My Brethren:

We begin this month with a Grand Masonic Event, The Official Visit to our District of the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Brother Seymour Jonas Levy. This year, a tiled Lodge meeting will be held beginning at 7:30 PM, on Saturday November 1st, in the Auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

All of the Elected Officers of the Lodges in Districts 1-A, 1-B, and 54 are requested to wear Tuxedos, with the Aprons and Jewels of their offices. This meeting will be presided over and conducted by the District Deputy Grand Masters of the three districts involved.

I would personally appreciate a large attendance from the members of our Lodge to show' our support, not only for our Grand Master but for the District Deputies who have put so much time and effort into planning this meeting. A reception will follow in the dining room of the Memorial with plenty of good food and fellowship for all.

We will reverse our trend of visiting Andrew Jackson Lodge this month and visit them on their first Stated meeting on the 6th, which Wor. Bro. Bill Brown has designated as "Wardens Night". Please try to attend this meeting of our sister Lodge to support Brother Glen Marshall, S. W. who will be presiding on this evening.

At our only Stated meeting this Month, on the l3th, our Brother John A. Bartelt will show a movie of the Masonic Cornerstone laying, which this Lodge took part in, of the then new Interior Department Building in Washington, D.C. in 1936. Worshipful Brother Syd Cross was Master that year and took part in the ceremony with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Our annual Table Lodge will be held on Saturday evening, November l5th, beginning at 6:30 PM in the dining room of the Memorial. Our principal after dinner speaker will be Brother and General Harold K. Johnson, a 33° Scottish Rite Mason, Past President of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and Former Army Chief of Staff. Our dinner will be served by the members of Alexandria-Washington Chapter, International Order of DeMolay. If you have not attended one of our Table Lodges in the past, you have, indeed, missed a festive occasion. No reservations or tickets are necessary for this meeting and I encourage all Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts of our Lodge, and the other Lodges in this area, to attend this meeting. Those who have their own "Cannons" are encouraged to bring them and those who don't know what a "Cannon" is, please come and find out. Introductions will be kept to a bare minimum as usual.

On Wednesday, November 12, at 7:30 PM, the District School of Instruction will be held at Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 219. Work in the Master Masons Degree, 2nd Section will be exemplified and a short Educational program will be presented. These schools are not just for the officers of the Lodges, all Master Masons are encouraged to attend.

John Blair Lodge No. 187 has extended an invitation to the Alexandria area Lodges to visit with them on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 PM. Worshipful Brother Jerry Durapau promises a short meeting with their usual fine refreshments after the meeting.

Our Blood Bank is slow in getting organized and this is in part due to our Lodge having so many of it's members living in other parts of the country. You brethren who do not live near the Lodge and can't participate in the Blood Bank program here in Alexandria can do your Lodge and your Masonic Brethren a great service by contributing blood at any Red Cross Blood Bank near your home and specifying that Alexandria-Washington Lodge be given credit for any blood you contribute.

Responsibility for Lodge Attendance should merit the earnest consideration of every brother. Attendance was the subject of one of the charges of the Medieval Craft in which it was stated that "no Master or Fellow could be absent from the Lodge, especially when warned to appear, without incurring severe censure, unless it appeared to the Master and Wardens that pure necessity hindered him." Our present day system of Freemasonry does not have minimum attendance requirements, nor is there a penalty prescribed for absence. However, every Master Mason has a moral obligation to be loyal to the Lodge which gave him Masonic Light.

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. All Master Masons Are Invited to Attend.

November 12, 1925 - The Lodge voted to spend $2500.00 to pay for the cost of refurbishing and redecorating the Lodge Room.

November 26, 1925 - Wor. Bro. C. Phillip Heishley addressed the Lodge very entertainingly on Thanksgiving Day.

November 11th and 25th, 1875 - The Lodge was opened both nights at 7:30 PM but no business appearing before the Lodge, they were closed in peace and harmony at 7:55 PM.

November 10, 1825 - Rt. Wor. Bro. Samuel B. T. Caldwell, D.D.G.M. of the Grand Lodge of Virginia was officially received by the Lodge. A bill of $5.00 from Bro. P. Throops for framing the Masonic painting of John G. Chapman was ordered to be paid. Bro. John West was examined on the Entered Apprentice degree and then passed to the second degree in Masonry. Bro. William A. Williams dues being paid he withdrew his membership.

November 11, 1825 - Bros. English and West underwent an exam on the second degree and then were raised to the S.D. of Master Mason.

Col. William Payne, of Alexandria, was born about 1725 and was a lineal descendant of. . . William Payne who came from England, Yorkshire County, to Virginia, on the 18th of April, 1619, in the same ship with Sir George Yardley, the first colonial Governor of Virginia.

The following account, often published, appeared in the Alexandria Gazette, August, 25, 1874: "In 1754, when Washington, in command of the Virginia Rangers, was waiting at Alexandria the arrival of Braddock's forces, an exciting election contest occurred between Mr. Fairfax and Mr. (William) Payne for the House of Burgesses. Washington supported Fairfax with much zeal, and high words passing between him and Payne in the market-square at Alexandria, Payne struck Washington a blow which brought him to the earth. The troops rushed from their barracks, and would have made short work of Payne had not Washington pacified them, assuring them that he knew the proper course, to take in the premises. Duels were not then in the ban of public opinion.

All supposed that a fight was imminent. Next morning, however, Washington sent for Payne, and when the latter entered the room he saw on the table, not pistols, but, a decanter of wine and two glasses. "Mr. Payne", said Washington, "to err is human. I was wrong yesterday, but if you have had sufficient satisfaction, let us be friends."

Weems relates that from that day Washington was Payne's idea of true manhood. The magnanimity of Washington will be better appreciated when it is recollected that a that time there was a cloud upon his military prowess, as he had been a few months before compelled by the French to capitulate at Fort Necessity, and had as yet done nothing to redeem his fame."

Col. Payne was admitted a member of this Lodge, February 20, 1784, and was one of Washington's pallbearers. He died subsequent to 1800.

General William H. Payne, of Warrenton, of the late C.S. Army, was a son of the late Arthur A.M. Payne, who was a son of William Payne.