​General John Pershing was born in 1860 in Missouri. He graduated from West Point in 1886 and went on to serve in the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, the Philippines, and in pursuit of Pancho Villa into Mexico. He led US military forces in WWI, and was chief of staff of the Army from 1921-24. He is one of less than 20 officers in US history to attain a 5-star rank, which he did in 1919 after his service in WWI. Brother Pershing is accompanied in this honor with his Brethren: Gen. George Washington, Gen. George C. Marshall, Adm. Ernest King, Gen. Douglas McArthur, Gen. Hap Arnold, and Gen. Omar Bradley. Brother Pershing was raised on December 22, 1888 in Lincoln Lodge No. 19, Lincoln, Nebraska. He received his 50 year award in 1939; was a York Rite Mason, exalted in Lincoln Chapter and knighted in Mt. Moriah Commandery in 1894; a Scottish Rite Mason, coroneted with the 33rd degree in January 1930; and a Shriner. Brother Pershing was made an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, Stansbury Lodge of Washington, DC, and William R. Singleton Lodge of Washington, DC. A moment of silence was held for Brother Pershing at Singleton Lodge the day that he passed to the celestial lodge, July 15, 1948.

​Brother Rev. John W. Hamilton, 33°, Chancellor of American University from 1916-1922, was born in March 1845. He visited and presented to Singleton Lodge #30 in 1921 a proposal for an AU Lectureship on Freemasonry. A motion was passed for the Master to confer with Brother Hamilton and the Grand Master for the consummation of this proposal. Upon further discussion the motion was amended to include three more members and to thank Bro. Hamilton for the honor of Singleton Lodge #30 to father the proposal. Bro. Hamilton became a Methodist Bishop in 1900, and was pastor of congregations in Ohio and Massachusetts, before succeeding his brother, Rev. Franklin Elmer Ellsworth Hamilton, as Chancellor of AU. Bro. Hamilton is included in 10,000 Famous Freemasons.

​Bro. Col. Victor C. Swearingen passed to the Celestial Lodge on January 15, 1968. Bro. Swearingen was initiated, passed, and raised in Mt. Gilead Lodge #255 in Science Hill, Kentucky and affiliated with William R. Singleton Lodge #30 on May 5, 1960. MWB President Harry S. Truman appointed Bro. Swearingen, who previously served as Special Assistant to the Attorney General, as alternative judge to the Military Tribunal. In this capacity, Bro. Swearingen served on the bench during The Doctor’s Trial, where 23 defendants were accused of participating in Nazi human experimentation. 7 defendants were acquitted, 7 were sentenced to death, and the remainder received 10 years to life imprisonment. Singleton Lodge stood for a moment of silent prayer in honor of Bro. Swearingen.

On November 2, 1938, John W. Chappell, Past Master of Wm. R. Singleton Lodge # 30 passed to the celestial lodge above. Worshipful Brother Chappell was a charter member of the lodge and a very well respected physician within the Tenleytown community. His family was one of twelve families that dominated the daily life in Tenleytown. His son Sidney L. Chappell, also a physician and freemason, served as the head of psychiatry for the U.S. Army. Past Master Chappell's house is prominently displayed (right) on one of the Tenleytown Heritage Trail signs that dawn our streets. This house was located right behind our Lodge and served as his doctor's office. ​

On Saturday, July 25, 1903, the brethren of William R. Singleton Lodge #30 joined the Grand Lodge in dedicating a monument erected to the memory of late Bro. R.W. Grand Secretary, William R. Singleton, at Oak Hill Cemetery. Past Master Frank H. Thomas, the first master of William R. Singleton Lodge #30, gave a moving address to those present. R.W.B. Singleton died on February 23, 1901 at the age of 82. ​

On March 2, 1939, the brethren of William R. Singleton Lodge #30, learned of the passing of Very Rev. Brother George Carl Fitch Bratenahl, a charter member of the lodge. Very Rev. Brother Bratenahl was named canon of Washington National Cathedral in 1903, and served as Dean from 1916 to 1936. He also played an integral role in the completion of the Cathedral as the Chairman of the Building Committee. His wife, Florence, was the designer of the beautiful Bishop’s Garden located on the Cathedral’s grounds. They are both buried in the Bethlehem Chapel inside the Cathedral.  ​