Page 11 - 2015 Winter

Grand Lodge of Washington
Gr and Lodg e of W ashingt on shown here. In addition, of course, are photos of our Most
Masonic Tribune
Masonic T r ibune Worshipful Sam, and his team, Right Worshipful Don Munks,
inter Issue - Page 1
olume XCV No.2 - W
V Volume XCII No.1 - Summer Issue - Page 3 Jim Mendoza, Warren Schoeben, and our Grand Secretary,
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David Owen. In addition to the poster, are various items of
memorabilia from the Grand Lodge, including Grand Masters’
HONORS GIVEN, HONORS RECEIVED coins, the top hat and other items.
: September 22nd: COLLINGWOOD LIBRARY
Touring D.C. with MWB Sam Roberts, Grand Master & WB GEORGE’S MT. VERNON ESTATE
September 20-27, 2014
Owned and operated by the National Sojourners, the Collin-
n Saturday afternoon, September 20th, I joined the Most gwood Library sits
OWorshipful Grand Master, Sam Roberts, his lady, Vickie, on 8.7 acres on the
along with a group of about thirty others, on a flight to Wash- banks of the Po-
ington, DC, to visit the George Washington Masonic National tomac River in Vir-
Memorial (figure 1), in Alexandria, VA, and other historical sites. ginia, not far from the
Mount Vernon es-
Sunday, September 21st: tate, and was previ-
GEORGE WASHINGTON Ma- ously owned by WB
sonIC NATIONAL MEMORIAL George Washington,
MUSEUM which he referred
to as River Farm. For those who are unfamiliar with them,
First thing, Sunday morning, we the National Sojourners “is a national Fraternal organization
walked across the street, through meeting the needs of military (Commissioned, Warrant and
the Metro Station, and up the hill Senior Non-Commissioned Officers) and honorary members
to the George Washington Na- who are Masons in advancing programs that promote love
tional Masonic Museum building. of country.” The property has a long history from George
The first thing we noticed when Washington’s time, to today, where it serves as a museum of
reaching the top of all those stairs, American History, containing books and artifacts of interest to
was our own State flag. Then, anyone interested in our Nation’s history, as well as being the
about 200 yards behind the mu- actual National Headquarters for the Sojourners. We spent
seum, we continued up Shouter’s an hour or so enjoying some of the exhibits here, but anx-
Hill (pronounced shooter) to one ious to be on our way to George and Martha’s Mount Vernon
of the largest maple trees on the Estate, where we spent the rest of the day, and participate in
property. a very special ceremony, honoring the life of our Worshipful
Brother, George.
Under the tree, was a memorial stone, and a marble bench,
dedicated to Charlene Leigh, the fifty year Secretary for It was a beautiful
Grand Lodge, who passed away some time ago. Stories morning when we ar-
were told about Charlene and her “no nonsense” approach rived at the Estate.
to the Craft. As we honored We had a 1:55 tour for
Mrs. Leigh, the Museum our group to see the
honored our Grand Lodge, in mansion, itself. Un-
two ways. The first, was the til that time, we were
tree itself. The museum has free to wander over
a tree dedicatory program, the preserved 500-acre grounds, which included the mu-
where they will plant a tree in seum, slave quarters, kitchen and utility buildings, gardens,
behalf of persons or organi- farmland and, the old and new Wash-
zations who apply. The dona- ington family tombs. This brings us
tions received for this memo- to an occasion to honor WB George.
rial so impressed Museum management, that they declined MWB Sam arranged with the Estate
our application to “plant” a tree, but chose for us, one of the folks to place a wreath at the tomb
largest trees on the property. A distinct honor given Charlene of the Washington family, more spe-
and our members who contributed! cifically, George and Martha. To honor
the President, and his Lady, WB Sam
Each month the Museum honors a Grand Lodge. The month arranged to have a small entourage
of September, as most of us know, the Grand Lodge of Wash- to assist himself and Vickie, WB Ben
ington was the honored Lodge. One of most popular displays Franklin, Grand Chaplain Jonathan
we views was our own Brown, and myself, perform the brief
display. ceremony. WB Reverend Jonathan of-
fered a prayer, Ben Franklin and MWB
Designed by WB Todd Sam had personal remarks, and the
Johnstone, it has pho- ceremony concluded with my read-
tographs of each of the ing of George Washington’s Prayer for His Country, which
Grand Masters of the was MY special honor. One interesting side note was that
Most Worshipful Grand there were about seventy-five or so other visitors to the Es-
Lodge of Washing-
ton, within the pyramid (continued on page 12) Table of Contents
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