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ANDREW JACKSON LODGE NO.120 A.F. & A.M.

History  |  Officers  |  Trestleboard  |  Donations  |  Scholarship  |  Philanthropy  |  Links

TABLE LODGE

All members are invited to join us for our Table Lodge:
- Open (6:00 PM)
- Table Lodge (7:00 PM)

03/20/2025

2025 OFFICERS

Wish our newly elected brethren a successful new year.

Congrats!

WELCOME

"Freemasonry is an institution calculated
to benefit mankind."

7th President, Andrew Jackson 1829-1837

2025 OFFICERS

Wish our newly elected brethren a successful new year.

Congrats!

WELCOME

"Freemasonry is an institution calculated
to benefit mankind."

7th President, Andrew Jackson 1829-1837

YEAR END

Happy holidays and a happy new year to all.

NEXT STATED COMMUNICATION THU JAN 16, 2025

WELCOME

 The Andrew Jackson Lodge No.120, was established in 1854 by Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Virginia. Our goal is to make men better through masonic teachings and principals. Our lodge room is designed in a medieval architectural style, with stage, ceiling to floor burgundy velour curtains, and three sided balcony. Seating capacity is about 241. Our monthly programs are quite beneficial with ritual practice, Masonic short stories, music, poetry, book reviews, and social media trends. Except for the month of December, join us every third Thursday for dinner and a masonic lecture. (RSVP)


HISTORY

 As with most Lodges, there must be a need. So it was with Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120. A dispensation was granted from the Grand Lodge of Virginia on December 6, 1853, for Andrew Jackson Lodge.

Learn more...

TRESTLE BOARD

 Our trestle board contains all the latest news and events about our lodge activities.

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MEMBERSHIP

 Membership to the Grand Lodge of Virginia requires that two Master Masons vouch for your character and recommend you into our Craft. You also have to be a man, 18 years old or older, and believe in a God that promotes peace, love, and harmony towards all mankind.

Click to Download Application)

Ideals are like stars. You will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but, like the seafaring man, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you will reach your destiny.
- Carl Schurtz

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.

― Albert Pike

HISTORY

 As with most Lodges, there must be a need. So it was with Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120. A dispensation was granted from the Grand Lodge of Virginia on December 6, 1853, for Andrew Jackson Lodge. The first officers were:

  • S. King Shay, Worshipful Master
  • George H. Markell, Senior Warden
  • John T. Johnson, Junior Warden

All of these officers were members of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22.

  • On December 9, 1853, Worshipful Brother Shay informed the Brethren that he had sent a letter to Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 and Lafayette Lodge No. 67 thanking them for their assistance in organizing the Lodge. On March 3, 1854, Lafayette Lodge No. 67 surrendered its charter. Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 was issued a charter on December 13, 1854.

  • During the Civil War, Andrew Jackson Lodge, for the most part, did not meet. On January 5, 1865, the Lodge was active again. On January 19, 1865, the Lodge had the largest attendance ever. For the next nine years much was going on.

  • The passing away of Worshipful Brother S. King Shay, the first Worshipful Master, on January 19, 1874 was a sad occasion.

  • When this Lodge was looking for a meeting place in 1879, Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 offered their Lodge hall. The committees met and agreed that Andrew Jackson Lodge would meet on the first and third Thursdays and Alexandria-Washington Lodge would meet on the second and fourth Thursdays.

  • On February 20, 1890, Brother Henry Knox Field was raised to the degree of Master Mason. On June 24, 1893, he was installed Worshipful Master of this Lodge. In 1900, Right Worshipful Henry Knox Field and twenty-nine other members of Andrew Jackson Lodge went to Cranford Church to take part in laying the cornerstone of that church.

  • On December 27, 1904, the first installation of officers was held in December, most of the time they had been installed in June.

  • On June 6, 1907, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 joined Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 in the laying of the cornerstone of the Masonic temple in Washington, D.C.

  • On March 15, 1917, the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Henry Knox Field, made his official visit to his mother Lodge, and received honorary membership.

  • March 15, 1929 was the first mention of an annual Jackson Day celebration, which was for the 162nd anniversary of the birth of Andrew Jackson. This was the beginning of a tradition. After the meeting to celebrate the birth of Andrew Jackson on March 15, 1932, an evening of dancing and fine food was held at the George Mason Hotel.

  • The first meeting held in the North Room of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was held on December 15, 1949. This was the new home of this Lodge.

  • A history of Andrew Jackson Lodge, compiled by Right Worshipful William A. Brown, was presented to the Lodge on October 4, 1979.

  • On April 17, 1980, the Worshipful Master, James Amos Yancey, presented the Lodge a plaque, which had been found in an old house in Washington, D.C. The plaque was dated November 3, 1873, and was from the Mt. Vernon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. It was to thank the Lodge for allowing them to meet in the Lodge hall.


In conclusion, what could be written about this great Lodge, in no way could be put down on this brief page. There is so much more to tell of what was, and what we hope could be.

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
- Bro. Benjamin Franklin (St. John's Lodge)

US author, diplomat, inventor, politician, & printer (1706-1790)
St. John's Lodge of Philadelphia, USA

OFFICERS

 Officers are elected by the members of the lodge, although a few are appointed by the Worshipful Master. In most lodges, the officers serve in their positions for one year. The names and duties of the officers are mostly taken from very old customs practiced by the medieval stonemasons' guilds, where Freemasonry originated.

TITLE NAME EMAIL
179th Grand Master of Masons in VirginiaMost Worshipful Gary Dwight Huffman-
District 1A Deputy Grand MasterRight Worshipful Jason Weber Lotz-
Worshipful MasterWalter De La Vega AJ120Master@gmail.com
Senior Warden Travis Christopher Miller -
Junior Warden Frank Joseph Girgenti -
Treasurer John Torstan George Aakesson, PM -
Secretary Richard Keith Krewson, PM AJ120Secretary@gmail.com
Senior Deacon Robert Lowell Williams II -
Junior Deacon Seth Benjamin Yavit -
Chaplain Gary Neal Orsborn -
Senior Steward Matthew Aaron Powers aj120stewards@gmail.com
Junior Steward Aaron William Novy -
Marshal Mark David Hoffman -
Tiler Pablo Alejandro Rocha, PM -

TRUSTEES
Bernard Richard Laaken, PDDGM 2025 -
Sheldon Barnett Richman, PDDGM 2026 -
Edmund Cohen, PGM 2027 -
Adam Christopher Duncan, PDDGM 2028 -
David Benjamin Browning, PDDGM 2029 -

COMMITEE CHAIRS
Lodge Instructor of Work David Winston Williams, PM -
Lodge Education Officer Robert Glenn Tallent, PM -
Degree Coordinator Frank Joseph Girgenti -
Archivists Pablo Alejandro Rocha, PM
Kelly Trevor Cochran
Rick Allen Cady, PM
Sidney Joseph Gerson, PM
 -
Photographer Dennis Ronald Dunston, PM -
Events and Activities Sheldon Barnett Richman, PDDGM
Jace Lee McFerran, PM		 -
Social Media Dennis Ronald Dunston,PM -
Investigation Committee Travis Christopher Miller -
Widows & Orphans Mark David Hoffman -
Benevolence Committee Mark David Hoffman -
Scholarship Committee Bernard Richard Laaken, PDDGM
David Benjamin Browning, PDDGM
Gary Neal Orsborn
George Nicanor Faustino
Robert Lowell Williams II 		-
Blood Drive Coordinator Gary Neal Orsborn -

"Being persuaded that a just application of the principles, on which the masonic fraternity is founded, must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered by them a deserving Brother."

- George Washington, August 1790

DONATIONS

 Feel free to make your online payment using our PAYPAL links:
1) Annual Lodge Dues Payment ($281.00) (Not tax deductible)
2) Masonic Charity for Andrew Jackson Lodge No.120 (tax deductible)
3) Scholarship Fund (tax deductible)

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

- Booker T. Washington (Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.)

PHILANTHROPY

 The word philanthropy comes from the Greek word philanthropia, meaning the love of mankind. Throughout history, human civilization has depended upon kindness directed towards strangers. Modern philanthropy has roots in the ancient world. The ancient Greeks considered philanthropy fundamental to democracy, and many countries and cultures have practiced various forms of philanthropy.

Our Lodge is committed to supporting organizations that positively impact our local communities which include the following:

Scholarship is to be created not by compulsion, but by awakening a pure interest in knowledge.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

SCHOLARSHIP

 The brethren of Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 commissioned this special edition challenge coin to commemorates the 100th anniversary of the laying of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (GWMNM) cornerstone on February 20th, 2023. Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 has been meeting in the Memorial’s North Lodge Room since 1949.

The challenge coin design features Andrew Jackson’s portrait as depicted on the 2008 $1 coin produced by the U.S. Mint as part of their Presidential $1 Coin Program. The 2008 Andrew Jackson $1 coin was used by Past District Deputy Grand Master David Benjamin Browning as a special token during his year as Master of Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 in 2009. The back of this special edition challenge coin depicts an image of the GWMNM with the Square and Compasses overlaid with the Masonic G symbol representing Masonry. The borders of the coin and the Square and Compasses with Masonic G are colored green, both to compliment the gold tone of the original 2008 coin, as well as to symbolize Andrew Jackson’s birthday on March 15, 1767, which always falls on or near Saint Patrick’s Day, which is noted for its use of the color green.

This special edition coin is rare as it was procured in a small batch of only 100 coins to mark this special occasion. You may obtain on of these rare, special edition coins by donating $50 to the Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made while attending an Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 Stated Communication or other event, or by contacting the Lodge at andrewjacksonlodge120@gmail.com. Proceeds from the sale of this special edition challenge coin will be used to support our Andrew Jackson Scholarship Fund.

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Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 120 Scholarship Fund
  1. A maximum of Two (2) $2,000.00 Andrew Jackson Masonic Scholarships will be awarded in the current academic year to two (2) full-time graduating seniors or current higher education applicants. There will be no discrimination based on the federally protected classes. These scholarships are underwritten and sponsored by Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Alexandria, Virginia. Applicant must be a family member of a current or deceased Andrew Jackson No. 120 Lodge member in good standing OR a current Andrew Jackson No. 120 Lodge member in good standing.
  2. The scholarship award shall be considered a gift to the recipient provided that he/she submit confirmation of enrollment of the college or university of their choice. Proof of enrollment must be forwarded to the Scholarship Committee Chairman prior to the start of the first semester/course in the form of an official document provided by the Office of Registrar which provides the following information: Degree Program and Student ID number. At the request of the Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 Scholarship Committee, the scholarship recipient is required to provide the Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 Scholarship Committee with proof of completion of academic work at the end of each semester, specifically a copy from the academic institution of completed courses/grades for that time period.
  3. The scholarship award will be presented to the recipient by a Member of the Andrew Jackson No. 120 Lodge. If the recipient withdraws from the college or university during the academic year for any reason other than continued illness or personal hardship resulting in an inability to attend; the scholarship award shall then be repaid to Andrew Jackson Lodge No.120 within two (2) years of the date of the withdrawal. A statement of withdrawal FOR ANY REASON must be forwarded to the Scholarship Committee Chairman: aj120secretary@gmail.com
  4. Awarding of this scholarship shall be judged on the basis of:
    • Quality of the submitted essay
    • Complete scholarship application with supporting documents summarized in para. 2 under GENERAL INFORMATION
    • Required information for tax reporting purposes (ie. SSN)
  5. Applications for this scholarship may be obtained from the Andrew Jackson No. 120 website at: Scholarship Application
The completed application and all required documentation MUST be submitted to the Andrew Jackson No. 120 Scholarship Committee Chair no later than March 1, 2024. All applications and documentation materials become the property of the Scholarship Committee and will not be returned. Acknowledgement of all applicants received will be provided from the Committee Chair by email (on the application) or by telephone (on the application). Applications will be reviewed between March 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024. Awards will be announced no later than April 18, 2024.

Presidential $1 Coin Program

 The United States Mint honors our nation’s presidents by issuing $1 coins featuring their images in the order that they served. The program began in 2007 with Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison.

Note: In December 2011, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner directed that the United States Mint suspend minting and issuing circulating Presidential $1 Coins. Regular circulating demand for the coins will be met through the Federal Reserve Bank’s existing inventory of circulating coins minted prior to 2012.

The Presidential $1 Coin Act (Public Law 109-145) seeks to revitalize the design of United States coins and return circulating coinage to its position as an object of aesthetic beauty in its own right. Accordingly, the Presidential $1 Coins feature larger, more dramatic artwork, as well as edge-incused inscriptions of the year of minting or issuance, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the mint mark.

From 2007 to 2016, the Mint issued four Presidential $1 Coins per year, each with a common reverse design featuring a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty. The composition of the Presidential $1 Coins is identical to that of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar and the Native American $1 Coins.

Background

A citizen of Tennessee, Andrew Jackson was the first president elected from west of the Appalachian Mountains. As a boy, he fought in the Revolutionary War. Jackson gained national prominence as a hero of the War of 1812, and was nicknamed “Old Hickory” for his firm discipline as commander of his troops.

As president, Jackson worked to strengthen the executive branch and vetoed more bills than the six prior presidents combined. His renomination to a second term marked the first use of a national nominating convention to select a party’s candidate instead of a congressional caucus.

A strong proponent of federal supremacy over states’ rights, he took a forceful stance against the state of South Carolina’s attempt to nullify a federal tariff, declaring “Our federal Union: it must be preserved.” President Jackson authorized three southern branches of the United States Mint in 1835 – New Orleans, Charlotte, and Dahlonega.

Coinage Legislation under President Andrew Jackson:
  • Act of June 25, 1834 — This Act regulates the legal-tender value of certain foreign silver coins
  • Act of June 28, 1834 — This Act regulates the legal-tender value of certain foreign gold coins.
  • Act of June 28, 1834 — This Act sets the standard weight of U.S. gold coins, sets the standard for payment for gold or silver deposited for coinage, sets the rate at which gold coins shall be receivable, and directs the setting apart of gold coins for assay.
  • Act of March 3, 1835 — This Act establishes a branch of the United States Mint for the coinage of silver and gold at New Orleans, Louisiana, and branches for the coinage of gold at Charlotte, North Carolina and Dahlonega, Georgia.
  • Act of January 18, 1837 — This Act:
    • sets forth the duties and increases the salaries of the officers of the United States Mint, with the Director earning $3,500 per year including travel expenses;
    • sets forth the composition and weight of gold and silver coins;
    • mandates that each coin struck at the United States Mint shall have on one side an impression emblematic of liberty with an inscription of the word “Liberty” and the year of the coinage; and that the reverse of gold and silver coins shall have the representation of an eagle with the inscription “United States of America.” The figure of the eagle shall be omitted from the reverse of the dime, half dime, cent, and half cent;
    • makes provisions for gold and silver bullion that is brought to the Mint for coinage.
United States Mint Directors appointed by President Jackson
1835 Robert Maskell Patterson, M.D — Sixth Director of the United States Mint
Characteristics

Obverse Inscriptions:
  • ANDREW JACKSON
  • 7TH PRESIDENT
  • 1829-1837

Reverse Inscriptions:
  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • $1

Incused (edge) Inscriptions:
  • 2008
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • IN GOD WE TRUST
  • mint mark ("P", "D," or "S")

Mint and Mint Mark:
Artist Information:
Obverse
  • Sculptor: Jim Licaretz, Sculptor-Engraver
  • Designer: Joel Iskowitz

Reverse:
  • Don Everhart, Sculptor-Engraver

Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.
- Andrew Jackson