My Brethren:

October, in Virginia Freemasonry is the month in which we celebrate the founding of the Grand Lodge of Virginia on October 13, 1778. One of the first acts of the new Grand Lodge was the creation of a Charity Fund for the purpose of assisting brethren and their families who were in need. The practice of Charity as one of the chief Tenets of our Institution has been handed down from generation to generation. It is taught in our degrees and is a primary lesson in our system of philosophy.

On October 9th, Most Worshipful Brother Charles Franklin Shuler, Past Grand Master of Mason's in Virginia will be with us to tell us of the founding of our Grand Lodge in Virginia and to give us some facts concerning the Masonic Home of Virginia. We will hold a Joint Communication on this evening with Andrew Jackson Lodge No.120 in accordance with a proclamation issued by our Grand Master allowing Lodges to meet jointly for this occasion. Those who have contributed $100 or more this year to the Masonic Home Endowment Fund will be presented their certificates of membership in the Grand Masters " 100 Club" on this evening also. If you have not yet sent in your contribution this year for the Masonic Home, please be present at this communication and bring a check made out to "The Masonic Home of Virginia".

Many of the members working in the Lodge today do not remember that the Lodge engaged Most Worshipful Brother William Mosley Brown, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia to write a History of our Lodge. Worshipful Brother Odie Robert Howell Jr. will tell us of this history at our second stated meeting on the 23rd. This work has not been published but I feel that due to our 200th Anniversary coming up in 1983, that perhaps we should be thinking about the possibility of having Brother Brown's Manuscripts edited and published for our Bicentennial celebration of the Lodge. Please be present on this evening to give us your thoughts on this very important item in the History of this Lodge.

Most Worshipful Brother Edward Herman Cann, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia and an Honorary Member of our Lodge will present to the Lodge at our Stated Meeting on the 23rd, one of the original George Washington Medals which were struck when Brother Cann was Grand Master. This Medal will be a very important addition to our collection of Medals and Commemorative Coins of Washington's Life as a Freemason. Our fraternal ties with Fredericksburg Lodge No.4, Washington's Mother Lodge, grow stronger each year and I hope that each of our members will make an extra effort to be present on this evening to greet Brother Cann and the entire Delegation from Fredericksburg Lodge.

On October 1st we will travel to Mt. Vernon Lodge No.219 for our annual visitation to that Lodge with the other Lodges in the Alexandria area. Mt. Vernon Lodge meets in what is known as the "Old Mt. Vernon Fire House" on Fort Hunt Road.

All of the Officers of the Lodge have tickets for our Annual Ladies Night Banquet on Saturday October 11th. If you don't have your tickets yet, please call our Secretary and have him reserve your tickets and you can pay him for them when you arrive. Your Lodge needs your support on this occasion, so please plan to be present with your Lady to enjoy the fine fellowship of this evening and the entertainment in the auditorium after the banquet. The members of William L. Elkins Lodge No.646 and their Ladies from Philadelphia, Pa. will be with us again this year to carryon the Fraternal relations which have existed for many years between our two Lodges.

Please mark your calendar on November 1st to remind you of the Official Visit of Most Worshipful Brother Seymour Jonas Levy, Grand Master of Mason's in Virginia, to Masonic Districts 1A, 1B and 54. This tiled meeting will be held in the auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and will start at 7:30 PM.

Please note the nights in the Trestleboard when degrees are being conferred in our Lodge and try to come out to support your Lodge when new members are being brought into our Fraternity.

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; Robert Lamons, Master Councilor; Brother Angus S. Lamond, Jr. Chapter Dad. Meets in North Room 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 7:30 P.M. Installation of Officers, Saturday, Oct. 4th, 7:30 PM, North Room. All Master Masons Are Invited to Attend.

October 22, 1925 - Wor. Brother A. M. Sherwood, Worshipful Master of Andrew Jackson Lodge No.120 and his Members paid a fraternal visit to the Lodge.

October 14, 1875 - The Committee appointed to prepare a history of the Lodge made the following report, viz; The undersigned appointed a committee to prepare a history of the Lodge respectfully report that the same has been completed and printed and is now presented to the Lodge. The work has been designated "The Lodge of Washington" and with a table of contents and an alphabetical index, contains 220 pages, in addition to steel plate engravings of Washington, Randolph and Brooke, a cut representing the Corner Stone of the U.S. Capitol in 1793, the funeral of Washington in 1799 and Washington's Coat of Arms. In a subsequent report, Past Master Lambert, the Treasurer of the fund will exhibit the cost of publication and monies received for copies sold. Respectfully submitted by Franklin L. Brockett, William H. Lambert, George R. Shinn, George W. Rock, Abram H. Smyth and James S. Douglas, Committee of Alexandria- Washington Lodge No.22, A. F. & A. M.

October 13, 1825 - Mr. John West was Initiated as an Entered Apprentice.

John Roberts, was born in Cecil County, Maryland of Welsh descent. During his long residence of fifty years in Alexandria, he was twice Mayor of the Town. The Holland Loan, by which the building of the Alexandria Canal was undertaken, during his administration, was affected and the canal commenced, by his digging the first spade full of earth. In 1800 he became a member of this Lodge, and was present at the Masonic Banquet given to La Fayette, at Clagett's Hotel on February 2lst, 1825. He died on Dec. 31st, 1852 and was buried with Masonic honors by this Lodge on January 2nd. 1853.

Charles E. Stuart, Jr. P. M., son of Col. C.E. Stuart, born in King George County, Va., May 18th, 1850, graduated in Law at the University of Va. in 1872, elected Judge of the Corporation Court in 1878, member of Legislature in 1880, and made Speaker of the House of Delegates for two consecutive terms, was Master of this Lodge at the celebration of it's Centennial Anniversary and delivered an eloquent address upon that occasion. Married to Ruth Yeatman, died April 15th, 1889, and buried with Masonic Honors.

Laying Cornerstones:
The first corner stone laid by this Lodge was on the 7th day of September, 1785, when the corner-stone of the "Alexandria Academy" was laid with imposing ceremonies. The inscription on the plate deposited upon the stone was as follows:
"The foundation of the Alexandria Academy was laid on the 7th of September, 1785, in the ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America, by Robert Adam, Esq., Master of Lodge No.39, Ancient York Masons, attended by the brethren, and, as a monument of the generosity of the inhabitants, stands dedicated to them and all lovers of literature."