My Brethren:

This will be the last message I have the privilege to write to you as Worshipful Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. That you have allowed me to serve our Lodge this year has been a tremendous honor, and I humbly thank each of you, my Brothers. I have truly enjoyed moving through the Line and serving in each of the respective Officer positions for these past many years.

I am pleased to report to you that the Lodge has had a peaceful and successful year. We have been steady in our advancement of new candidates, and we have regularly exchanged fraternal visits with the other Lodges in our district, around the state, and overseas. We received visitors from seven other countries and had the privilege of sitting in Lodge with these well-traveled Brethren who shared their Masonic insight with us. We had the honor of receiving the Seymour Levy Award for the Lodge's blood donations. Additionally, we are expanding the work we do in the community at large, and we look forward to this continuing in the upcoming years. This exposes Masonry, and our Lodge, to more people who have limited knowledge of us or of Masonic ideals, and will help to build more bridges with those groups and people who have not had the privilege of interacting with us.

At our Stated Communication in December on the 13th, we will hold Officer elections and will entertain Committee and Officer reports. This will be followed by dinner in the West dining room, and we encourage your attendance at this very important meeting.

Our open Installation of Officers will take place on December 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. There will be a practice the preceding evening, December 26, at 7:00 p.m. The Installation will be accompanied by a reception, and we all look forward to welcoming our new Officers for the upcoming year.

My Brethren, I wish you a wonderful upcoming Holiday Season, and I extend my best and most sincere wishes to you and to your families. If there is anything with which I may ever be of assistance to you, now or in the future, always know you may call upon me. Again, I thank you for allowing me to serve Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 during this first year of the new millennium, and I will continue to ask the Supreme Architect of the Universe to watch over you, our Lodge, and our great Fraternity.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Brent Nial Campbell
Worshipful Master

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.

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.

As covered in last month's Historical Note, the Lodge occupied its first permanent home in 1802. In 1871, the Lodge's home, along with the entire Market Building (City Hall), on Royal and Cameron streets, was destroyed by fire. Saved from the fire were most of the Lodge's furniture, all the records, an original portrait of General Washington, the Master's chair which was occupied by Washington in 1788 as presiding officer, and a number of relics and paintings. However, a large portion of the contents of the Lodge's museum was lost or destroyed.

With the small sum of twenty-four hundred dollars in insurance money paid to the Trustees, the Lodge adopted a resolution to rebuild. A committee was appointed with power to devise the ways and means, and to contract for the erection of a building on such plans and in such manner as they should deem best for the interest of the Lodge.

The new and elegant building erected by the Lodge on the site of the old City Hall was an ornament to the city, and a monument of the public spirit and Masonic zeal of its members. It consisted of three stories (including the attic) above the market, and was eighty-four feet from base to the top of the dome. The building contained the usual chambers (anterooms) and banquet halls, and it was flanked on either side by the City Hall of Alexandria. The main hall of the building, which was forty-six by twenty-eight feet, was occupied by the Lodge, with banqueting-hall adjoining (46' x 9'). Anterooms were sixteen by eleven feet and twelve by eleven feet, the height of ceiling was twenty feet, and a geometrical stairway led to the floors above.

Mount Vernon Royal Arch Chapter, No. 14, and the Old Dominion Commandery, No. 11, Knights Templar, occupied the corresponding hall and rooms in the second story. The Grand Master of Masons in Virginia dedicated the new Temple on February 22, 1874.

Compiled from The Lodge of Washington by Wor. F. L. Brockett, 1876, pages 34-36, and Washington, the Man and the Mason by MW Charles H. Callahan, 1913, page 318.