Brother Hilmer H. Krebs, Singleton Lodge's oldest Mason, passed to the celestial lodge on April 5, 2020 at the age of 105. He was raised on September 3, 1946 and was a Mason for 73 years. The above picture is the presentation of his 70th anniversary certificate from the Grand Lodge of DC. He was also an Honorary Member of Patuxent Lodge No. 218 of Maryland. Brother Krebs worked for the FBI for 27 years, and was honored on his 100th birthday by the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. Below is an excerpt from his obituary: "Hilmer was born on November 20, 1914 and raised on a farm in Wilson County, Texas, the son of Walter Adolph and Emma Helene Krebs. Hilmer graduated from the Texas College of Arts & Industries in Kingsville Texas in July 1940 and immediately set off for Washington, DC where he met and married Alice May Robinson. Three sons, Richard Dietrich, Raymond Mitchell, and Lawrence Walter honored life for Alice and Hilmer. Hilmer supported his country and community during his lifetime, serving as a Metropolitan Police Officer, a White House Police Officer, a US Coast Guardsman, and a Special Agent of the FBI. He was active in the Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Order in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia."

​Sources: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/springfield-va/hilmer-krebs-9112150

​Bro. Schuyler Colfax was the 17th Vice President of the United States (1869-1873). Bro. Colfax was born March 23, 1823 in NYC and moved with his family to Indiana in 1836. He was the owner and editor of St. Joseph Valley Register of South Bend, IN; a member of Congress from 1855-1869 and Speaker of the House from 1863-1869. Bro. Colfax’s Masonic career began, while serving in Congress, in Lebanon Lodge No. 7 on August 15, 1856. He was initiated in Lebanon Lodge, and passed and raised in St. Joseph Lodge No. 45 of South Bend, IN on September 5, 1856. He became President Grant’s first Vice President in 1869, serving until 1873. In 1873 he was implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal, and although the charges were unproven, it ruined his political career. He makes a memorable appearance in Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln as Speaker of the House, portrayed by actor Bill Raymond, during the vote for the passage of the 13th Amendment. Colfax was the presiding officer for the vote, and, unusually for a presiding officer, asked that his name be read in the roll call, and proceeded to vote for the passage of the 13th Amendment. The 14th Amendment was also passed during his Speakership.

​Sources: 10,000 Famous Freemasons A Century of Lebanon Lodge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_%28film%29

​In 1870 Lebanon Lodge gave Naval Lodge a white marble altar, still in use today. The altar was crafted by WB Alexander Rutherford (PM1858,1859) and 10 other Brethren from scraps of high quality marble from the building of the House and Senate wings of the US Capitol. Lebanon Lodge was composed for many years almost entirely of operative masons, and WB Rutherford was a master stone cutter and inspector of marble for the Capitol project. The altar was used for years by all Lodges at the Masonic Temple at 9th and D Street. When Lebanon Lodge moved to a new building in 1870, it was given to Naval Lodge with the inscription: "NAVAL No. 4 from LEBANON No. 7 A.L. 5870". This altar is used for the raising of new Brethren and the installation of new officers in Naval Lodge, and is a reminder of the fraternal link between our Lodges.

​Source: The White Marble Altar Description (with thanks to Peter Brusoe)

​In February 1954, Renah Camalier, PGM visited and spoke to Lebanon Lodge No. 7 on the merits of the York and Scottish Rites to Blue Lodge Masons. MWB Camalier had a distinguished Masonic and legal career. He was raised in Benjamin B. French Lodge in 1922, served as its Master in 1932, and Grand Master of the District of Columbia in 1952. He was 2nd Assistant Secretary of the Navy, examiner of the FTC, assistant US Attorney, a fuel coordinator for OPA in WWII, and appointed a Commissioner of Washington, DC. He was also a York Rite Mason, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Past Potentate of Almas Shrine, an Honorary Member of several Lodges, including Hope Lodge No. 20, and a member of numerous other Masonic organizations. During the remodeling of the White House in the Truman Administration, President Harry S. Truman, PGM of Missouri, asked MWB Camalier to distribute stones with Masonic markings recovered from the White House to each of the US Grand Lodges. MWB Camalier presented the Grand Lodge of Missouri’s stone to MWB Truman and the Grand Lodge of Missouri in September 1953. (The photo was taken in the Oval Office, with Brother Camalier standing next to Brother Truman. Almas Shrine was presenting a bid to President Truman to open the first performance of the 8th Annual Shrine Circus)

​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.