It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve the Lodge this year. I would like to thank the Officers and members for their participation and hard work in the various lodge activities here and abroad throughout the year. I would also like to thank the members of the weekly study group for the many interesting and enlightening presentations and discussions we shared this past year.

Tuesday, December 26th we will welcome six of our Brethren from Alexandria Lodge No. 876, Provence, France. They are joining us for the installation of Brother Mark Underwood as Master and the other Officers on December 27th. I know Mark has an absolutely outstanding year planned and I wish him success and happiness.

"If thou findest in human life anything better than justice, truth, temperance, fortitude, turn to it with all thy soul. Never value anything as profitable to thyself which shall compel thee to break thy promise, to lose thy self-respect, to hate any man, to suspect, to curse, to act the hypocrite..." * These words were written between A.D. 171 and A.D. 174 and are as valid today as the day they were written by the only Philosopher-King the world has ever known, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (AD 121 - A.D. 180). He was Emperor of the Roman Empire from AD. 161 until his death in A.D. 180. His philosophy, his thoughts and indeed

his life are an inspiration and a model for all of us.

These are the same values we are taught in Freemasonry. If we live by the teachings of the Craft we too will live honorable and just lives and have a positive effect on our world.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

George D. Seghers
Worshipful Master

* The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Proposed Amendment to Change Article III of the By-Laws of Alexandria-WashingtonLodge No. 22 A.F. & A.M., Alexandria, Virginia.

To be read at the Stated Communication of this Lodge held on December 14, 1995 and voted on at the Stated Communication of this Lodge held on January 11, 1996.

The current wording of Article III is as follows:

Article III

The fees for the degrees in this Lodge shall be one hundred fifty-five dollars ($155.00) payable as follows: One hundred dollars ($100.00) for the degree of Entered Apprentice of which seventy-five dollars ($75.00) shall accompany the petition; Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the degree of Fellowcraft; and thirty dollars ($30.00) for the degree of Master Mason. The fee for affiliation for a Non-Virginia Mason shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which amount shall accompany the application for affiliation.

Proposed wording of Article III is as follows:

Article III

The fees for the degrees in this Lodge shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) payable as follows: One hundred dollars ($100.00) for the degree of Entered Apprentice which shall accompany the petition. Seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the degree of Fellowcraft; and seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the degree of Master Mason. The fee for affiliation for a Non-Virginia Mason shall be seventy-five ($75.00) which amount shall accompany the application for affiliation.

The reason for the requested change in Article III of the lodge by-laws is the increase in Grand Lodge assessment for degree fees and the increased cost in Aprons, Bibles, Certificates, Booklets, etc.

George D. Seghers
Worshipful Master

Lodge Discussion Group - meets each Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Lodge Office, all Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Masons are invited and welcome.

Lodge Ritual School - Conducted each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted in the Trestleboard