I regret that I begin on a sad note by reporting the departure to the Celestial Lodge of our beloved Brother, Right Worshipful Willard Dean Flockart, an Honorary Member of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. Willard was a great Mason and strong supporter of our Lodge. Please remember him in your prayers.
February has been a full and interesting month for our Lodge. We conferred a Fellowcraft Degree on a candidate at our first Stated Communication. Feedback from the Brethren was that they really enjoyed the chance to see degree ritual. So, I plan to confer the other degrees at two upcoming Stateds, one of which will be this month.
As I am writing this, we are in a full court press getting ready for one of our big events of the year - the George Washington Birthday Celebration and reception of the Grand Master. I hope the weather will cooperate, and that we will all be able to look back on an enjoyable occasion.
We have interesting programs for both of our Stated Communications this month. On March 10 we will confer the Entered Apprentice Degree on a candidate. We will also consider the recommendation of Henry Knox Field Lodge No. 349 for Wor. Bro. Carl Raymond Gagliardi for 2006 District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 1A, and for Wor. Bro. Michael Robert Aulicino as Alternate.
At the Stated Communication on March 24 we will hear from our Lodge's financial advisor, Brother John Ulshafer, regarding planning for college expenses. Also, in keeping with the Grand Master's Executive Order, we will renew our Master Mason Obligation. I hope that those of you who witnessed this ritual last year will agree that it is a very moving experience and one that helps remind us all of who we are as Master Masons.
Please take special note of the Called Communication on the 21st. We will confer the Master Mason Degree that night in full costume. I believe it has been some time since we have done this, and hope you will enjoy seeing this rich and impressive ritual.
Our final activity for the month is the District Ritual School on the 28th. We will be responsible for the Junior Warden, Senior Deacon, Tiler, and Candidate. These sessions are open to all Lodge members, and I encourage you to attend. It is fun and very educational.
Hope to see you in Lodge this month!
Sincerely and fraternally,
Jesse T. McMahan
Worshipful Master
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 03/06/2005 | 7:00 pm | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Refresher practice for EA and FC Degrees |
| Mon 03/07/2005 | 7:00 pm | CALLED COMMUNICATION: FC Degree |
| Thu 03/10/2005 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: Conferral of Entered Apprentice Degree Consideration of Recommendation for DDGM For 2006 |
| Sat 03/12/2004 | 2:00 pm | GRAND LODGE AREA EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Scottish Rite Temple |
| Sun 03/20/2005 | 7:00 pm | LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL: Practice for MM Degree |
| Mon 03/21/2005 | 7:00 pm | CALLED COMMUNICATION: MM Degree |
| Thu 03/24/2005 | 7:30 pm | STATED COMMUNICATION: Bro. John Ulshafer: Financial Planning Considerations for College Masonic Birthdays Renewal of Master Mason Obligation |
| Mon 03/28/2005 | 7:00 pm | DISTRICT RITUAL SCHOOL: ANDREW JACKSON NO. 120 MM Degree, First Section |
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, June 24th for Saint John the Baptist Day 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 2:00 pm in the North Lodge Room. Bethel No. 22, International Order Jobs Daughters, meets the first and third Sundays at 6:00 pm in the North Lodge Room.
All the very best to our Birthday Masons. Note the 10 Brothers with 50 or more years as Masons! Special greetings and best wishes to them. If you see a Brother here who you know has not been to Lodge in some time, please give him a call and remind him to come - we would love to celebrate with him in person.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Past Master of Henry Knox Field Lodge No. 349, having served as Worshipful Master in 1973. He was District Educational Officer for two years and District Deputy Grand Master for District 1A in 1980. He was very active in the Scottish Rite from the time he became a member in 1966. Willard was the Venerable Master of the Alexandria Lodge of Perfection in 1982. His KCCH was awarded in 1979, and he was elected as a Thirty-third Degree Inspector General Honorary in 1987. He was made a member of the Board of Trustees in 1987, and served as President of the Board from 1998 until the time of his death. He was also an honorary member of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. |
Job's Daughters:
Will be having their regular Bethel meetings on March 6 and March 20. As always, all Master Masons and any adult with a proper Masonic relationship are invited to attend. The girls love having visitors at their meetings!
Although the exact date has not been set, the girls will be participating in the statewide Ritual Competition in March and hope to send several teams. During the initiation of a new member, five daughters relate the story of Job, each telling a part of the story. There are three categories: Individual, Team, and Life of Job. In Individual, each daughter who chooses to participate will be asked to recite one of the five parts. In Life of Job, each participant recites all five parts. The team competition consists of five daughters, each of whom will tell one of the five parts.
Congratulations to Stacey Hampton, one of the Bethel's Past Honored Queens, who was chosen as Miss Congeniality of Virginia.
Demolay:
Congratulations to the following members - Jeremiah Upton, Sr. Deacon, and Marcio Villanueva, Sr. Councilor, both received their Representative DeMolay medals at Brotherhood Weekend. Jeremiah also passed four of the Leadership Correspondence Courses and hopes to pass the last one as soon as it comes in. Steven Mrozek, Chaplain, Nestor and Marcio Villanueva, and P.J. Shuey also completed at least two of the Leadership Correspondence Courses. Jeremiah received his #1 pin from the International Council for his first, first line signing on a petition. He has also had one more friend join with another to join soon. Drew Baxter, Lawrence Davis, Matt Sullivan, and Justin Lane all received their DeMolay Degrees at Brotherhood Weekend, and Matt Sullivan received his Initiatory degree. Jeremiah is the committee chair for the Halo 2 Tournament that AW DeMolay is sponsoring on March 12th in the North Room. There are approximately 15 prospects going to attend the event. These accomplishments make clear that the Chapter is growing and thriving. Well done!
The boys have a very busy schedule in front of them. The Virginia DeMolay advisors' retreat is March 5th in Williamsburg. March 13-17th is DeMolay Week. The Master Councilor hopes to have Alexandria Mayor Euille proclaim DeMolay Week at the March 8th City Council meeting. AW DeMolay is planning on setting up, ushering, and taking down the Easter Sunrise Service for the Knight's Templar at the Memorial on the 26th and 27th of March respectively.
The boys really appreciate seeing us at their meetings. Please attend; you will find it a great experience!
Several of our members have enjoyed following Right Worshipful Frank Dunaway around District 1A for his official visits. It is always interesting and informative to make these visits, and I encourage more of you to participate in the future. They are great opportunities to spread Masonic fellowship and see how other Lodges do business. Shown below is a shot from the DDGM's official visit on January 27th. The event was a big success, with a great turnout.
Our Stated Communication on February 10 was a busy night. We received an EA Catechism return, conferred the Fellowcraft Degree, and conducted Lodge business. We had a large and international turnout, with two distinguished visitors from the Grand Lodge of Israel and a brother from Dijon, France. We certainly enjoyed discussing the differences and similarities of Freemasonry in our respective countries while we partook of our Stewards' fine refreshments downstairs. Additionally, we had two District Deputies and one Worshipful Master from Ohio in attendance. We are indeed fortunate our Lodge attracts so many visiting Masons. Come out and enjoy the fellowship with us!