" as per our usual custom on this occasion and then adjourn to our Lodge Room for the program of the evening. Worshipful Brother William Adrian Brown, the Worshipful Master of Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 and the Custodian of the "Replica Lodge Room" will have some interesting information for us on some research which he has done on the man whom many consider was the most important person in George Washington's life. I told Brother Bill that I wouldn't tell anymore than that about his program, so please come out to this anniversary meeting and bring a brother Mason with you to join in opening our Lodge in this historic setting provided by the many Relics of the Lodge on display in the "Replica Lodge Room".

Please note in the Trestleboard the called meetings of this Lodge for degree work.

I want to thank all those who have been attending and taking part in the degree work of our Lodge. I know that our candidates get more out of the work when they see that most of the chairs along the sidelines are full as they receive their degrees or stand their proficiency in the catechisms.

I call your attention to the list of Lodges which are visiting our Lodge Room from other jurisdictions, and encourage our Brethren to attend these meetings to meet and greet these Brethren from other parts of the Country as they visit our fair city and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

We will be the host Lodge this year for the William Hiram Wood area school of instruction which begins on Monday, April 28th and continues for four nights thru May the 1st. Our Grand Lecturer, Right Worshipful Brother Reid James Simmons, will be in attendance along with Worshipful Brother R. J. "Dick" Matthews, the District Instructor of Work in Masonic District I-B to conduct the Exemplification of all the work on these nights. Instruction in the Lectures of the Three degrees and work on Certificates of Qualification will also be offered at this School.

I again remind the Brethren of our planned trip to Toledo, Ohio on May 2nd. We still need more Brethren to fill the bus for this trip. The cost is only $40.00 for this trip which includes the cost of the bus and the Hotel accommodations. Please contact Wor. Brother Ed Gondella or Brother Dennis McCraney to add your name to the list of those who will make this trip. We will take Colonial Costumes to perform our degree work and I feel that this trip will be the fun activity of this year.

I want to thank Right Worshipful Brother Godfrey Runaldue for handling the arrangements for the trip which we took last month to be with Washington Lodge No.21 in New York City for their 175th Anniversary. The Fellowship, Food and Fun which was enjoyed by all who made this trip will long be remembered.

Becoming a Master Mason gives each man the right to travel in "foreign countries in Freemasonry. He has but to learn its work and keep himself in good standing to find the doors of hundreds of Lodges open to him. He will also find much pleasant traveling to be done in the writings of Freemasonry. These cover the fields of History and Philosophy and branch into numerous other areas leading to countless treasures which each must discover for himself. These are the rewards of the Mason who "Travels in foreign countries".

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 - Saturday, April 12, 7:30 PM - Installation of Officers in the North Room, G. W. M. N. M. Kirk Kordeleski, Master Councilor - Robert Lamons, Master Councilor, Elect. Meets in the North Room, 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 7:30 PM. All Master Masons Are Invited to Attend

April 9, 1925 - The Lodge officially received Right Worshipful Brother Percy Esom Clift, D. D. G. M. of Masonic District No. One.

Brother Robert South Barrett gave an interesting talk on his recent trip to Jerusalem and King Solomon's Quarries under the city. At the conclusion of his address he presented to the Lodge a gavel which he had made in Jerusalem. Brother Ashton made a motion that the gavel be used on the evening of Saint Johns night on December 27th each year by the Master of the Lodge and the motion was carried.

April 23, 1925 - Brother Roy M. Reeve was requested to make a series of photographs of Most Worshipful Brother Charles H. Callahan to be sent to Brother Bryan Baker of Constitutional Lodge No.294 in England for a bust to be made of Brother Callahan for the Lodge.

Apri18, 1875 - Worshipful Brother Franklin L. Brockett, Chairman of the Committee on Lodge History, gave an interesting account of the committee proceedings in reference to an early publication of the History of the Lodge.

Brother Kosciusko Kemper was examined on the Entered Apprentice degree and Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft.

April 22, 1875 - Brother J. W. Rock presented to the Lodge an interesting relic, a Ball ticket of Alexandria- Washington Lodge signed by the Brethren of the Lodge and dated March 1825.

On a motion, Brother H. K. Bradshaw was appointed to put in order and have hung in position the pictures belonging to the Lodge.

April 14, 1825 - Brother Galvon, Leopoldo and Newton withdrew their membership and Brother Samuel Thomson did the same.

April 26, 1825 - No business was conducted and the Lodge closed in perfect peace and harmony.

Note: In this era of the Lodge the city was a thriving seaport and many men such as Brother Galvon, Leopoldo and Newton were given their degrees in the Lodge and then withdrew their memberships. Although the minutes do not state so, these men must have been men of the ships that traded at Alexandria.

Francis Lightfoot Lee, was born June 18, 1782; was a lawyer by profession. Died April 13, 1850, in the 68th year of his age. His father, Richard Henry Lee, and uncle Francis Lightfoot Lee, were signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a Grandson of Thomas Lee, of Stratford, (the birthplace of General Robert E. Lee, CSA, of whom he was a cousin), Westmoreland County, Va. and the father of Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy.

Samuel King Shay, was born in Accomac County, Va., in 1801; married Jane, Daughter of Capt. David Black. During the administration of President Buchanan, he was the Surveyor of the Port of Alexandria; was Colonel of the 175th Regiment, Virginia Militia. He was a prominent Mason, and was the founder and first Master of Andrew Jackson Lodge, No. 120 of this city. Died January 8, 1874, aged 73 years, leaving three children, two of whom are married.

J. Robert Alexander, was born in 1833, and died February 26, 1872. His remains were interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery, near Alexandria, on the 28th, with Masonic Ceremonies, the Knights Templar forming the escort.