It is hard to believe how fast the time has passed, but December is here and my watch over the Lodge as Master is about to end. It has been a wonderful year. I am proud of the accomplishments that the Lodge has made this year and I am very pleased with the outcome of all the events in which the Lodge has been involved. As I stated in my remarks during my installation on December 26, 1991, if we were to have a successful year it would be due to good teamwork on the part of all the members of the lodge. I am pleased to report that we have had an excellent team and we have accomplished a lot. There are so many people, who have been involved in the operations of the Lodge, that I want to thank individually, I could not possibly list them all in the space of this bulletin, so please accept my overall "thank you for a job well done" to all who have taken a part in any of the functions of the Lodge during this year.

Having said that, there are several members who I would like to recognize as having performed well above and beyond the call of duty. The first is my Secretary, RW Bro. Godfrey P. Runaldue, who does so much for the Lodge and does the type of work that most members of the Lodge are not even aware of how he is working from them on a "FULL TIME BASIS." Brother Godfrey, thank you for your dedication to the Lodge and for all that you do for us. You are truly a Mason to be emulated.

I also extend a special "Thank you" to Brother Neal McGill, Senior Steward, and to all of the Brethren who have helped in the kitchen this year. Working in the kitchen is not an easy task and you have "put on" some super meals for us; meals that have been fit for a "King" or a "Master Mason." Thank you for your fine efforts.

I also extend a special "Thank You" to Brother George Harrington for all that you are doing for the Lodge. Serving as our representative to the Masonic Benefit Fund, as a Trustee of the Lodge and Secretary of the Trustees Committee, Chairman of the Civic Recognition Committee, Masonic Family Recruiter, these are but a few of the areas you have made a marked contribution to the Lodge and to the Masonic Community in general. I thank you for your laborious and dedicated work and I hope I can assist you in your endeavors in the future.

I also extend a special "Thank you" to the Ladies of the Lodge and to the Brethren who helped me with the several banquets, receptions for the visiting Lodges, and other special events which were held during the year. Also to Wor. Bro. John Ranck for your extensive work and organization in preparation for the visit of Constitutional Lodge. Thank you for a "job well done."

As this is the last Lodge Bulletin I will prepare as Master, I will reminisce a bit and summarize the events of the year which I feel will mark this year as one of the most significant the Lodge has experienced in a long, long time. We started in January with a number of candidates in their various stages of degree work and with a Boy Scout Court of Honor presentation. February was a busy month with the Grand Lodge Session in Richmond, the Grand Master's annual conference held this year here at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, for which we were the host Lodge, and with the George Washington Birthday celebration activities. In March, we continued with the degree work and made an official visit to Washington Lodge #21, in New York City, to attend their 179th Anniversary meeting. It had been 12 years since our last visit. We also joined William L. Elkins Lodge in Philadelphia for their Ladies Night celebration. April was marked by continuing degree work and having a program with the Job's Daughters at our first stated communication and Charter Night in the Replica Lodge Room on our second stated. We were also involved in the Scottish Rite Maundy Thursday Service and Spring Reunion class. May was another busy month with more degree work and the visit of our brothers and their guests from Liberty Lodge. Beverly, Massachusetts, which occurs every 4 years. We raised Brother CC Cook in the Replica Lodge Room during the Liberty Lodge visit. During this month, we also attended the William Hiram Wood school and attended the Grand Master's Area Leadership Conference. In June, we made an official visit to William L. Elkins Lodge in Philadelphia. It had been 11 years since our last visit. We also participated in the Grand Master's visit to Masonic Districts 1-A and 1-B. I am not sure how I worked it in, but I also attended the Shrine Imperial Convention in Orlando Florida for a week. Things slowed a bit in July which gave me time to participate in the annual "Don Robey Fishing Trip" when we took 10 of our DeMolay Brothers on a full day fishing trip on MW Bro. Robey's "Party" boat. We also attended the DeMolay Conclave at Lynchburg College with 4 Masons and 10 DeMolay Brothers along with the Chapter Sweetheart and her parents. August was again a busy month. We continued with the degree work and at our first stated communication we enjoyed a program presented by our DeMolay Chapter. At our second stated, we presented a Builder's Award to the Sheriff of Alexandria for his outstanding service to the community. August was also the month in which we were the Host Lodge for the Scottish Rite Blue Lodge Visitation Program at the Alexandria Scottish Rite Temple. At this event, we raised a Master Mason with the Grand Master and approximately 300 Masons in attendance. September was a month of preparation for October. We also made a trip to the Masonic Home of Virginia and held a very enjoyable picnic with our brother, Phil Persiani, who is a resident there. The month of October was the "HUMP" of the year. We had our Ladies Night celebration at the West End Dinner Theater which was enjoyed by all. The Officers of the Lodge and a number of other members participated in the 200th anniversary celebration and reenactment of the laying of the Cornerstone of the Whitehouse. We received our visitors from Constitutional Lodge, Beverley, England, had a delightful visit and a historic lodge meeting with approximately 170 Masons in attendance. The visit from Constitutional Lodge occurs every 6 years. In addition to all of this, we participate in the fall Scottish Rite Reunion class, named in honor of our Past Master, Illustrious Brother Edward John Gondella. At our Past Masters Night on the second stated communication, we had 24 Past Masters of the Lodge present in addition to a number of other visiting Past Masters. In November, we slowed down a bit, accomplishing the routine business of the Lodge and some additional degree work. December will be noted for our Election and Installation of Officers for 1993 and the Memorial Ceremony of laying the wreath at the tomb of Illustrious Brother George Washington on the anniversary of his death, December 14, 1799. During the year, we made 15 official visits, 10 to Lodges within Masonic Districts 1-A and 1-B, and 5 to other Lodges as far away as New York City. We also raised 8 candidates to the degree of Master Mason.

As I stated before, we have had a very active and enjoyable year and one which I believe has been very successful. I hope that each of you have enjoyed the year as much as I have. I am personally very satisfied with the outcome and I again thank all of you who had a part in making it happen. Time and future historians will be the final judge of the value of this year.

I leave the position of Master with many emotional feelings; pride in the fact that I have done the very best I could in steering the Lodge to make the improvements I felt it could and should make, gratitude to the members of the Lodge for allowing me the privilege of serving as Master of this Great Historical Lodge, appreciation for the officers, brothers, friends, ladies of the Lodge and family members who have worked so hard to make this the successful year it has been, and anxious anticipation to help my successor and the officers of the Lodge to continue to achieve improvements in the future years. I truly hope that harmony, cooperation, and brotherly love will prevail within the Lodge and allow it to achieve the towering height that I know it can achieve, if all work together.

I thank you again for allowing me the privilege of serving as Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 and I look forward with great expectation to whatever the future brings.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Granville C. Canard, Jr.
Worshipful Master

Parting of the Ways: Perhaps you have already been solicited to take what have been called the higher degrees. No doubt you have been confused by what has been alluded to as the two routes. Originally there was but one degree in Freemasonry that of Entered Apprentice, but through a long process of evolution and amplification the essentials of the fraternity are now presented in three degrees called the degrees of the lodge or symbolic masonry. To these degrees have been added those of the York Rite and Scottish Rite. To be eligible to receive the degrees in eith'er system a petitioner must be a Master Mason in good standing in his lodge. The degrees of the York Rite embrace those of the Royal Arch Chapter, four in number, and those of the Commandery of Knights Templar, three in number. The degrees of the Scottish Rite are twenty-nine in number commencing with the fourth degree and extending to the thirty-second. The thirty-third is an honorary degree conferred upon those who by long and arduous service in masonry have attained distinction. Intermediate between the Chapter and Commandery of the York Rite, there are two degrees conferred, a Council of Royal and Select Masters. These degrees while very interesting are not prerequisite to Commandery membership (in Virginia. the Council degrees are included within the Royal Arch Chapter). Doubtless the question has already arisen in your mind as to which route to take. The best advice that can be given you is take them both, that is if you can afford to do so. If you can take only one, then you must be left to decide the matter in accordance with your own tastes. All the so-called higher degrees are beautiful and instructive and carry out through drama and allegory many of the lessons hinted at the lodge. The Mystic Shrine is in no sense a masonic organization. It is merely a playground where masons gather to give vent to good humor and innocent fun.

Having just survived that bizarre and carnival like Presidential Campaign, I thought it timely to close this series of Vignettes with a humorous. but hopefully not too irreverent, peek into the "Campaign of 1789." Oh yes, there must have been a Campaign, but the people who wrote all of those making of the President books explaining the strategy of the candidates never got around to analyzing the election of 1789. Maybe those writers felt that Washington's election was ordained by providence. Surely, Washington's supporters must have done something to get him elected; there had to have been a Campaign, probably conducted by the Mount Vernon Machine. This machine was working diligently even though the General had consistently declared himself a non- candidate. Of course, being a non-candidate was part of his campaign strategy; "avoid being the front runner." Can you imagine, the man with the longest lead in history in the polls (one hundred percent points) playing it safe. He knew that everybody gangs up on the front runner. Just imagine, Jefferson, Monroe, Adams and Madison ganging up on you as a front runner! It's awesome.

The Mount Vernon Machine were brilliant politicians; they even convinced the other candidates to drop out of the race. So, Washington ran unopposed, and was elected unanimously. Sounds sort of like a Communist plot; but, it wasn't, he won that election fair and square.

Brethren,

The following is a list of the Installation Ceremonies for the Lodges located in Districts 1-A and 1-B. There is a correction on Mt. Vernon's ceremony from that listed in the November Bulletin.

December 19, 1792 - The President wrote to the Commissioners of the Federal City (D.C.); "I am very apprehensive, if your next campaign into the Federal City is not marked with vigor, ...lam convinced of the expedience of impor1ing a number of workmen from Europe." (I wonder what Washington would say if he saw the City today?)

+ 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.