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April History Fact of the Month

4/1/2019

Wm. R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge #7

On April 15, 1791 the first boundary stone of the District of Columbia was officially and Masonically placed at Jones Point in Alexandria, by Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22. A group of surveyors, led by Major Andrew Ellicott, marked the 100 square mile district, by proceeding, from Jones Point, 10 miles Northwest, 10 miles Northeast, 10 miles Southeast, and finally 10 miles Southwest, placing a boundary stone approximately every mile, for a total of 40 stones. All markers have an original or replica stone, and the Jones Point stone dates to 1794 (in the picture behind the glass). On March 7, 1991, a Grand Lodge bulletin was read at William R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge #7 inviting Brethren to a bicentennial re-enactment of this august event. For more information about the stones, please see here:http://www.boundarystones.org/.

March History Fact of the Month

3/1/2019

Wm. R. Singleton Lodge #30

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.

February History Fact of the Month

2/1/2019

Wm. R. Singleton Lodge #30

Bro. Gen. Dr. Sidney Lovett Chappel was elected to receive the degrees of Freemasonry from Singleton Lodge #30 on February 21, 1918. Bro. Chappel was born on July 22, 1886 in Washington, DC, and earned his M.D. from George Washington University in 1909. He joined the United States Army Medical Corps in 1913; served in both WWI and WWII, and as head of Neuropsychiatry at Walter Reed in the 1930’s; and advanced to the rank of Brigadier General in 1945. He received the Legion of Merit and retired from the Medical Corps in 1946. He was also a member of Watertown Lodge No. 49 in Watertown, NY, and is included in 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Bro. Chappel and his wife Florence, are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 1, Site 942-B.

January Historic Fact of the Month

1/1/2019

William R. Singleton Lodge #30

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.

Bro. Swearingen seated at the far right

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.

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Wm. R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge #7

Wm. R. Singleton Lodge #30

Wm. R. Singleton Lodge #30

William R. Singleton Lodge #30

Lebanon Lodge #7

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

Barristers Lodge No. 48

Hope Lodge #20

William R. Singleton Lodge # 30

Lebanon Lodge # 7

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