The month of March brought sad times for us.

The loss of our Grand Master, Most Wor. Werner Herman Morlock, on March 5 has left a void. As he would have wished, we will go on -- we are committed to the pursuit of Masonic excellence. We will vigorously pursue his programs and goals, but we will sorely miss him. Most Wor. Thomas Frederick May, our Grand Master , has ordered the Grand Lodge and all subordinate lodges to remain in a state of mourning until the Grand Lodge session in November.

In addition to our Grand Master, we have lost another brother. Bro. Marion Oliver Perry, Jr. , born in 1913 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on May 13, 1948, died on March 15 in Fredericksburg. Our Brethren of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 performed the Masonic Services for us. We are also concerned for the health of our beloved Secretary, Rt. Wor. Godfrey Runaldue, who has been in Alexandria Hospital since February 23. He is recovering from a heart attack and from the reaction which his body had to the dyes and medications used in the angioplasty procedures. We pray for his rapid and complete recovery.

During Bro. Runaldue's convalescence, we are grateful for the help of Wor. Bro. Hugh Smith, who has pitched-in as acting Secretary. Bro. Hugh has taken minutes, reviewed mail, prepared dues cards and done a myriad of other tasks necessary to keep the Lodge running. We thank him. By the way, Brethren, if an answer from our Lodge Office is a little longer in reaching you than usual, please accept our apologies. If you sent in your dues, but haven't yet received your new dues card, please be patient -- we'll get it to you. Bro. Hugh and I are just not as efficient as Bro. Godfrey in these things.

While on the subject of DUES - if you are reading this, and you haven't yet sent your 1994 (or 1993) dues, please do so now, while you are thinking of it. We don't want to cite or suspend brethren for non-payment, but when the end of the year comes and we haven't received your dues, we must follow the Methodical Digest. We have received some good news. It's official! For 1993, Alexandria-Washington Lodge won a James Noah Hillman Memorial Award for sustained superior performance on the part of the Lodge Officers. This is in addition to claiming a 1993 Seymour Jonas Levy Award for Blood Program participation. We congratulate Wor. Bro. Claude Harris, our immediate Past Master for these achievements.

Again this month we have a full calendar .Just look at the Trestleboard. There is no slowdown in degree work. As we must confer two Master Mason degrees, two Entered Apprentice degrees and a Fellowcraft degree in April, we have four Called Communications on the calendar. We will make Official Visits to Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 219 and to A. Douglas Smith Lodge of Research No. 1949. The latter visit will complete Rt. Wor. Bob Swiger's Official Visits as District Deputy Grand Master except for his visit to our own Lodge next September 22.

For our two stated meetings, Rt. Wor. John Price Riddell will put on two very different hats. On April 14, he will be making his Official Visit to the Lodge as District Instructor of Work. Then, on April 28, we will celebrate Charter Night and J ack will share with us some inside lore regarding the relics in our Replica Lodge Room and tell us about some amusing (potentially embarrassing) situations which our brethren faced in getting Alexandria Lodge chartered and in its early operation. Come out an see the Lodge Officers and Heroes of 76 in their colonial uniforms. We will also receive our Birthday Brethren for April.

April also brings us the chore of getting our Federal Income Tax done. But This year, however, there is a cheerful thought about April 15, as it begins the weekend for Ladies Night at William L. Elkins Lodge No. 646. This year, Wor. Thomas J. Miller has planned an exciting, two-night celebration at the Sheraton Hotel in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. On Friday evening, Apri115, we can attend "Lilly Langtry's Dinner Theater." Then, of course, beginning at 2 PM on Saturday, Apri116, the famous Elkins Hospitality Room will be in full swing, with the "646 Club" Banquet and dance to be held Saturday evening. If you wish to participate, contact the Worshipful Master before AprilS, 1994.

The regular District 1-A Ritual School is scheduled at Macon Ware Lodge on April 13. Everyone is invited to attend these schools; officers are required to attend.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Frank R. Dunaway, Jr.
Worshipful Master

REMINDERS

BLOOD PROGRAM NEWS. Our Lodge continues to move steadily toward another Seymour Jonas Levy Award. As I mentioned last month, 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. What is most effective in our program is platelet donations. There are now at least four Brethren who are regularly donating platelets. With their effort, and our other usual participants in the Blood Program, we can look forward to the Levy Award again this year.

QUADRENNIAL TRIP TO LIBERTY LODGE: The bus has been reserved and September 16, 17, 18, 1994 are the dates set for our trip to Liberty Lodge in Beverly, Massachusetts. Mark your calendars and get ready for a great time. Arrangements are under the chairmanship of Rt. Wor. Bob Swiger, who is enthusiastically determined to make this a MEMORABLE JOURNEY. Wor. Tom Ferguson, Master of Liberty Lodge, has said that the Brethren and Ladies there are anxiously awaiting our visit. We will be scheduling an information meeting regarding this trip in June or July, at which time reservations will be taken. In the past, these trips have been sold out early.

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 I even after you are called to the Celestial Lodge.

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 format of last year I with a Masonic Banquet; the subject of the program will be the Holy Saints John. Bro. Mark Underwood, our Senior Warden, is in charge of this event. More about this next month.

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