My Brethren:
April is always an exciting month for the Lodge. With the promise of Spring, we feel a renewed sense of purpose and of re-focusing on care of the Lodge. This gives us the opportunity to recognize several of the officer line who are continuing to work diligently for all of the brethren of Alexandria-Washington Lodge.
When we began the year, we had a Senior Steward, Tom McMahan, but lacked the involvement of a Junior Steward. However, within a few short weeks of beginning the year, Tom assembled a wonderful Steward's Pool to assist with kitchen duties. He now has several brothers and Entered Apprentices working with him on a regular basis to provide refreshment for the Lodge whenever called upon. Tom and his entire team are doing a wonderful job, and we all need to take the time to congratulate him and the entire Steward's Pool for all that they do to make our fellowship so enjoyable.
Our Junior and Senior Deacons, Allan Anderson and Frank Skwirut, are keeping up with the duties of their respective offices, and make our degree work run very smoothly. Allan stays in touch with Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts as they move through the degrees and their respective catechisms, making sure that they are attended to and assisted in their learning as young brethren must be. Frank is doing a commendable job assembling the casts required for the various degrees, and making sure our respective degree kit is well prepared. In addition, Frank recently took it upon himself to have all of our white aprons cleaned, starched, and pressed. He also collected the aprons and collars used by the officers for Stated Communications and had them individually cleaned and repaired for the Lodge.
In the coming months, I will give you more of the detail of the involvement of more of our officers--men with whom I am proud to serve Alexandria-Washington Lodge.
April promises to be a busy month for the Lodge. At our first Stated Communication, our District Instructor of Work, Matthew Szramoski, will visit us to present a program on The Meaning Beyond The Symbolism. Matthew's programs always provide a refreshing insight, and this talk will certainly continue this tradition. At our second Stated Communication, Right Worshipful John Price Riddell will present a program on Several Unusual Aspects of the Life of George Washington as the centerpiece of our Charter Night celebration, which will be held in the Replica Lodge Room. In addition to this wonderful program, we will also be presenting Fifty-Year Awards--of which we have several.
Please continue participating in the Calling Tree, and we will continue to refine its use for the brethren. If you have any updates regarding telephone numbers, please call either our Junior Warden, Jorge Fernandez, or our Lodge Instructor of Work, Right Worshipful Jack Canard to keep the list updated for us all.
Have a wonderful month, and we all look forward to seeing you in Lodge.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Brent Nial Campbell
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TRANSPORTATION: Contact Wor. Terry Gigure at (703) 360-6177 or (703) 607-4893, whenever you need a ride to Lodge events. We will try to assist you in your transportation needs.
BLOOD: Contact our Chairman, Brother Keith Throckmorton (703) 670-3147 whenever you or someone you encourage gives blood or platelets. What better charity than to give the gift that can save lives.
SICK: Contact our Chairman, Wor. Bro. Frank R. Dunaway (703) 548-0318 regarding any sick and distressed brethren.
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 4/1/01 | 7:00 pm | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Degree and ritual practice |
| Mon 4/2/01 | 7:00 pm | CALLED COMMUNICATION: Entered Apprentice |
| Sun 4/8/01 | 7:00 pm | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Degree and ritual practice |
| Mon 4/9/01 | 7:00 pm | CALLED COMMUNICATION: Fellowcraft |
| Tue 4/10/01 | 7:00 pm | TRUSTEES MEETING: Lodge Anteroom |
| Thu 4/12/01 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: The Meaning Beyond the Symbolism. Spkr: Wor. Matthew Szramoski, District 1A Instructor of Work |
| Sat 4/14/01 | 1:00 pm | VISTING LODGE: Bethlehem Lodge, Lynn MA |
| Sun 4/15/01 | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Cancelled | |
| Mon 4/16/01 | 7:00 pm | ARCHIVES MEETING: Lodge Library |
| Sun 4/22/01 | 7:00 pm | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Degree and ritual practice |
| Mon 4/23/01 | CALLED COMMUNICATION: Cancelled | |
| Tue 4/24/01 thru Thu 4/26/01 |
7:00 pm | William Hiram Wood Ritual School: North Lodge Room |
| Thu 4/26/01 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: Charter Night - Unusual Aspects of the Life of Wor. George Washington Spkr: Rt. Wor. John (Jack) P. Riddell Presentation of 50-Year Masonic Emblem (Masonic Birthdays) |
| Sat 4/28/01 | 1:30 pm | VISTING LODGE: Union Lodge No. 7, Dover DE |
| Sun 4/29/01 | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Cancelled | |
| Mon 4/30/01 | CALLED COMMUNICATION: Cancelled |
STATED COMMUNICATIONS - held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month except: Thanksgiving; the observance of George Washington's Birthday; and the fourth, Thursday of December, which will be held on Saint John's Day, December 27 for the Installation of Officers.
CALLED COMMUNICATIONS - each Monday of each month unless otherwise noted in the trestleboard.
CATECHISM INSTRUCTION - Conducted each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Lodge Room when confirmed by the Catechism Coaches. Contact the Junior Deacon for details.
LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL - Conducted each Sunday evening at 7:00 pm Unless otherwise noted in the Trestleboard.
YOUTH MEETINGS AT GWMNM - Alexandria-Washington Chapter, Order of DeMolay meets the first and third Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in the North Lodge Room; Bethel No. 22. I.O.J.D. meets the first and third Sundays at 6:00 p.m in the North Lodge Room.
On April 28, 1788, the petition of Lodge No. 39 to the Grand Lodge of Virginia for a charter, with Brother George Washington named as Charter Master, was granted by Edmund Randolph, Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Its registry number was changed from No. 39 of Pennsylvania to No. 22 of Virginia.
Know Ye, That we, EDMUND RANDOLPH, Esq., Governor of the Common-wealth aforesaid, and Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Freemasons, within the same, by and with the consent of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, do hereby constitute and appoint our illustrious and well-beloved brother, GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., former General and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the United States of America, and our worthy brethren, Robert McCrea, William Hunter, Jr., and John Allison, Esq., together with all such other brethren as may be admitted to associate with them, to be a just, true, and regular Lodge of Freemasons, by the name, title, and designation of the Alexandria Lodge, No. 22.
George Washington served as Charter Master of Lodge No. 22 until December 20, 1788. The minutes on that same date shows he was unanimously elected to succeed himself for the full term, serving in all about twenty months:
His excellency, General Washington, was unanimously elected Master; Robert McCrea, Senior Warden, William Hunter, Jr., Junior Warden; William Hodgson, Treasurer; Joseph Greenway, Secretary; Dr. Frederick Spanbergen, Senior Deacon; and George Richards, Junior Deacon.
In a few months after this election, General Washington was called from his rural pursuits to install the new government. There is no record of his attendance at any of the meetings of the Lodge during his second term as Master, after the installation 27th of December 1788, when he is noted as present.
Compiled From Washington, the Man and the Mason, by MW Charles H. Callahan, 1913, pp. 286-288.
