March is upon us, and again we have a full schedule.

But, before we get into that, I need to infonn you that our Grand Master , Most Wor. Bill Morlock is again fighting his personal battle with leukemia. He has returned to Walter Reed Hospital as of February 23 for another round of therapy. We are all very concerned for hint. I have been in contact with several of the District and Grand Lodge Officers and there is a feeling that we should call upon the Grand Architect for His assistance. Accordingly, during the next six weeks, on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, wherever we are, let us pause and say a silent prayer for the speedy and full recovery our Grand Master. So mote it be.

Our celebration of the 262nd anniversary of George Washington's birth on Saturday, February 19 was a great success. The weather was gorgeous; we had extremely good turnout at all four of the events. The Grand Master was with us at all of them, for which we are very grateful. His three-part talk on George Washington was an inspiration to us all. This was his last lodge visit before returning to the hospital, as noted above. I want to thank everyone who participated; all of you helped to make this such a successful day.

As a follow-up from last month, all of you should be aware that I did make it back from Madisonville-Madeira Lodge in Cincinnati without too much contamination with Ohio ritual. My son Frank passed his Master Mason proficiency with flying colors. Also, the brethren there want to return to the Memorial later this year and conduct a degree here. They are still talking about our hospitality we showed them on their two visits last year.

Also, I would like to thank everyone for participating in our Official Visit program. We had eight brethren who made the trip to Wm. L. Elkins Lodge in Philadelphia, where we presented Wor. George E. White, oldest living past master of that lodge with his certificate of Honorary Membership in Alexandria-Washington Lodge. Our support of Rt. Wor. Bob Swiger, our District Deputy Grand Master as he makes his official visits to the lodges in our District has been very successful. At our visit to Andrew Jackson Lodge on February 17, A-W 22 had 16 members present and we took the District 1-A Travelling Gavel home with us. We should all be pleased.

The news about the Grand Master's health makes it difficult to concentrate on our program, but we still have a full schedule to tackle. Take a look at the Trestleboard for March.

We have scheduled Called Communications to confer each of the three degrees. We have three Official Visits, one of which is to Skidrnore Daylight Lodge at 11:00 AM on March 1. Brethren, I realize many of you are unable to make a daytime visit, but a number of you are retired and I call upon you to meet me at Skidmore on March 1. We visit Andrew Jackson Lodge on March 12 in conjunction with the Grand Master's scheduled visit to celebrate Andrew Jackson's birthday. (A Grand Lodge officer will represent the Grand Master.) Dinner and entertainment follow; tickets available from Andrew Jackson Lodge officers for $12.50. We will visit John Blair Lodge in connection with the DDGM's Official Visit on March 16.

Also, of major importance are the two schools on this month's Trestleboard. The regular District 1-A Ritual School is scheduled at Kemper Lodge on March 9. The northern Virginia Area Leadership Conference will be held at Springfield Lodge on Saturday March 12. A11 Master Masons are invited to attend these schools; Lodge officers are required to attend.

At our Stated Communication on March 10, we will have a short business meeting and then will open the Lodge Room for a program on Masonic Charities. We will have two videotape presentations followed by a question and answer session. This is a good time to bring non-Masonic friends and families to visit so that they can better understand what we do for our fellow creatures. Our March 24 Stated will feature a presentation on the "Star & Garter" by Wor. Brooks Dodson; an Official Visit from Seat Pleasant Lodge in Maryland; and Masonic birthdays.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Frank R. Dunaway, Jr.
Worshipful Master

A REMINDER-ABOUT MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIPS. We are pleased to have so many members of our Lodge who hold membership in other Blue Lodges. Occasionally, we are faced with an unpleasant task when one of these "multiple members," who is paid up in our Lodge, neglects to pay his dues in one of his other Lodges -- and that Lodge suspends him. SUSPENSION FROM ONE IS SUSPENSION FROM ALL. The Methodical Digest is very specific. We have no cltoice but to suspend the Brother, and he must be automatically suspended from all appendant bodies.

DUES: It is still early in the year, but dues that haven't been paid have a way of being pushed to the back of one's mind. Then, in December, in the rush of the season, theyare forgotten and an account is delinquent. The Lodge doesn't like to cite brethren for non-payment but when the time comes and the dues aren't paid, that is the only recourse. Please send your dues to the Secretary.

BLOOD PROGRAM NEWS: As the Grand Master is again undergoing therapy, he will need blood platelets. Each of you is urged to consider donating platelets. This is a painless, safe procedure which you can do as often as once every three weeks. (Your body regenerates any platelets donated within 72 hours.) For every donation of platelets that you make, A-W 22 is credited with the equivalent of 10 units of whole blood. Last year , we won the Seymour Jonas Levy award for blood program participation. Let's keep up the good work and win the Levy award in 1994.

By the way, any of you Brethren who live outside the Northern Virginia area can donate blood or platelets and still have your donation credited to our total for the Levy award. When you donate, please tell our Blood Coordinator, Junior Warden, Bro. Mark Underwood; he will enter your donation for credit to the Lodge. LIFE MEMBERSHIP IN PERPETUITY : The LMIP program provides an opportunity to help ensure that our Lodge has a stable income in years to come. The LMIP one-time payment for A-W 22 is 16 times our dues (with some minor deductions) or approximately $550.00. This is a particularly good investment for our younger Masons, as they will never have to pay dues again and they will never face suspension for non-payment of dues. Additionally, your LMIP contribution in effect, endows the Lodge with an annuity of your dues amount forever, even after you are called to the Celestial Lodge.

COMING EVENTS

LADIES NIGHT AT ELKINS LODGE: Date and location for this year's Ladies Night is the Sheraton Hotel in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 16, 1994.

Wor. Tom Miller has arranged for an extra special treat for those who wish to arrive on Friday evening -- a show at Lilly Langtry's Theater at the Sheraton. During the next several weeks, we will be making our plans for this trip. Speak with the Master if you want to participate.

QUADRENNIAL TRIP TO LIBERTY LODGE: The bus has been reserved and the date is set for our trip to Liberty Lodge in Beverly, Massachusetts, September 16, 17, 18, 1994. Put these dates on your calendar. Rt. Wor. Bob Swiger is in charge of arrangements. We want to make this a rousing success. Wor. Tom Ferguson, Master of Liberty Lodge, has said that they are anxiously awaiting our visit. We will be scheduling an information meeting regarding this trip sometime in June or July, adt which time reservations will be taken. In the past, these trips have been sold out early.

ST. JOHN'S DAY CELEBRATION: Alexandria-Washington Lodge will observe Saint John the Baptist's Day on June 24, 1994 at Gadsby's Tavern and Christ Church. This will follow the fonnat of last year , with a Masonic Banquet. The program will be centered on the Holy Saints John. Bro. Mark Underwood, our Senior Warden, is in charge of this event. More about this later.

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