Cover Credit

Voice of Freemasonry Volume 24, Number 1, 2007

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert B. Heyat, Grand Master

MANAGING EDITOR Mansour Hatefi, Grand Secretary

The Voice of Freemasonry is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons (F.A.A.M.) of the District of Columbia. Unless otherwise noted, articles appearing in this publication express only the private opinion or assertions of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Grand Lodge. The jurisdiction speaks only through the Grand Master and the Executive Board and, when attested to as official, in writing, by the Grand Secretary. The editorial staff invites contributions in the form of

informative articles, reports, news and other timely information (of about 500 to 1000 words in length) that broadly relate to Masonic law, lore, customs, history, symbolism, philosophy, responsibility of membership, etiquette, current events, and/or general public interest. When possible, photographs that illustrate these informative articles should accompany the submission. Pieces submitted should be typed, double-spaced and preferably accompanied by a computer disk in a neutral PC format or via e-mail to:

grandlodge@dcgrandlodge.org

Articles are subject to editing and, when published, become the property of the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia. No compensation is allowed for any articles, photographs, or other materials submitted for publication. Permission to reprint articles will be granted upon written request to the Editor from recognized Masonic publications and others. When reprinted, articles should note: “Reprinted with permission of the Voice of Freemasonry in the Nation’s Capital, (month), (year).”

Please direct all correspondence to: Managing Editor: The Voice of Freemasonry 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington, DC 20016-2524

THE LEGEND LIVES ON

February 22, 2007 marks the 275 th

anniversary of the birth of the quintessential American icon, George Washington. Yes, we know that he was “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of his Countrymen”; but did the man really live up to the legend? This issue of the Voice of Freemasonry endeavors to answer that question by focusing beyond the romanticized stories and popularized myths. You will find articles discussing Washington as a leader and role model and a man of conscience and great scope. Learn more about Washington the Mason and discover Washington the early American futurist. Read about why this virtuous man deserves the impressive Masonic memorial that bears his name and how Washington played the key role in the location and founding of our national capital. You will uncover a Washington who, it turns out, was every bit as great as we have come to believe.

Cover art is courtesy of National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Mass. George Washington, ca. 1847 by Rembrandt Peale (1778- 1860), oil on canvas (75.6).

Table of Contents

Page Cover Credit........................................................................................................2 Grand Master’s Message .....................................................................................3 George Washington, Leader and Role Model ........................................................5 George Washington, The Man..............................................................................6 George Washington, The Mason ..........................................................................8 George Washington, Early American Futurist ......................................................10 Grand Master’s Homecoming .............................................................................12 A Masonic Memorial to a Virtuous Man ..............................................................17 George Washington & Washington, DC ..............................................................20 Membership in the Grand Lodge ........................................................................22 World Conference of Grand Lodges, 08 .............................................................24 In Memoriam: Gerald R. Ford ............................................................................25 The National Masonic Trail .................................................................................26 Coming Events and Seminars ............................................................................27 2007 Grand Lodge Officers ...................................................................back cover

Photo credits: All photographs in this issue, unless otherwise indicated, were provided by the Grand Lodge photographer, Brother Sviatoslav V. Voloshin. Gallagher Photography produced the group photo appearing on the back cover and the George Washington Masonic Memorial provided the parade photo on page 19. Unless otherwise indicated all other images were derived from open sources on the internet.