As we progress into another Masonic year, on this my first opportunity to address the Lodge as the Master, I want to express a number of thoughts and feelings.

First, I thank all of the members of the Lodge for showing their confidence and trust in me by electing me to lead this Lodge as the Master for Masonic Year 5992 (A.D. 1992). While I believe I have achieved many significant accomplishments thus far in my life, I feel that none have, or will, surpass the profound honor and ultimate privilege of being the 135th Master of this prestigious and historic Lodge. I pray that I can live up to your expectations and that I will be able to represent the Lodge in the same fine manner that I am sure Illustrious Brother George Washington did as the first Master of our Lodge. I can only promise that I will do my very very best to accomplish all that is expected of me, and in the manner expected.

We have an excellent group of Officers to manage the Lodge this year and I thank each and every one of you for agreeing to assist me in this monumental endeavor. As I have stated on several occasions, it is my philosophy that in order to run a large organization well, it must be done by a "team effort" on the part of all of the officers designated with responsibility, each accomplishing their small share of the work load. I know I have selected such a team, and that each officer will serve in a manner which will accord harmony in the Lodge, honor to the fraternity, and promote the highest possible degree of dignity and decorum for the Lodge. I promise you, we can look forward to an excellent and exciting year.

It will be a busy year. I have scheduled a large number of visits to other lodges which I feel is a very important part of Masonry. The only way one can continue to grow, in both actions and knowledge, is to get out and meet new people and share new ideas and interests. It is also the best way to learn about what is going on outside your own isolated environment. I invite all of the brethren of the lodge, especially those who reside in the local area, to join me on these visits. I will even provide transportation assistance where it is needed and where it is practical to do so. If you need transportation assistance, please contact me and let me know.

In my endeavors to get a Tiler for this year, I found that most brothers that I talked to about taking the position, felt that the tilers job is too much work and responsibility for the amount of compensation that is provided for the service. The Tiler is responsible to attend all meetings, both called and stated, as well as funeral services, and is responsible to set up the lodge room at the beginning of each meeting and secure the property after the lodge closes. The Tiler also maintains the property throughout the year. I agree that it is a lot of work for the current amount of compensation. Accordingly, I proposed the following By-Law Article change at our Stated Communication on December 12, 1991. The proposed change will come up for action at our Stated Communication on January 9, 1992. I ask for your support in voting for this change:

The Tiler, or Acting Tiler, shall receive a compensation of Ten dollars ($10.00) [change to: Fifteen dollars ($15.00)] for each communication he attends in that capacity.

The George Washington Birthday Celebration activities will take place on February 22, 1992. On this day, we will lay a wreath at Mount Vernon, have a reception at Collingwood, receive the Grand Master in Lodge for his first official Lodge visit after being installed as Grand Master, have a banquet in the dining room, and entertainment by "The Singing Cedars" in the auditorium. Attendance at the banquet will be by reservation only, and your Ladies are invited to attend. I will ask for a donation of $12.00 per person to attend the banquet. We will be limited to 150 seats for diner. If you would like to attend the banquet, please send your donation check payable to Alexandria-Washington Lodge, to me at my address as shown on page 8 and I will return your tickets to you either by mail or by giving them to you at Lodge. Except for the special invited guests, tickets will be provk!ed on a "first come, first serve basis," so send for your tickets early.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Granville C. Canard, Jr.
Worshipful Master

January 15, 1792 - Grand Lodge was supposed to meet on the 2nd of January, but, due to deep snow it was postponed until the 15th. Due to the limited attendance, there was very little accomplished. According to the proceedings, at least 50% of those who had planned to attend were unable to make the change in date.

January 19, 1792 - The Grand Treasurer's accounts were examined and approved by the trustees, newly formed at special session, when there appeared a balance of thirty four pounds, seven pence, and half penny, in the hands of Brother James Lyle.

At the Outset: Well, my dear brother, you are a Freemason at last. You have been presented with the lambskin apron; you have penetrated the mystic chamber of King Solomon's Temple; you have found the meaning of the sprig of Acacia. When you signed the by-laws of the lodge you sealed your allegiance with the greatest fraternity the world has ever known. The particular reason which caused you to seek admission into this ancient and honorable society is known only to yourself. It may have been curiosity. If so, you are doubtlessly satisfied. It may have been social aspirations. If so, the opportunity is offered you to associate with some very excellent men whose friendship are well worth cultivating, and who will be of material assistance to you in your own personal development. It may have been for business reasons. If so, you will be disappointed for masonry promises no pecuniary return. It may be that you wanted to join some secret society. If so, you have selected the oldest and best. It may have been that your father was a mason and expressed the wish that you should follow his example. If so, a high compliment has been paid to the society of which you are now a part. If you knew something of the character of masonry, and sought to unite with it that you might participate in its good work, and be of some service to your fellow man, then your ambition has been a laudable one and a great opportunity is offered you to make yourself useful. This fact remains true, you are now a member of the fraternity, with certain duties and prerogatives. The vital question is, will masonry be worth anything to you. and will you be worth anything to the fraternity. The answer is --- yourself.

In 1782, a group of prominent Alexandria residents, namely Robert Adams, Michael Ryan, William Hunter, Jr., John Allison, Peter Dow, and Dr Elisha Cullen Dick, all members of the Masonic fraternity, took the first step to organize a Masonic Lodge in Alexandria, Virginia. An application for a warrant necessary to establish a regular lodge would customarily have been presented to the Grand Lodge of Virginia. But due to some critical business incident to the closing of the Revolutionary War and the fact that they were relocating from Williamsburg to Richmond, the Grand Lodge of Virginia held no meetings from 1781 through 1783. These determined Alexandria Masons decided, therefore, to present their petition for a warrant to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

It Is presumed that the petition had been carried to Philadelphia in person by Robert Adams, who was to be the Master of this proposed new lodge. Doubtless, Brother Adams was examined as to his Masonic proficiency, and much to hls surprise and probable disappointment, it was determined that he did not possess a knowledge of 'Ancient Masonry,' and was discredited as a clandestine or irregular Mason. This awkward and embarrassing situation was rectified several days later, after Brother Adams had been initiated, passed and raised (Pennsylvania style of course) in Philadelphia Lodge No. 2. Thus, Brother Adams was considered 'healed,' and on February 3, 1783, a Warrant was issued and presented to him to had a Lodge in the borough of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia. This new Lodge was designated Pennsylvania Lodge No. 39; its motto, inscribed on the original seal of the Lodge, were the latln words: Virtute, Amore, Silentia - "Through Virtue, Love and Silence."

+ LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL - conducted every Sunday at 7:00pm unless otherwise noted in the Trestleboard. This school will cover work in all degrees and in catechisms. The school is for all members of the Masonic Community and ALL are invited and encouraged to attend.

+ OFFICER PLANNING MEETINGS - conducted in conjunction with the Sunday Night Ritual School.

+ MASONIC BIRTHDAYS - recognized on second stated unless otherwise noted.

+ STATED COMMUNICATIONS - second and fourth Thursday except Thanksgiving; Observance of George Washington's Birthday and Installation on Saint John Day, December 27th.

+ OTHER MEETINGS AT GWMNM - Alexandria-Washington Chapter, Order of DeMolay meets the first and third Monday at 7:00pm in the North Lodge Room; Bethel No. 22, I.O.J.D. meets the first and third Wednesday at 7:00pm in the North Lodge Room.