My Brethren:

I am disappointed that the boreal winds blew away our January meeting in
a cloud of snow, but better not to hold a Communication than to have our
members risk life, limb, or automobile in attempting to be present.
Some
of our officers were even stuck out of town, due to the effect on air
travel.  We can hope for better luck in February.

Our February speaker will be a distinguished and dynamic Masonic
speaker, Right Worshipful M. Mickey Ander.  R. W. Bro. Ander is a Past
District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 54 in Virginia and a
Past Master of Concord Lodge # 307 in Vienna, VA.  Indeed, he was
serving as Master of that Lodge when I first moved to the area and
became a somewhat regular visitor to his bailiwick.  He has also served
as District Education Officer and as Master of A. Douglas Smith Lodge of
Research #1949 in Alexandria.  An enthusiastic promoter of Masonic
leadership and learning and possessed of an inimitable and engaging
speaking style, we are indeed fortunate to have him provide our program
for this month.  The topic will be "The Duties of a Master Mason," and I
can assure you all that Bro. Ander's idea of duties will be far more
expansive than any simple reading of the ritual or old charges would
reveal.  He promises us to come armed with a flip chart and provide an
illustrated talk.  Don't miss this!  (Hearing the minutes next month
won't come close.)

The past month brought a great loss to Dawson Lodge, when our Brother,
Admiral Arleigh Burke, passed on to the Celestial Lodge above.  We can
count ourselves fortunate to number him among our famous past members,
but we are even more fortunate as Americans to have had this great
military leader and strategic thinker as one of the guardians of our
liberty during the dangerous times our country passed through in the
middle of the 20th century.

DC Masonry and Dawson Lodge #16 have been well represented at Masonic
youth activities; your Sr. Warden was present for the Installation
ceremonies of Bethel #19 of Va., IOJD, while the Installation for
Fairfax Assembly #3 of Va., IORG had not only your Master, but also Wor.
Bro. Robert Starr, Sr. Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of DC.  Keep it
up!

The recent spate of snowstorms was an opportunity to put Masonry into
action.  There is nothing wrong with digging out your own driveway
first, but afterward, there should be no Mason of good health whose
elderly neighbor is still snowbound, and no Mason who owns a 4x4 whose
infirm friend is without groceries.

Dawson Lodge #16 is on the Internet!  For those of you with access to
the World-Wide Web, point your browser to

  http://www.ccsf.caltech.edu/~rfire/index.html#Freemasonry

and you will find the Master's Plan for the year, these monthly
messages, and links to all sorts of other Masonic information sources,
clip art, and so on.  There is also a great deal of other information
not related to the Craft available through this page, so feel free to
explore.

Masonry does things by threes, so here are three reminders for this
month: Masonic light, Masonic youth, and Masonic petitions, or in other
words, listen up, show up, and sign 'em up!

Fraternally,

Roger M. Firestone, Master