Although April was not a very busy month for the Lodge, we had several memorable activities. Such as the appointment of Wor. Daniel M. Clark, PM and Treasurer of this Lodge, to the office of District Blood Coordinator for Masonic District 1-A, and a well attended Charter Night with several guests including a large group from Wilksburg, NC and Reedville, VA.
Although the last Entered Apprentice Lodge was well attended, I was disappointed at the lack of participation and interest from the Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts of this Lodge and I ask the catechism instructors to impress upon their candidates the importance of being an active member of the Lodge.
I'm pleased to announce that the Lodge is now accepting payments of dues and LMIP through our website. If you haven't paid your dues, now is the time to do it. The credit card authorization is handled through Pay Pal and it can be accessed from our web site by clicking on the "Pay dues online" banner at the bottom of the page. In order to pay your dues you will have to register with Pay Pal. I would like to thank Wor. Jim Stevenson, PM for his many contributions to the realization of this project.
As you know the theme for the year is "Symbols of the Craft" and starting in May at least one Stated Communication will have a topic related to my theme. The first of these programs will be presented on May 13 by Wor. John Shroeder, PM, who will speak on a thought provoking theory on the origins of our Fraternity as presented in the book "Born in Blood".
We will start this month's activities by hosting Fidelity-St. John #3 from Fairfield Connecticut on Saturday, May 1st at 7:00pm. On May 22 and 23, our brethren from Toronto District 2, Canada, will be visiting our Lodge, as more detail becomes available I will announce it. Please come out and help us to greet these visiting Brethren.
The Venerable Master and a few French brethren from our sister Lodge, Alexandria Lodge 876, (consecrated in October of 1994, Charters exchanged in September of 1995) will visit us the week of June 24th.
This lodge is located in Trets, which is in the Provence area of southern France. Please help make these brethren from our sister lodge feel welcome as they join us for the St. John the Baptist Day Celebration!
Tickets for the St. John's Celebration will be available for sale through the Lodge officers, as well as through our Lodge's web site on May 13. A very special program has been prepared for the evening and I encourage everyone to attend.
As announced at the first Stated Communication in April, we will be holding a special election on May 27, to fill the vacancy left in the Archives Committee due to the passing of Brother Sheehan.
As always, I look forward to your support with the activities listed above.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Frank S. Skwirut
Worshipful Master
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 05/01/2004 | 7:00 pm | VISITING LODGE: Fidelity-St. John #3 - Fairfield, Connecticut |
| Tue 05/11/2004 | 7:00 pm | ARCHIVES COMMITTEE MEETING: Officers' Meeting Room |
| Thu 05/13/2004 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: "Born in Blood" Wor. John Shroeder will speak on a thought provoking theory of the origins of our Fraternity as presented in the book "Born in Blood". |
| Thu 05/20/2004 | 7:00 pm | CALLED COMMUNICATION: Fellowcraft Degree |
| Sat 05/22/2004 through Sun 05/23/2004 |
VISITING LODGES: Toronto Masonic District 2, Canada |
|
| Tue 05/25/2004 | 7:00 pm | DISTRICT RITUAL SCHOOL: Henry Knox Field Lodge #349 |
| Thu 05/27/2004 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: Folding of the Flag The Sojourners will present a program on the folding of our flag. The U.S. flag is the only flag in the world that has a folding pattern. Do you know how and why? |
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 the fourth Thursdays of November and December and for the additional Stated Communications for the observance of George Washington's birthday and December 27th for the installation of officers on Saint John the Evangelist Day.
CALLED COMMUNICATIONS - Usually on Mondays as announced herein.
LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL - Will always occur the Sunday before a Monday Called Communication Degree at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise stated. Additional ritual schools will be announced herein when necessary.
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.