My Brethren:

The year is beginning to draw to a close, and yet some of our most important Masonic work still lies before us. The maintenance of the Lodge, and that of the Grand Lodge, is foremost on our minds this month. As our country continues to fight the war against terrorism, and many of our Brethren serve an active role in our ongoing quest, it is our duty to see that the Lodge is maintained both for the men who have not yet had the pleasure of becoming Brothers and for those who live on in the history of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. It is the steady continuity of our Lodge, and those many others around the world, that will serve as the cornerstone of continuing freedom and free-thinking for all mankind, and which helps define us as Masons.

On November 3, we will visit Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 in commemoration of our Illustrious Brother George Washington's being initiated in his mother Lodge in 1752. As a reminder, dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. followed by remarks from the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful James Dean Cole. We will then retire to the Lodge Room for a tiled meeting at 7:30 p.m.

The 223rd Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of Virginia will be held November 9th and 10th at the Richmond Sheraton (formerly the Richmond Hyatt). We have rooms reserved for those who have informed us they will be attending. If you plan to attend the Delegate's Banquet, please contact our Secretary, Most Worshipful Monty Quick, so that he may order banquet tickets for you.

In November, we will have a single Stated Communication by dispensation on Thursday, November 15, which is the third Thursday of the month. At this meeting, we will confer our Community Builder's Award to a member of an organization that does tremendous work for the City of Alexandria, and which we all should applaud. In addition, we will also appoint the audit committee for the year-end reports which will be heard at our December Stated Communication.

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving, and please remember to thank the Supreme Architect of the Universe for all of the blessings that have been bestowed upon us individually, and as a Fraternity.

We look forward to seeing you in Lodge.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Brent Nial Campbell
Worshipful Master

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Dec 13 - Nominations and Election of Lodge Officers
• Dec 27 - Installation of Lodge Officers. George Washington Masonic National Memorial

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.

NOTE: We will have a single Stated Communication on November 15 by Dispensation due to Grand Lodge and Thanksgiving

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 Monday evening at 7:00 pm except Mondays during which Called Communications take place 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.

For nearly twenty years the Lodge had no permanent home and held its meetings in public buildings, as a rule entirely unsuited for such assemblies. These buildings consisted of a series of Alexandria taverns, with the exception of seven years when meetings were held in the Alexandria City Council's chamber.

The erection of a suitable building, to be used exclusively for Lodge purposes, engaged the attention of the Lodge as early as 1785, and in the following year, application was made to the City Council to permit the erection of a Hall over the market building, on Cameron Street. A similar application was made in 1800, and, having met with approval and a sufficient sum raised from the members to warrant the undertaking, a well-arranged Hall, with anterooms, was erected over the market building. The Lodge first occupied the Hall on September 16, 1802. The Hall occupied a space of fifty by twenty-two feet.

It was in this Hall that the Lodge received the distinguished Grand Master, friend and compatriot of Washington, the Honorable James Milnor of Pennsylvania, in 1811, General Lafayette in 1825, and other distinguished visitors in antebellum days.

In 1868, these accommodations were improved by the addition of a banquet hall, making all appointments of the lodge complete and convenient. The Lodge occupied this building until May 19, 1871, nearly seventy years.

Compiled from The Lodge of Washington by Wor. F. L. Brockett, 1876, pages 34-35, and
Washington, the Man and the Mason by MW Charles H. Callahan, 1913, page 303.