My Brothers:

Wardens' Night in September was less well-attended than I would have
liked, but that's water over the dam (and running down Constitution Ave.
and blocking roads all over Maryland, which may just have had something
to do with it).  Our speaker was Rt. Wor. Dan Frederick, JGW, and we
were also pleased to welcome Wor. Geo. Kidwell, DGL.  It was a long
evening, with a ballot, installation (better late than never) of our
Marshal, introductions, and three months of correspondence in addition
to greeting the visiting Wardens and hearing our speaker.  We will
finish earlier the rest of the year!

October will be an important month.  Our stated communication will also
be an observation of Secretaries' Night.  The speaker will be the
Secretary of Manasseh Lodge #182 in Manassas, VA, Wor. Bro. Tom Wickman.
He is a past DEO in District 58 of VA and an excellent speaker.  Let's
do him the courtesy of providing a large turnout.  His title will be
"The Lodge Education Program--What it is, What it isn't, With an
Example: 'The Last Stated.'"  You can learn from this how to do your
own Masonic education presentation; if you are bored with the programs
you hear, giving your own is a sure way to satisfy yourself, at least!

There will be a Festive Board after the October stated.  We will adjourn
across Pennsylvania Avenue to Taverna, a Greek restaurant, for dinner;
the menu will feature kotopoulo riganate (roast chicken), appropriate
side dishes, dessert, and Greek coffee.  The charge will not exceed $15,
and reservations are ESSENTIAL.  Please call John Saab, our Jr. Warden,
who will take your reservations.  As the Lodge will pay for only a fixed
sum, the actual cost will depend on the number of attendees.

October is also the month for our Grand Visitation, jointly with
Lafayette-Dupont Lodge #19.  This called communication will be on 10
October, the day after our stated (sorry about that).  #19 will open
Lodge, and we will close.  I promise you something unique will occur
that evening, something I do not believe has been done before in DC, but
which is in conformity with one of Dawson's past members' distinguished
accomplishments.  To say more would spoil the surprise; come and enjoy
the experience.

I must now be blunt: Dawson Lodge is in serious straits.  Not solely
financially, nor in terms of numbers, but particularly in terms of
members willing and able to serve the Lodge.  A well-governed Lodge has
12 officers (13 if it has a Musician), and my crystal ball shows some
seven to nine of those slots unfilled next year.  We have at present no
Secretary, no Jr. Deacon, no Stewards, and a Chaplain whose health has
not permitted him to attend Lodge.  Our Sr. Deacon holds that same
office
in another Lodge and does not plan to advance in Dawson, and there is a
possibility of another vacancy in line as well for next year.  A Lodge
without officers cannot open and a Lodge that does not hold its meetings
will find its charter suspended.

What are we going to do?  There are three possibilities: Do nothing, and
wait for the Grand Master to suspend us because we cannot hold meetings,
find sufficient numbers of Brothers willing to serve, or consolidate
with another Lodge.

Brethren, I have had inquiries from Joppa Lodge #35 regarding the
feasibility of a consolidation with them.  I hope to pursue the details
of such an arrangement in the near future with their Master.  They have
gaps in the line that we can fill.  It may be possible to arrange 
compromises over issues such as meeting locations and dates, such as
by alternation by month.  A consolidated Lodge can arrange such details
as the Brethren wish to have in their by-laws, including a variation in
meeting time and place.

Come prepared to vote on a consolidation at our October or November
stated communication.  This is your due and timely notice!  I said I was
going to be blunt: Those of you who wish to vote against this action are
going to be considered prime volunteers to serve in elective or
appointive office of this Lodge next year.  We cannot both have our
Lodge of a single history and fail to serve it.  One of the lessons of
the Third Degree is about being willing to make difficult choices.  This
crisis has been evaded for several years now, but we have reached the
East and cannot escape further.  Consolidation is superior to yielding
up our charter; an active Lodge is preferable to either.  Neither I nor
your Sr. Warden can operate a Lodge alone; some of the confusion we have
experienced this year is because we have been trying to do just that and
not succeeding very well.  You must choose to serve the Lodge or agree
to a consolidation--or face extinction.

If you care about Dawson Lodge #16, show up to vote--and if you vote
no, plan to show up regularly thereafter to serve as Secretary, Warden,
Deacon, Steward, or other position.  The time for muddling along is
past.

Remember, we have meetings on consecutive nights in October.  Be there
for both of them, including the surprise event at the Grand Visitation.

Fraternally,

Roger M. Firestone, Master