It gives me great pleasure to inform you that on March 16. 1991, Most Worshipful William Franklin Perdue. Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, presented a 70-year Veteran's Plaque to our own Brother Walter Glen Bixler during ceremonies held in the Auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The occasion was held on the official visit of the Grand Master to Andrew Jackson Lodge #120 and was witnessed by a group, in excess of 100 Masons. family members and friends. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Brother Bixler on this very special occasion. and I want to publicly thank Worshipful John Hughes, Master of Andrew Jackson Lodge #120 for including this most important event in his program during the Grand Master's visit.

First, several reminders:
-> THE SCOTTISH RITE SPRING REUNION, will be held on Saturday, May 4, 1991, in Richmond, Virginia. The fee is $100.00 for this class only. The deadline for submitting petitions for this class is March 8, 1991. The $100.00 fee must be submitted with the petition. Petitions can be obtained from myself or our Secretary. Don't miss this opportunity to join the Scottish Rite at the reduced rate if you are not now a member.

Brethren, the Southwest Masonic School which for the past 60 plus

years has been held at VPI in Blacksburg, Virginia, will be held this year at Ferrum College located in Rocky Mount, Virginia during the period June 30 through July 3. Reservations must be submitted to the school by June 10, 1991. It is my understanding that the facilities at Ferrum College are much better than those which we have been using at VPI and the cost will be much less. This state level Masonic School is a tremendous opportunity to learn the ritual and prepare yourself to work as a cast member in the degree work and to prepare yourself to go through the line of chairs and become Master of the Lodge. Any member of the Lodge who desires to attend this school is encouraged to do so. If you would like to learn more information about the school, see any of the officers or contact Worshipful Jim Stone, the Southwest Masonic School Coordinator.

My Brethren,
At this writing, the Jones' Point Ceremony has not yet taken place, so I am unable to account the success of the event. I would, though, like to give some further information about the ceremonial equipment used on this most historic occasion. The Masonic implements being used in the ceremony have been loaned by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. They consist of a beautifully hand crafted set of heavily gold plated Wardens' columns, working tools (plumb, square and level), lesser lights (altar candles) and sterling silver vessels which contain the

corn, wine and oil for the consecration. These implements have been used on many historic occasions of the District including the bicentennial ceremonies of Washington's birth in 1932. The beautiful hand tooled trowel was presented to Alexandria Washington Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Michigan on Feb. 22, 1911 and is sterling silver with an inlaid mother of pearl handel. The ceremonial sword used by the Tyler was loaned by the Grand Lodge of Maryland being its "Sword of State." It is a reproduction of the sword carried in the Coronation Ceremonies of Queen Victoria of England, which in-turn was a reproduction of an ancient sword of the Knights Templar found in Jerusalem. In 1892 Thomas J. Shryock, then Grand Master of Masons in Maryland, was on a visit to London. He was shown the Coronation Sword of Queen Victoria, and being much impressed with its beautiful and elaborate design, ordered a reproduction to be made. The sword is gigantic in size, its length over all, when sheathed, is fifty-eight inches. The blade is made of highly polished steel handsomely etched on both sides with exquisite artistic designs. The Hilt is composed of two heavily gold plated pillars of the corinthian order, at the base of which is beautifully embossed the working tools of symbolic masonry. The Handle is of plush velvet, entwined with gold braid and embellished at either end with precious stones.

To continue preparation for next year, and on the assumption that I will be elected as Master of the Lodge for 1992, I again bring to your attention that I am working on the "Master's Plan" for next year and would like to

confirm all nominations, appointments, etc., as soon as possible. I still have a number of committee positions open and I have not made a final decision on the Stewards and Tiler position. If you would like to be considered for the "line" or any of the committee positions,

please let me know so we can meet and talk about it. I have no way of knowing your desires unless you tell me.

Shown below is the "Introduction" page from my partially completed 1992 plan. If you would like to join the team, let me know:

The following Plan is furnished to members of the Lodge to give some ideas on how the Lodge will be organized and function in 1992. A portion of the information in the plan was developed from the Grand Lodge of Texas "Officer's Manual" modified to suit our Lodge and situations in Virginia. I am a strong believer in "team work." I believe that in order for any organization, especially a large one, to be successful in accomplishing it's intended purpose, it must first be properly organized into a well designed and functional team. Each member of the team must be fully aware of what is expected of him toward obtaining the goals and objectives of the organization and must know how to go about accomplishing the tasks that he, as a member of the team, is expected to perform. When each member does his small part in concert with each other member of the team, the overall organization will then accomplish anything it sets out to do. Based on the principles of the team concept, I will organize the Lodge and endeavor to lead it so that, "we CAN DO, all we want, in 1992."

The Committees that I will appoint for Masonic Year 1992 will have from one to as many members as are required to get the job done. While certain committees are required and structured by the By-Laws of the Lodge (such as the Auditing Committee, Archives Committee, etc.), I will designated other specific committees in functional areas to address problems and areas lacking effort which I have observed over the past several years. The instructions and duties listed for each committee are intended NOT ONL Y to be used as a guide for the members of the committee in completing their work, but, also by ALL MEMBERS OF THE LODGE who can assist the designated members of the various committees in accomplishing the overall goals and objectives of the Lodge.

I sincerely hope that this plan will be helpful to all members of the lodge in planning your participation in the Lodge functions for 1992. I am looking for members to serve on the committees and would like to confirm the committee membership as soon as possible. If you are interested in serving on a particular committee, please contact me and let you desires be known.

As "Masonic Education" is the theme I have selected for 1992, it is appropriate that we start now and "Seek What You Always Wanted To Know About Freemasonry But Were Afraid To Ask."

+ Thursday, Apr 4 - Andrew Jackson Lodge # 120 Stated meeting - Official visit of the DDGM.

+ Friday, Apr 5 - Mount Vernon Royal Arch Chapter # 14, stated meeting in North Lodge Room at 7:30pm.

+ Sunday, Apr 7 - Daylight Saving Time starts; set clocks ahead 1 hour.

+ Monday, Apr 8 - Monthly meeting of the KENA Temple Shrine, 7:30pm.

+ Friday, Apr 12 - Scottish Rite stated meeting, in the Alexandria Temple at 7:30pm.

+ Monday, Apr 15 - Federal Income Tax Returns are due.

+ Friday, Apr 19 - Old Dominion Commandery #11, Knights Templar meeting, north Lodge room, 7:30pm.

+ Saturday, April 20 - CALLED MEETING for Alex-Wash Lodge #22. We will raise five (5) Fellow crafts to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. We need the help of every Master Mason available to make this a good degree day. Please contact the Master if you can help out.