HONORED TO WEAR HIS JEWEL
Honored to Wear His Jewel Kevin P. Jay, Past Master Wm. R. Singleton – Hope - Lebanon Lodge No. 7
y name is Kevin Jay, and I was Worshipful Master of Wm. R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge No. 7 in 1998. At the end of my term in the East, I was presented with a Past Master’s jewel. Upon examination, I saw that I was not the fi rst Worshipful M Master aste as ste ter to bear this jewel. The first name a me me h he that was engraved upon the n jewel was Charles C. Holben who was Worshipful Master off Lebanon Lodge No. 7 in 1952.. I wondered about who thiss d brother was, what happened nd d in his lodge, and in this grand jurisdiction, during his year aass Master.
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was as Charles Clifford Holben wa no n on on born in 1895. He joined Lebanon Lodge No. 7, and was initiated ated at ted d December 20, 1935, passed d on n January 17, 1936, and raised d on on February 21, 1936. Back then, hen n, Lebanon Lodge met on the fi firrrst st st and third Fridays of the month. nth th. h. While WB Holben was Master, r, R. Hilton Gore, brother of ourr treasurer W. Fred Gore, wass the Junior Warden of Wm. R R.. Singleton Lodge No. 30, and d Hugh Y. Bernard was Junior or or Deacon of Hope Lodge No. 20. 0. 0. The total number of Freemasons ons ns in DC was 25,265, of which ch ch Lebanon Lodge contributed d 1317 brethren. During hiss year, the lodge raised 29 men to the sublime degree of Master Mason. k Several special events took n place in our grand jurisdiction een n that year in which WB Holben took part:
The Voice of Freemasonry
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The Master’s Association held the “Night of Thrills” on June 13, and presented a check to the Grand Master for $28,000 for the Masonic & Eastern Star Home from the previous year’s fundraiser. A Special Communication of the Grand Lod Lo od Lodge was called to lay a corne n e nerstone at the Church of S Se e Self-Realization Fellowship of W Washington DC located at 4710 W Western Ave., NW. The Grand Master re-enacted tthe consecration of Washingtton to on Centennial Lodge No. 14, wh w h i had been granted its charwhich te er on November 4, 1852. The ter Gra Gr ra Grand Lodge officers wore clothiing in n g appropriate to that period d du r during the re-enactment. P Pe e Perhaps the most significant o oc c occurrence was the discovery off stones bearing the markings o of Freemasonry when the White of H Ho o House was being remodeled. T These stones were presented to the Grand Lodge of DC along to w with a letter to the Grand Mastter te e from the President of the Un U n United States, Harry S Truman. W Wo o Worshipful Brother Holben pass pa ssss passed to the Celestial Lodge on n November 30, 1968. He left b behind many brethren and friends whom we still know and recognize today. I am honored to wear his jewel and hope to continue the tradition of passing it down to another Past Master when my span of days is concluded. ■
