My brothers:

Cherry blossoms are in the offing, according to the botanical
authorities of the Park Service, so we must be about to experience
spring.  "There is hope of a tree..."  Snow having been seen recently
enough, however, that one might keep more than one kind of shovel
handy--snow as well as gardening.

Our speaker this month is a distinguished Masonic researcher and active
Mason, Wor. Bro. Walter Benesch.  In addition to being a Past Master of
Archer Bailey Gay Lodge in Virginia, he is also a Past District Deputy
Grand High Priest in Virginia and a regular participant in the Scottish
Rite degrees.  His topic will be "Lewises," and should provide plenty of
light in Masonry.  Recent discussions on the Internet show lots of
confusion surrounding this subject.  Who (or what) is a Lewis?  Come and
find out.

Refreshments after the meeting this month will be by adjournment to a
local restaurant for a Festive Board.  The Lodge will defray a portion
of the cost corresponding to our usual expenses for refreshments in the
Lodge hall itself, but each Brother will be expected to bear a portion
of the cost.  The actual price will depend on the number of Brethren in
attendance (probably about $10), and the accommodations at the
restaurant are also somewhat limited.  For these reasons, an RSVP if you
plan to dine with us is ESSENTIAL.  As this is a refreshment activity,
the Junior Warden, John Saab, will be in charge of accepting your
reservation to attend.  His number is on the front of this bulletin;
please call him as far in advance of the meeting date of 10 April as you
can, and I will co-ordinate arrangements with him and with the
restaurant.

The MM lecture reminds us that it is under the All-seeing Eye that
comets perform their stupendous revolutions.  I hope that you all took
advantage of our few clear nights to view Comet Hyakutake and marvel at
the handiwork of our great Creator.  No Mason who has attained at least
the 2nd Degree should be ignorant of the wonders of astronomy; many
ancient edifices were constructed in alignment with celestial phenomena,
and various aspects of this science are mentioned throughout the Master
Mason's and many later degrees.

The month of April also includes the Masonic Day of Thanksgiving.
Please plan to support our Grand Master by attending this brief service
at his church, the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5501 Silver Hill
Road, Forestville, MD (Beltway exit 11).  The time is 3 pm on Sunday, 28
April.

Grand Lodge School is at the Takoma Lodge Hall on 13 April;
exemplification of the EA degree is scheduled.  1996 Masters' and
Wardens' Assn. precedes School.

There will be no stated communication of Dawson Lodge in May due to the
Semi-annual Grand Communication of Grand Lodge that evening.  Those
eligible should plan to attend.

For those of us with major holidays this month, I hope that they are or
were (depending on when you receive this) occasions of much happiness
and familial tranquility.

Fraternally,

Roger M. Firestone
Master

P.S.  Don't forget to reserve for the Festive Board.  No reservation--no
dinner!