Blog Posts

December Historic Fact of the Month

12/1/2018

Lebanon Lodge #7

On December 6, 1811, the brethren of Lebanon Lodge #7 initiated its first petitioner of this newly formed lodge, Roger C. Weightman. Little did the brethren know, but this initiate would not only become the 8th mayor of Washington, DC in 1824 but also the 10th Grand Master of the District of Columbia in 1833. Most Worshipful Brother Weightman contributed much to DC society a mason, politician, civic leader, printer, philanthropist, patent office librarian, general, and DC socialite. Upon his death in 1876 a school, named the Weightman School, was built in his honor.

November Historic Fact of the Month

11/1/2018

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

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.

October Historic Fact of the Month

10/1/2018

Barristers Lodge No. 48

On October 2, 1940, Barristers Lodge No. 48 invited Rev. Dr. Oscar F. Blackwelder, Pastor of Luther Church of the Reformation to deliver his famous speech entitled "Sun Crowned Men". The five Sun Crowned men he mentioned were Robert E. Lee –purity; Abraham Lincoln-friendship; Theodore Roosevelt-determination; John R. Matt-vision; Russell Conwell-service. This speech was given over 1,600 times by Dr. Blackwelder throughout the nation. Dr. Blackwelder went on to become the President of the Washington Federation of Churches.

September Historic Fact of the Month

9/1/2018

Hope Lodge #20

On September 16, 1985, the brethren of Hope Lodge #20 hosted the brethren of Concordia Lodge #13 from Baltimore, Maryland. This ordinary stated communication was, in fact, extraordinary as it was the 60th anniversary of Hope Lodge's Bible which was originally gifted by Concordia Lodge on September 1, 1925. On this evening, the 1925 minutes were read before members of Concordia Lodge initiated the rededication ceremony of the Bible and presented Hope Lodge with a beautifully framed picture of both lodges at the 1925 joint meeting which was subsequently hung in the lodge hall. It's also worth noting that many members of William R. Singleton Lodge #30 were also in attendance as they were in the midst of merger negotiations with Hope Lodge.

July Historic Fact of the Month

7/1/2018

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

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.

June Historic Fact of the Month

6/1/2018

Lebanon Lodge # 7

On June 6, 1890. by special invitation, 85 brethren from St. John's Lodge, No. 34, of Baltimore, Md., paid a visit to Lebanon Lodge #7. A delegation met them at the Baltimore and Ohio station and accompanied by a band of music brought from Baltimore, they marched to the Temple. A fraternal welcome was given to the visitors by Worshipful Master E. J. Bernhard and the Worshipful Master of St. John's returned the greeting by presenting a beautiful imitation set of jewels tastefully designed from flowers.

May Historic Fact of the Month

5/1/2018

Hope Lodge # 20

Hope Lodge No. 20, chartered on May 28, 1967, was the first lodge formed in the jurisdiction after the end of the Civil War. The lodge was consecrated and instituted at Central Masonic Hall, Ninth and D Streets, N.W., in the presence of twenty-five founding members and a large concourse of visitors. The first Master of Hope Lodge was John Cornelius Kondrup who was the Vice Consul of the Embassy of Denmark. Worshipful Brother Kondrup was well known and highly esteemed in diplomatic circles, and in general society in Washington, DC, and was respected by all who knew him.

April Historic Fact of the Month

4/1/2018

Lebanon Lodge # 7

On April 1, 1865, Lebanon Lodge #7 appointed a committee to draft resolutions of respect to the memory of our late brother Lorenzo Dow Farnham who died while a prisoner of war in Andersonville, Georgia. Brother Farnham was a Union soldier in Company A, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Vermont. He was captured in Weldon Railroad, VA on June 23, 1864 and died two months later on August 20, 1864. Brother Farnham was survived by his wife, Harriett Fuller, and three sons, Percy Dwight Farnham, Herbert A. Farnham, and Warren Pease Farnham. Herbert went on to become second lieutenant of the Vermont National Guard and a member of Passumpsic Lodge No. 27.

March Historic Fact of the Month

3/1/2018

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

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.

February Historic Fact of the Month

2/1/2018

William R. Singleton Lodge #30

On February 4, 1965, William R. Singleton Lodge #30 donated to the William R. Singleton Temple Association two masonic aprons that were over 100-years-old for display within the Temple. These aprons were generously given to the lodge by the wife of our deceased Brother George B. Templeman. To this day, these framed aprons hang proudly in our dining hall for all brethren and visitors to see.

<<Previous

Forward>>

Lebanon Lodge #7

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

Barristers Lodge No. 48

Hope Lodge #20

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

Lebanon Lodge # 7

Hope Lodge # 20

Lebanon Lodge # 7

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

William R. Singleton Lodge #30

Categories