JANUARY 2012

GREETINGS FROM THE EAST

     To all brothers of Manasseh Lodge, I say thank you for entrusting me to be your lodge master for the coming year. Be assured that I will do my very best to provide the leadership you expect and deserve. And a special thanks to Worshipful Tom Wickman and Right Worshipful Bill Costis for the many hours they devoted in preparing me to assume the East. Their instruction was vital to my attaining the Warden’s Certificate and necessary skills to be master.

     Over a hundred folks attended the Installation Ceremony which was so expertly conducted by Worshipful Don McAndrews as installing officer. The Installing Team included Right Worshipful Linwood Holbrook as Marshall, Worshipful Tom Walker as Assistant Marshal, Right Worshipful Bill Costis as Secretary, and Worshipful Tom Wickman as Chaplain. They did a superb job. Also, I want to thank and congratulate my wife, Cindy, who worked hard to provide us with the delicious refreshments after the ceremony.

     Our lodge jumped into the holiday spirit early with a Christmas Party just 24 hours after the installation of officers. Santa appeared in the midst of our festive singing and gave presents to twenty-two children! A special thanks to our Senior Warden, John Phillips for his reading of “The Night Before Christmas”, to the Rainbow Girls who led our caroling, to Bennett Hart who planned the party, and to our District Instructor of Work, Right Worshipful Bob Williams, who was the primary person responsible for Santa being present.

    A special congratulations to Debbie Dunn who received the Community Builder Award at our December Stated Communication. This was in recognition for her more than twenty years of volunteering in the community, and her efforts in starting the Rainbow Girls at Manasseh Lodge. These girls have been active in service projects, a district dance, doing craft projects, and were of great help during our holiday party. Girls from age six through their teens are invited to contact the lodge to join the Rainbows. They will be meeting on the tenth and twenty-fourth of January.

     My goals for the coming year reflect optimism and conviction. Surely, we can continue to demonstrate high quality ritual and teaching of moral and masonic lessons. We should enjoy good fellowship within our lodge, and do so with joy and laughter.  I wish to expand our youth programs. The Rainbow Girls are off to a good start. Hopefully, we can stimulate interest in the DeMolay. We will invite Boy Scouts into our lodge and sponsor youth sports.

     Our Grand Master’s theme of “spreading masonic light” fits perfectly into my hopes to reach out into the Greater Manassas Community with our charitable and moral masonic lessons. My lapel pin features the most prominent historic symbol of our city, the Manassas Railroad Station. Our lodge can become a more notable organization in the community through our citizenship awards, Child ID Program and charitable efforts.

     Many brothers feel that we should extend our charitable outreach. There are many projects that the lodge could undertake.  I will be appointing a committee to look into such endeavors. If you are interested in helping, please contact me. Also, if you have suggestions or ideas of such projects, please contact me. This is another one of my goals for 2012.

     To attain such goals, we need your participation. We need more brothers to learn our ritual and lectures. We need help in the kitchen. I would like a volunteer each month to prepare a breakfast on the Saturday following each stated. Monthly breakfasts promote fellowship so vital to masonry.There will not be a January breakfast due to a conflict with the Grand Master’s Official Visit to Winchester. Please notify me if you are willing to help in these areas. Every brother should have something to give back to masonry through his lodge.

     Our January Stated Communication will feature programs from both Worshipful  Don  McAndrews, our District Education Officer , and Worshipful Bill Edwards, our Lodge Education Officer. These will be short, informative discussions of importance to all brothers. Also, we will be electing a nominee for year 2014 District Deputy Grand Master and Alternate District Deputy Grand Master. Both will be brothers from Manasseh Lodge.

     I am delighted to report that we continue to receive new petitions. We will vote on several of these at our stated, and you will note that we have degrees scheduled throughout the month. If you are not participating in our degree work, you are missing out on a valuable and enjoyable part of masonry. Please consider attending these degrees and finding a way to contribute to them.

     Finally, let me remind you that anyone can purchase flags to be flown in front of our lodge. This is a wonderful gesture in memory of a loved one or a special person. Three months is $100 and six months is $200. All proceeds go to our Scholarship Fund, a very worthy cause indeed.

     Finally, let me hope that all have celebrated a most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you and bringing another successful year to Manasseh Lodge.

 Fraternally,

 John W. Mitchell, Jr.

Worshipful Master

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District 4 Calendar

Other Lodges in District 4

Information provided from www.GrandLodgeofVirginia.org

D. D. G. M. for District 4

Deputy Grand Master
4th Masonic District 10-11
Right Worshipful Ralph Smith
of Henry  Lodge No. 57

Excellent Websites for Masonic Information

District 4 Information

The Grand Lodge of Virginia

Virginia Masonic Information Network

Virginia Masonic Unity Website

Virginia Yorkrite Website - Information on Local Bodies

 York Rite Information Website including information on Grand and Invitational Bodies throughout the USA

Grand Bodies in Virginia

Grand Royal Arch Chapter of  Virginia

Grand Commandery of Virginia

Grand Lodge of Virginia

Other Local Lodges in our Area

Occoquan Lodge No. 310  

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