My Brethren,

Since first becoming a Mason, I have always been in search of “light”. And now after having served in the East for almost a year, I can finally say that I do indeed see the light … it’s called the light at the end of the tunnel.

With great pleasure and satisfaction, I wish to inform you this is the last time I will be writing to you as Master of Benjamin B. French No. 15. It was a true honor to serve a Lodge as special as ours and I would like to thank all of the officers and members who made it both a memorable and fulfilling experience. Am so grateful for the immeasurable help I have received from so many. It’s actually very easy to manage a Lodge when it is filled with such talented and dedicated members. Thank you.

At our Stated Communication on November 19th, the following brethren were elected to serve as officers of No. 15 for the 2009 Masonic year.

• Bro. Demetri Karousos, Worshipful Master <…>
• Senior Warden Bro. Donnie Hachey
• Junior Warden Worshipful Bro. John Vergalla
• Secretary Worshipful Bro. Ted Berry
• Treasurer Bro. Darryl Carter
• Senior Deacon Bro. Ben Eckert
• Junior Deacon
• Right Worshipful Bro. Kwame Acquaah, Trustee

For those fortunate to regularly attend our Stated Communications you will recognize many of the appointed officers for next year, including: Bro. Kenneth Carter, Bro. David Stang, Bro. Jens Steensen, Bro. Jason Van Dyke and many other familiar faces that I anticipate will continue to become even more involved in the workings of the Lodge under the leadership of our new Worshipful Master-Elect.

On November 5th, the Lodge initiated five new Masons – all of whom I am confident will make fine members of our Craft.

However, December will also continue to be a month of new beginnings for Benjamin B. French No. 15.

In December, for the second year in a row, yet another member of our Lodge will be given the gavel that presides over the entire Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. Please come to the DC Scottish Rite on Saturday, December 13th and witness the Installation of Right Worshipful Brother Kwame Acquaah as our next Grand Master. Following this historic ceremony, which begins at 5:00pm, there promises to be a delicious, sumptuous and plentiful feast.

We should all be very proud to call Most Worshipful Brother Akram Elias and the Grand Master-Elect, Bro. Acquaah, as our own. How many others can claim that two consecutive members of their Lodge will have
served as Grand Master of any Masonic jurisdiction? We are truly
fortunate to have such esteemed brethren in our midst.

Additionally in December, and of at least equal importance to our membership, the Lodge will be installing the 2009 officer line on Wednesday the 3rd. If you have had the privilege of familiarizing yourself with the officers succeeding me, then you will already know that the future looks very bright indeed.

Just to give you a little flavor of what kind of men will be leading the Lodge after I am gone, and because you have certainly heard enough from me already this year, I’ve included an interview of our Senior Deacon-Elect in this edition of the newsletter. Enjoy….

Thanks again for allowing me the honor of serving the Lodge this year and I am very much looking forward to sitting beside you next time we are together.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones.

Fraternally,
2008 Worshipful Master