Beginning this month, there will be several visiting Lodges conducting meetings in our Lodge Room on the weekends. This is an excellent opportunity to see the ritual of our sister jurisdictions. Your presence at these meetings would be greatly appreciated.
At our first Stated Communication, we will receive those Brethren celebrating their Masonic Birthdays this month. Also at this meeting, some of our Past Masters will be very busy. At our second Stated Communication, we will open and close Lodge in the Replica Room. After which, we will adjourn to the Lodge Room to view the film "Challenge", which was prepared by the Grand Lodge for its Bicentennial Celebration; and the films of Brother and President Ford when he visited the Memorial. Your ladies and friends are invited to be with us on this occasion.
Andrew Jackson Lodge #120 will be hosting the William Hiram Wood School this year on the evening of April l4th and the morning of April l5th. This school, Brethren, is well worth the small amount of time it takes to attend.
Elsewhere in the Trestleboard, Worshipful Brother Donald M. Robey has prepared a short history of our Lodge's Centennial. We are sure you will find it informative and interesting.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Dennis C. McCraney
Worshipful Master
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 04/03/1978 | 7:30 pm | Called, MM Degree |
| Thu 04/06/1978 | 7:30 pm | Official Visit of DDGM to Andrew Jackson #120 |
| Mon 04/10/1978 | 7:30 pm | Called, EA Degree |
| Thu 04/13/1978 | 7:30 pm | Stated, Business and Birthdays |
| Fri 04/14/1978 | 7:30 pm | Andrew Jackson #120, William Hiram Wood School |
| Sat 04/15/1978 | 9:00 am | Andrew Jackson #120, William Hiram Wood School |
| Sat 04/15/1978 | 7:30 pm | Henry Knox Field Lodge #349, Reception of the Grand Master |
| Mon 04/17/1978 | 7:30 pm | Called, FC Degree |
| Wed 04/19/1978 | 7:00 pm | John Blair #187, Reception of the Grand Master |
| Thu 04/20/1978 | 7:30 pm | Called, MM Degree |
| Thu 04/27/1978 | 7:30 pm | Stated, Charter Night - Open and close in Replica Room - Film following - Ladies and friends invited |
On October l2th, 1882, a committee was appointed, consisting of Wor. Bros. Jno. B. Smooot, W.H. Lambert, A.G. Uhler and J.T. Beckham; and A.W. Armstrong, to consider the propriety of celebrating the Centennial of this Lodge.
On February 22nd, 1883, the Lodge met at its Masonic Temple, the morning of the birthday of its Illustrious Past Master, George Washington, for the purpose of celebrating its one hundredth anniversary.
Bro. L. Marbury presented the Master with a gavel to use upon this occasion, made from a piece of the old oak tree which stood in front of the mansion at Mt. Vernon for 2OO years, and which was blown down last August, during a storm.
The Lodge accompanied by its visiting brethren and under the direction of Bro. Geo. Duffey, of No. l2O, as Marshal, proceeded to Christ Church, where the illustrious Washington delighted to worship, and there listened to an instructive and eloquent address by Rev. Bro. Wm. M. Dame, after which they returned to their Hall, when the Lodge closed to meet again at 7:30 o'clock, p.m.
Wor. Master, Chas. E. Stuart, inspired by his theme delivered a chaste and eloquent address, in part as follows:
"MEMBERS OF THE MASONIC FRATERNITY:
I welcome your presence to this our day of festivity.
Brethren of Andrew Jackson Lodge, who are engaged with us in teaching and practicing the immortal and ennobling doctrines of Masonry in this community, I bid you a hearty welcome here, which the relations of friendship and brotherly love existing between us demand; and to you my brethren of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, I extend my hearty congratulations that though a century has rolled by since the institution of this lodge, years chequerred with peace and war, joy and sorrow, foes without and alas! sometimes foes within; yet faithful to every trust, steadily teaching the great doctrines, faith in God, hope in immortality and charity toward all mankind, the Lodge of our love is to-day celebrating with the respect and approbation of all who know it, its hundredth anniversary.
(Wor. Bro. Stuart then gives an exact and complete account of the history of the Lodge since its beginning, concluding with these words)
.....With such a record, the hundredth anniversary of our Lodge greets us. Drawing courage and strength from its past, let us so demean ourselves that one hundred years hence our children's children may rise up and call us blessed even as we honestly, heartily, and fervently may speak tonight of the fathers who have passed to their last rest."
Upon the completion of Wor. Bro. Stuarts address the Lodge closed and with their visitors repaired to the Braddock House where an elegantly spread banquet table awaited them. There were covers for 150 guests, and at each plate was a novel and beautiful souvenir of the occasion,... a minature Masonic apron in sheepskin, inscribed, "1783, Centennial, 1883, Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, A.F. and A.M., Alexandria, Va.".
D.M.R.