George Washington Memorial

I visited the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA for the first time Saturday. It was very impressive and is a great tribute to our first president and most famous Freemason.

I arrived with a few brothers from my lodge before they opened and took the first tour at 10:00. The first stop on the tour was the Scottish Rite sponsored exhibit. It didn't really have anything to do with Scottish Rite Freemasonry but more with the accomplishments of George Washington as a Freemason, a soldier, and as president. It was a very good exhibit. The only Scottish Rite paraphernalia was two banners - one for the Southern Jurisdiction and one for the Northern Jurisdiction.

The next three floors were sponsored by and devoted to the York Rite of Freemasonry. The three floors corresponded to the three divisions of the York Rite: Chapter, Council, and Commandery. These exhibits had nothing to do with George Washington but gave an overview of the degrees of the York Rite. This was very interesting to me since I am not a York Rite Mason. In addition to being a Scottish Rite Mason, I may have to fill out the petitions I have at home and join the York Rite as well. It makes sense, since they meet in my Blue Lodge temple.