On September 11th, my son and I completed the 250 bicycle "Ride to Remember" from New York City to the Pentagon. The pace was quick for those of us who are unaccustomed to such serious cycling, but we made it! Over 200 riders remembered those lost last year, honored those who serve, and raised significant funds to support the mission of INOVA's trauma unit which serves our area. Thanks to all who kept us in thought and prayer.

On October 9th we will journey to Alpha Lodge No. 116 in New Jersey to witness their Past Masters' Night. This is a historic Lodge dating to the post Civil War period. Let me know if you are interested, so that transportation arrangements can be made.

At our first stated communication this month, we will honor our members who have achieved the distinction of 50 years in Masonry. RW Jack Riddell, PDDGM, will officiate. It has taken half a century for these gentlemen to reach this milestone in their Masonic carreers, so honor them with your presence and renew old friendships. Also at this meeting, we will vote on a proposal to raise the initiation fees for our Lodge, and to credit the increase toward Life Membership in Perpetuity (LMIP). This proposal was introduced on September 12th and disseminated electronically with discussion points. It consists of a Bylaws amendment and a Resolution. Article III of the Bylaws would read "The fees for the degrees in this Lodge shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00), payable as follows: two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the Degree of Entered Apprentice, of which one hundred dollars ($100.00 shall accompany the petition; one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the Degree of Fellowcraft; and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the Degree of Master Mason. The fee for affiliation shall be one hundred dollars ($100) for a non Virginia Mason, which amount shall accompany the application for affiliation." The proposed Resolution, titled "Life Membership in Perpetuity," would read "Any Master Mason raised by this Lodge subsequent to the adoption of this resolution, except those raised as courtesies to other Lodges, will receive a $325 credit toward his application for Life Membership in Perpetuity, provided such application is made within 24 months of his Master Mason Degree." These changes are modest when compared to inflation, and they offer new brothers an incentive to become LMIP. Come to Lodge on October 10th ready for discussion.

On Saturday, October 12th, we will visit the Masonic Home in Richmond on Family Day. This is the best time to visit the Home, especially since our Masonic youth are preparing many activities. It is truly a family event, not just a tour and a lecture.

Our annual Ladies' Night will be Saturday, October 19th, at the Memorial. Come to the hospitality suite at the Alexandria Hilton from 1 to 5 PM to greet our guests from William Elkins Lodge, followed by dinner at 6 PM and an organ recital with Dr. Gordon Turk in the Auditorium at 8 PM. If you cannot make the dinner, attend the recital anyway, to hear the great hall sing with world class music!

Our second stated communication is Past Masters' Night, when the officer's chairs will be filled by a team spanning generations. Officers and Past Masters should arrive for a special dinner at 6:30 PM. Refreshments will be served afterward as well.

On Saturday, November 2nd, we will travel to Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 for a joint communication to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Washington's initiation into Masonry. A dinner on Friday the 1st begins the celebration, followed by the joint communication, a Grand Lodge communication, and historical lectures on Saturday. Grand Annual Communication comes the following week, from 6 to 9 November. Contact me as soon as possible if you would like a room reservation.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Worshipful Master

• November 2 (Sat) - JOINT COMMUNICATION: Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4
• November 6-9 (Wed-Sat) - GRAND ANNUAL COMMUNICATION: Richmond

STATED COMMUNICATIONS - The stated communications of this Lodge shall be held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (GWMNM), Alexandria, Virginia on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, except on the fourth Thursday of November and December, on December 27th (the anniversary of Saint John the Evangelist) for installation of officers, at 7:30 pm, and at 4:00 pm on the day observed by governmental regulations or the GWMNM in celebration of George Washington's birthday. When such dates fall on a Sunday, the stated communication shall be held on the Saturday before or the Monday following.

CALLED COMMUNICATIONS - Usually on Mondays as announced herein.

YOUTH MEETINGS AT GWMNM - Alexandria-Washington Chapter, International Order of DeMolay, meets the first and third Sundays at 2 pm in the North Lodge Room. Bethel No. 22, International Order Jobs Daughters, meets the first and third Sundays at 6 pm in the North Lodge Room.

Brothers Raymond and Ian Smout of Cosham Lodge No. 6912, Great Britain, have given our Lodge an original copy of the Saturday, April 29th, 1797 edition of the Columbian Centinel. This newspaper describes itself as "printed and published on Wednesdays and Saturdays, by Benjamin Russell, printer to the United States, for the Northern States - State Street, Boston, Massachusetts." The paper recounts the following exchange of courtesies between Alexandria Lodge No. 22 and brother George Washington.

APRIL 22.

At a meeting of Lodge, No. 22, Ancient York Masons at Alexandria, at which Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON visited, the following address was presented from the Chair: -

MOST RESPECTED BROTHER

THE Ancient York Masons, of Lodge No. 22. unanimously offer you their warmest congratulations on your retirement from your useful labours. Under the supreme architect of the universe, you have been the master workman in erecting the temple of liberty, in the West, on the broad basis of equal rights. In your wise administration of the government of the United States, for the space of eight years, you have kept within the compass of our happy constitution and acted upon the square with foreign nations, and thereby preserved your country in peace, and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your fellow-citizens. And now that you have retired from the labours of public life, to the refreshment of domestic tranquility, they ardently pray that you may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terrestrial Lodge can afford, and finally be removed to a Celestial Lodge, where love, peace and harmony, forever reign, and where Cherubims and Seraphims, shall hail you brother.

By the unanimous desire of Lodge No. 22,

JAMES GILLES, Master.

Gen. G. WASHINGTON

Brothers of the Ancient York Masons of Lodge No. 22.

WHILE my heart acknowledges, with brotherly love, your affectionate congratulations, on my retirement from the arduous toils of past years, my gratitude is no less excited by your kind wishes for my future happiness.

It has pleased the supreme architect of the universe to make me an humble instrument to promote the welfare and happiness of my fellow men, my exertions have been abundantly recompensed by the kind partiality with which they have been received - And the assurance you give me of your belief that I have acted upon the square in my public capacity, will be among my principal enjoyments in this terrestrial lodge.         GO. WASHINGTON.

The toast of Br. WASHINGTON was - The Lodge of Alexandria, and all Masons throughout the world.

Worshipful Claude H. Harris, Jr., former Lodge Archivist, reports that this visit by George Washington is considered his last accepted visit to the lodge. The Master's letter inviting Washington, who had just completed eight years as President, and Washington's letter of acceptance survive today. A full printed account of this visit can be read on pages 172-176 of Washington and his Masonic Compeers by Sidney Hayden Ed. 1866. He also references the Writings of George Washington by Dr. J. C. Fitzpatrick Volume 35 pp. 426-427. The Lodge may have gathered at that time to celebrate the issuance of its Virginia charter nine years earlier. That tradition continues today with Charter Night in the Replica Room every April. Eight years later, Washington's name would be added to the Lodge's to create Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, the 200th anniversary of which will come in 2005.

Worshipful Mark Underwood, Lodge Archivist, will prepare this important relic for display in the glass-top table in our anteroom for a limited time.

PAST MASTERS OF OUR LODGE