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Contact our Secretary	First Recorded Meeting September 01, 1752	First Recorded Conferral of the Royal Arch Degree in the New World December 22, 1753	Trestleboard
	Chartered by Grand Lodge of Scotland, July 21, 1758	Chartered by Grand Lodge of Virginia, January 30, 1787

Stated Communication / 2nd Friday of every month
Fellowship Dinner 6:30 pm / Stated Communication 7:30 pm

To make dinner reservations please email our
SENIOR STEWARD Brother Frank Jones

NEW phone number to make dinner reservations: (540) 373-5885

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Prior to 1816, the Masons of Fredericksburg would meet at several of the local taverns around what is now Old Towne. When the people of Fredericksburg started asking around for funding for the building of a school, local Masons raised the money and had this building erected for the children. In gratitude, the school gave the second floor to the Masons that they may hold their meetings there. With time, the school relocated and they returned the building to the Fredericksburg, Virginia Masons. During the Civil War, the Union Army used this building for a hospital and to this day there still remain in places the bloodstains within the wooden floorboards. It was during this time that the sacking of much of the Lodge’s oldest records and artifacts were destroyed and what few that remain has told us the story of a great history.

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FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. (North)                       FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA (South)

Worshipful Master 2008

Thomas K. Staples, SR.

Theme for 2008:

"LIVING THE RITUAL"

Greetings from the Secretary's Desk

BE A MASON, MAKE A MASON, BRING A MASON

Thank you for visiting the web site of one of the most historic Lodges in Freemasonry.  Each month you will find the current copy of our monthly newsletter posted; just click "Trestleboard" link.  In addition to this monthly newsletter, I email friends and members of the Lodge notices of unscheduled ("Called Communications") meetings or other official announcements.  If you wish to subscribe, click above on "Contact Secretary.";Our Lodge meets on the second Friday of each month (except in November, when we meet on the 4th of the month to celebrate the anniversary of the Initiation of George Washington).  The monthly "Stated Communication"; is open to Master Masons in good standing.  The Lodge opens at 7:30 p.m.  We start with a Fellowship Dinner at 6:30 p.m., which is open to friends and family.  Go to top of this page to make a dinner reservation. In addition to the monthly meeting, we meet each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for Degree work or practice. And lastly, we are conducting Saturday morning Masonic Education Classes for Entered Apprentices and Fellowcraft. These classes are also open to "seasoned veterans" who would like to review, or brush-up on Lodge protocol. See the Trestleboard for a schedule of activities. If you are new to the area and are looking for more information about the Fraternity of Freemasonry or wish to transfer your membership, please contact us, or better yet, stop by for a visit. Not only are we one of Freemasonry's most historic Lodges, we are working on becoming one of the friendliest! Just walk in the Lodge's front door and stick out your right hand to the first person you see, you just met your next best friend!

Welcome to our Lodge. Welcome to our hearts. Welcome to our home.

Daniel W. Thompson

Past Master
Lodge Secretary

	Freemasonry Taking A Good Man And Making Him Better!

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal organization in the world today. One of the first references to the order is found in the Regis Poem that dates to 1390. Literally millions of men throughout the centuries have chosen to "level themselves" with this fraternity, yet today Masonic membership is in a state of decline. One explanation is that Masonry is a morals based fraternity in an increasingly immoral society. This may or may not be true. Another possible reason is that the modern man is simply too busy to devote the time and energy necessary to gain membership in the order. Or it could be that too many men prefer to join and patronize other clubs that offer more secular rewards. Despite all of these reasons, to continue to survive, Freemasonry must attract men of good character to continue the traditions of seven centuries. Hence the title for this page.

Masonry requires several things of its potential members. First and foremost, they must be of good moral character. The unofficial motto of the order is "to make good men better;" therefore, any candidate must be basically a good man. Secondly, members must be able to state a belief in a Supreme Being. Without a strong belief in God, moral lessons would be valueless. Finally, candidates must come to the order of "their own free will and accord," unfettered by undue solicitation or expectations of financial reward. Therefore, the Masonic Order does not solicit members. To be a Mason, you must ask a Mason for a petition or express, to a Mason, a desire to join the order. Once this request is made, the necessary steps for membership can be initiated. Sadly, all that apply for membership are not accepted and some that are accepted do not complete the journey. The process of joining the fraternity involves time and effort. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but the rewards of a journey well traveled are well worth the effort.  All masons will be there to help and guide you along your journey to "Masonic Light."  In this manner, masonry binds men together by many common ties and strengthens the bonds of friendship and cooperation.

Some men are surprised that no one has ever asked them to become a Mason. But it doesn't work that way. For hundreds of years, Masons have been traditionally obligated not to ask others to join the fraternity. We can talk to friends about Masonry. We can tell them about what Masonry does. We can tell them why we enjoy it. But we can't ask, much less pressure, anyone to join. There's a good reason for that. It isn't that we're trying to be exclusive. But becoming a Mason is a very serious thing.

Joining Masonry is making a permanent life commitment to live in certain ways . . . to live with honor and integrity, to be willing to share with and care about others, to trust each other, and to place ultimate trust in God. No one should be "talked into" making such a decision. So, when a man decides he wants to be a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition or application. He fills it out and gives it to the Mason, and that Mason takes it to the local lodge. The Master of the lodge will appoint a committee to visit with the man and his family, find out a little about him and why he wants to be a Mason, tell him and his family about Masonry, and answer their questions. The committee reports to the lodge, and the lodge votes on the petition. If the vote is affirmative -- and it usually is -- the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree. When the person has completed all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the fraternity.**