Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Alexandria, Virginia

In 1782 a group of prominent Virginia residents, Robert Adam, William Hunter, Jr. Michael Ryan, John Allison, Peter Dow, and Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, all members of the Masonic Fraternity began efforts to organize a Masonic Lodge in Alexandria.

An application for a warrant, necessary to establish a regular Lodge, would normally have been presented to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, but, because it did not meet during 1782, the application was presented to the provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. At a Masonic Communication, February 3, 1783, the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge approved, and issued a warrant establishing Alexandria Lodge No. 39, to be held in the Borough of Alexandria, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

A circular letter received in 1787, informed the Lodge that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had reestablished itself independently of Great Britain, and requested the original warrant, initially issued to Lodge No. 39, be returned so that the document could be reissued to reflect the newly acquired status of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Desiring to be governed in accordance with the proper usages of Masonry, the Lodge decided that it would be more natural for it to work under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, rather that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Accordingly, application was made to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, recommending George Washington as Worshipful Master, and on April 28, 1788, the application was approved establishing Alexandria Lodge No. 22.

For nearly twenty years the Lodge had no permanent home and meetings were held in public buildings, principally taverns catering to strangers and travelers. Concerned that these facilities were most inconvenient, and provided little security from intrusion, the Lodge constructed facilities over the Market Building, and on September 16, 1892, occupied their own Lodge hall.

After the death of its “Virginia Charter Master”, the Lodge made application to the Grand Lodge of Virginia to change its name to embrace that of “Washington.” By resolution of the Grand Lodge of Virginia adopted December 17, 1805, the request was granted, and the Lodge assumed the name, which remains today, Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22.

The Lodge occupied the hall in the Market Building until May 19, 1871, when it was destroyed by fire. The Lodge rebuilt in 1874, and it continued to hold its meetings in the Market Building until its transfer to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in 1944.

This Lodge has produced five Grand Masters of Masons in Virginia. They are: William H. Lambert 1873-1874; Kosciusko Kemper 1906-1907; Charles H. Callahan 1924-1926; Robert South Barrett 1942-1943; Donald Maynard Robey 1987-1988.