ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE #22
MASONIC UPDATE NEWSLETTER
Published for members of the Lodge and for the Masonic Community in general
| Vol 2, No. 9 |
October / November, 1991 |
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FROM THE EAST
By Earl C. Million, WM
Brethren:
I want to thank all who attended our Ladies' Night celebration on October 12th in honor of the Ladies of the Lodge.
We had approximately 100 members and guests attending the dinner which included 25 members and their Ladies from
Wm. Lo Elkins Lodge #646 in Philadelphia. From my discussions with those who attended, I believe that all
enjoyed the evening activities very much, especially the opportunity to share fraternal friendship with our brothers and
their family members from Philadelphia. This is truly a very special event each year and we are looking forward to the return
visit to Philadelphia on March 21, 1992 when we will attend Ladies' Night with Elkins Lodge. I hope many of you brethren will plan to attend.
FROM THE WEST
By: G.C. "Jack" Canard, Jr., SW
Brethren:
The Lodge activity plan for 1992 is shaping into final form and I assure you it will be an exciting year with many activities
and special events available for your participation. if you desire to take a part. Emphasis will be placed on Masonic Education
and we will stress fraternal communications and visitations throughout the Masonic community. I have planned a
minimum of two official visits per month (for those who want to attend) to other Lodges or related Masonic agencies, one
within our Masonic District and one outside the District to
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Lodges in Washington DC, several in Philadelphia, PA, and to other Masonic Districts in Virginia. Once the PROPOSED
PLAN is finalized, which should be by the first week in November, I will ask to have a meeting with all the officers who
will be nominated or appointed for next year, all the committee Chairmen, and any other member of the Lodge who
desires to attend for interest, to discuss the plan and make any necessary changes and/or additions. As I stated back in the
March/April newsletter, I would like the year of 1992 to be a TEAM EFFORT. with input from all who are active and involved in
the Lodge events. I appreciate the input I have received from you to date and I am looking forward to much more in the
future. This meeting will be a good opportunity to express your views. The meeting is now planned for Monday, November
11, 1991, Veterans Day, in the Lodge Room at 7:00pm. If for any reason this date must be changed, I will do my best to get
the word out about the change. I hope to see many of you there.
FROM THE SOUTH
By: Claude H. Harris, Jr., JW
My Brethren:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many officers. members and visitors that attended Wardens Night at
the last stated meeting in September. I am sincerely pleased to know that there were so many positive comments
about the program and Masonic banquet after the meeting. Be assured, my brethren, there are many speakers of high caliber
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and programs of interest that will be instituted within the upcoming years.
One concern of mine, was the fact that the attendance count was 93 with less than 50 brethren that actually signed the register.
This was quite startling to me! Brethren, PLEASE take the time to sign the proper documents as you enter the lodge room, or
your name WILL NOT be attached to the minutes. Remember, those who do not register will lose their personal
and historical association with the meeting. ALWAYS TAKE THE TIME AND SIGN IN!
One of the important features of Wardens Night was the speaker being video-taped. Yes, for those who did not realize it, Rt. Wor.
Hayet was filmed from the balcony of the lodge room. I have already had three requests for a loan of the tape, and have
made a duplicate for those in question. What is your feeling brethren? Is there an interest in having guest speakers filmed for
the members who can not be in attendance, or those who would like to again hear the speech? These VCR tapes could be
placed in our lodge library for those who would like to see the films. Personally, I think it is time that we started competing with
the television, bringing more interest to our members that can not come to lodge.
Again, my thanks to you all for attending.
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WANTED!
By: Claude H. Harris, Jr., Archivist
Various lodge bulletins, photographs, tapes, coins. medals, books, and other related Masonic objects and material.
Our Lodge archives and library is in need of documents related not only to our Lodge and its' Past Masters, but on any Masonic
subject. If anyone has Masonic related matter, your Lodge Archivist would very much appreciate your gift to the Lodge collection.
As donor, you will receive full credit for your gift, which will help to further enrich our library and archives. Remember, no gift is too small.
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THE ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON MASONIC QUESTION BOX
Q. What is the legend concerning the penknife of Washington which is on display in the Replica Lodge Room?
A. George Washington was eleven years old when his father died (1743). Shortly thereafter, the
boy took up his residence at Mount Vernon with his half-brother, Lawrence, and while waiting for
repairs to Mount Vernon House stopped at Belvoir, the home of William Fairfax, an intimate friend and
neighbor, father-in-law of Lawrence. Through the influence of his brother and the Fairfaxes, he
obtained a commission of mkjshipman in the English Navy. All preparations had been made for his
departure, when his mother's message, her final command, forbidding the step, arrived. In obedience
to that command and in deference to her wish, the boy surrendered his commission and returned to
his studies, back to surveying and mathematics. Among the items of his mother's next order to
England, for annual supplies, was one for a good penknife. This she presented to the boy as a reward
for his submission to her will, with the injunction: "Always obey your superiors." He carried the token
with him though life, as a reminder of his mother's command, and to General Knox explained its
significance.
At Valley Forge, when a vacillating and timid Congress failed to provide food and shelter for
his ragged and starving army, in desperation, yielding temporarily to his feelings and sympathy for
his men and in disgust with Congress, he wrote his resignation as Commander-in-Chief, summoned
his staff and notified them of his action. Among the officers present and sitting in council was Knox,
who reminded him of the story of the knife and his mother's injunction, "'Always obey you superiors';
you were commanded to lead this army and no one has ordered you to cease leading it." Washington
paused, then replied "There is something in that. I will think it over." Half an hour later he had torn up
his resignation, determined to fight on to the end.
Thus upon this slender thread, the story of a little knife and a mother's injunction, hung for
one brief moment the future life of a great nation, whose governmental principles have enlightened
and elevated humanity.
It was given to the Lodge in 1812 by Captain George Steptoe Washington, a nephew of the
General, and one of the executor's of his will.(1)
(1) Partly legendary and partly historical, the above serves to illustrate the character of the boy and
the man being beautifully told in Owen Wister's "Seven Ages of Washington."
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Happy is the man whose thoughts will bear
The riding test of the unerring square,
Who through this world unswervingly hath trod,
Steadily advancing towards his Maker and his God.
Seeking by acts of Charity and Love,
To gain admission to that Lodge above;
Knowing that the stone in the rubbish cast
Shall crown our Maker's work at last.
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