The October "HUMP" has passed and I can tell you that the Lodge performed in the outstanding manner in which it was expected. In this bulletin, I will report on the highlights of the significant events which occurred in October.

The Tri-Mount Vernon Royal Arch Chapter meeting and the Royal Arch Multi-Jurisdictional Festival were both well attended and a tremendous success. Also the meals served at both of these events by the Martha Washington Chapter #42, Order of the Eastern Star were fantastic. If you did not attend, you not only missed two super meetings, but also two great meals as well. Our thanks go out to the Sisters and Brothers of Martha Washington Chapter #42 for the special services and meals they provided.

Our Ladies Night Celebration at the West End Dinner Theater was also very successful and most enjoyable for the 103 Brethren and Ladies in attendance. I would like to give a special "thank-you for your efforts" to all the Brethren and Ladies who attended, and provided help, at the hospitality suite which was used to welcome our friends from William L. Elkins Lodge. We all had a great time. On Sunday morning, we took our visitors from Elkins Lodge to the Fort Myer Officer's Club for a Champagne Brunch. I can report first hand that this to was very much enjoyed by all.

On October 13th, The officers of the Lodge and several of the Past Masters participated in the Reenactment of the White House Cornerstone Laying Ceremony, held on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 200th anniversary. To be in such a ceremony was a tremendous honor, but, I was further honored by being allowed to carry, in the procession and to placing on the Altar, the "Holy Bible" which was used by Illustrious Brother George Washington when he was sworn in as President of the United States and has been used by five subsequent Presidents in their inaugurations. The Holy Bible, referred to as the Saints John Bible, is maintained by Saints John Lodge No.1, in New York City, and was brought to this special event at the request of the Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia. The Bible was placed on the Altar along with the George Washington Gavel, provided by Potomac Lodge #5, from Washington D.C. and the George Washington Trowel, provided by our Lodge. This was a most special occasion and one that I will remember for a long, long time. The Capstone Production Company captured the entire event on tape and will make the tape available for purchase at $29.95. Get in touch with one of the Officers of the Lodge if you want to order a copy of the tape for your retention.

Also, on the 13th, twenty-six (26) visitors from Constitutional Lodge #294, Beverley, England, arrived to begin their week long visit with our Lodge members. The first event was a reception, at the Holiday Inn, which was enjoyed by all. On Wednesday, we took our English visitors on a tour of the Pentagon and had Lunch served to us in the Executive Dining Room which our visitors enjoyed very much. In the afternoon, I took a group in my van on a sightseeing tour of Skyline Drive. The foliage was at peak color and it was a most enjoyable trip. On Thursday, we made a visit to the British Embassy in the morning and had a Lodge meeting and Festive Board in the evening.

The CALLED COMMUNICATION on the 15th, to receive and honor our visitors from Constitutional Lodge, Beverley, England, was a very special meeting indeed. With approximately 170 Brethren in attendance, we witnessed the exemplification of the Entered Apprentice Degree performed by the English Brethren in the English Emulation Ritual. Other highlights of the meeting included our Secretary, RW Bro. Godfrey Runaldue, receiving Honorary membership in Constitutional Lodge and we received some inspiring comments from our Grand Master, MW Bro. Bob Dean. The meeting was followed by a Festive Board, with a meal suitable for a King. The meal was prepared by our Senior Steward, Bro. Neal McGill, assisted by his wife Penny. It is no easy task to prepare a good meal, let alone one for approximately 250 people. The meal that Neil and Penny prepared made us all proud and I extend my personal thanks as well as the thanks for all members of the Lodge to Neal and Penny for the tremendous amount of effort and hard work they put forth to make this event the tremendous success it was.

Other events in October included the Alexandria Scottish Rite Fall Reunion Class, in honor of our Past Master, Worshipful Edward John Gondella, in which we had six members in the class. Congratulations to our newest Scottish Rite Masons.

Compared to October, November will be a "light month." On November 4, we will make an official visit to Fredericksburg Lodge #4 to celebrate the 237th anniversary of the initiation of George Washington. This will also be the Grand Master's Official Visit to the 8th Masonic District. We will take 25 members to this meeting. The meeting will be preceded by a dinner which requires a reservation if you are planning to attend.

On November 21, we will host the Alexandria-Washington Chapter, Order of DeMolay in the Lodge room for their Installation of Officers Ceremony. This event is just as important to these young men as our installation is to us as Masons and I would ask that if at all possible, please plan to attend this ceremonyand support our DeMolay Chapter.

On November 28, at approximately 1:00pm, we will set up the DeMolay Christmas Tree lot at the Scottish Rite Temple. We need help with the setup and would appreciate it very much if you could give us a hand. For additional details, contact Wor. John Nicholson. Also let him know if you can help.

On December 20th, at 2:00pm, in the Dining room of the GWMNM, I plan to have a "Bring-A-Gift" Christmas Party (mostly for the young children of the Lodge) if there is enough interest. The concept is for all the men to bring a gift for a man and the Ladies to bring a gift for a Lady. The Lodge will provide gifts for the Children, but, I must know how many children are expected to attend. Upon arrival, the gifts are placed under the tree and at the designated time, each person takes a gift from the tree (preferable not your own). If you would like to attend such a Christmas Party, and hopefully bring some children, I need to know it so I can determine how many will attend. Please let me know soonest.

You still have time, before the end of the year, to apply for the "Life Membership in Perpetuity" program. See the previous month's Lodge Bulletin for details and the Secretary for the application form.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Granville C. Canard, Jr.
Worshipful Master

Your Higher Duty: Do not imagine that your full masonic duty ends with attending lodge and paying your dues. There are many little duties imposed upon you as a mason and concerning which you can inform yourself by rehearsing your obligations. But there are other ways that you can distinguish yourself as a mason. It is your fraternal duty to visit the sick. In the early period of the fraternity it was the custom of masons to nurse the sick and masons would take turns in going to the home of an afflicted brother and looking after him. But in this day of hospitals and trained nurses that service is not now required. It is expected, however, that masons will call upon their brethren who are sick and look after their welfare. Do not wait for the Master to call you up and tell you to go and see a sick brother, but whenever you hear of one who is confined to his bed it is your duty to call and see him. Again do not fail to attend the funerals of your deceased brethren. This is a sacred masonic duty and in this busy age masons are too fast forgetting it. If there is a time on earth when a mason's family needs the warmth and sympathy of the fraternity it is in the trying hour when the head of the family has been called to his final rest. It is true that it requires some sacrifice from your business to attend a funeral but there will come a time, and the wisest knows not how soon, when your masonic brethren may be called upon to assemble about your bier. The example you have set in attending masonic funerals will have a strong influence upon others to the end that your own obsequies may not be unattended. To visit the sick and bury the dead are sacred masonic duties. It takes very little time to perform them, but the acts in themselves will distinguish any brother and mark him as a mason in heart and worthy of our highest esteem.

For some years prior to 1840, the by-laws of Alexandria-Washington Lodge provided for the payment of sick benefits to Brethren confined to their homes or hospitals by illness. This provision for paying sick benefits however, turned out to be a grievous mistake. There were many disputes between would be beneficiaries and the Lodge Officers regarding the legitimacy of claims; and there was another pesky little problem - money.

As an illustration of the drawbacks and difficulty in administering such a program, consider this letter to the Master dated July 14, 1847. Brother B.S. King wrote: "I hereby petition the Lodge to pay me the amount due according to the by-laws. I was taken sick in Baltimore and remained there 5 weeks. I only received thirty-six dollars. I've been unable to work at my trade since my return. The only money I have received was for inspecting the steamboat, Joseph Johnson' which was done by a person rowing a boat around the steamboat. I am unable to work, and am in want of the money. I regret that my affliction makes me a burden on the Lodge, and was in hopes that I should be able to go to work long before this, in which event, I should not have called on the Lodge for that which I consider mine."

This sticky matter was promptly referred to "a Committee." We surely hope that the Brethren didn't turn a deaf ear to Brother King's appeal. By the way, the sick benefit system was dropped shortly after this incident.

November 17, 1792 -T he President said to the Commissioners of the Federal City (or territory which it was also referred to at that time,) "I agree with you in opinion that ground in such eligible places as about the Capitol and the President's House, should not be sold in squares, unless there are some great and apparent advantages to be derived from specified buildings, which would have a tendency to promote the advancement of the City." (May I add, I hope Congress considers this when asked to change the Federal City into a State.)

Brethren,

The following is a list of the Installation Ceremonies for the Lodges located in Districts 1-A and 1-B.

+ 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.