Well, this winter seems determined to makeup for the lack of snow in recent years. As long as it is going to be this cold, we might as well have the snow around making everything look pretty. Even Christmas day found our lodge building blanketed in white once again. The latest picture on the front page of our lodge website was taken that afternoon.

     January was a busy month. The new District Deputy Grand Master, Wayne Willard Grindle, Sr. from Haymarket Lodge No. 313, has been making his rounds through our District for his official visits. Four of these visits were completed this month. I'm happy to report that they have been well attended by our Brethren. We've already accumulated a few fraternal visits which should put us on track for the Hillman award this year. Only Acacia and Manasseh Lodge are left... and these will be taken care of at the beginning of February. Acacia Lodge will receive the DDGM on February 6th and then we will have that honor for our stated meeting the following day on February 7th. Thanks again to the Brethren and officers who have come out and shown their support for our lodge and our district.

     We had another special lodge visitation in January. The Most Worshipful Grand Master, Frederick G. Martin, III, celebrated his homecoming in Mechanicsville at Washington & Henry Lodge No. 344 on Monday, January 13th. This is also the home of Cal DeLong - Past Master of Manasseh Lodge in 1974. Unfortunately the officers had to be at the DDGM's homecoming at Haymarket Lodge. In spite of that, we had nine past masters and Brethren from Manasseh Lodge willing to travel down toward our state capital for the evening. Everyone had a great time socializing with the new Grand Master and one of our own past masters. Worshipful DeLong was honored by our Grand Master by being appointed the first Grand Lodge Representative to the newly recognized Grand Lodge of Baja California.

     There is a problem in Manasseh Lodge right now, but luckily this is a good problem to have - lots of candidates and not enough Fridays for degree work. We have four candidates lined up for their M.M. degree, two E.A.s almost ready for their Fellowcraft degree, two E.A.s just initiated last month and one recently elected and waiting to have his E.A. degree scheduled. February and March will be full of degree work, so come out on Friday night and support our candidates as they progress through their degrees.

• Brother Chuck Wirsing
• Brother Dale Cross
• Brother Uel Jones' Wife, Mitzi
• Brother John Cole's Wife, Betty
• Wor. Don McAndrews's Wife, Suzanne

     Our current set of flags will be flown February through June, 2003, in memory of Charlton E. Gnadt.