Who We Are

The Patriot Lodge is something special in the more than 300-year history of freemasonry. It is an academic lodge, tied by affiliation to a university. There are other academic lodges, but we’re about GMU; our lodge brothers include students, faculty members, alumni, and friends of the university.

As Mason’s Masons, we are part of the GMU community as well as the worldwide fraternity of freemasonry. When we meet each other, on campus or elsewhere, we recognize a firm bond of brotherhood that grows out of our commitment to what a man should be.

As an academic lodge, we share involvement in a kind of knowledge that each of us can use to become a better man. We apply the time-honored tools of freemasonry “symbols we inherited from the operative masons whose stonework built the great cathedrals of Europe, which we use now to shape character. We employ the intellectual tools of academia“ which we learn in GMU coursework “ to hone our ideas.

But freemasonry is far more than work “ it’s a bond of friendship. As brothers, we enjoy life among men from many different backgrounds who are united by a common bond. Our shared commitment creates a shared trust.

We welcome you to visit with us on the third Friday of every month at GMU Fairfax campus, Roberts House, at the corner of Roberts Road and Shenandoah Lane (no meeting in June and July). Non-Masons are welcome to join us at 6:30 PM to socialize and ask questions. The Stated Communication (business meeting) begins at 7:00, which is for Masons only. Please consult our website calendar for the latest meeting information or for general inquiries you can write us at: thepatriotlodge@gmail.com

2024 Officers

EL-MEHDI MARHOUM……………………………………..Worshipful Master
IRA DREYFUSS……………………………………………….Senior Warden
BEN MEROLA…………………………………………………Junior Warden
CHRISTOPHER R. CHRZANOWSKI, PM……………………Treasurer
JON V. SHELTON, PDDGM………………………………………….Secretary & LIW
GEORGE BOTIC……………………………………..Senior Deacon
NICK RUBINO………………………………………………..Junior Deacon
GEORGE BOTIC SR………………………………………………Chaplain
JARED PURCELL……………………………………………..Senior Steward
ANTHONY KEATTS………………………………………………Junior Steward
GUY BARNES………………………………………………Marshal
NICK SLUSHER……………………………………………..Musician
KEVIN PENA………………………………………………..Tiler
JON RUARK, PM………………………………………………..Lodge Education Officer
DON MCANDREWS, PDDGM……………………………………..Masonic Home Ambassador
JARED PURCELL…………………………….Blood Coordinator