Honored to Wear His Jewel

My 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 Master to Master to bear this jewel. The fi rst name ame that was engraved upon the he jewel was Charles C. Holben n who was Worshipful Master of of Lebanon Lodge No. 7 in 1952. . I wondered about who this s brother was, what happened d in his lodge, and in this grand nd jurisdiction, during his year as as Master.

Charles Clifford Holben was was born in 1895. He joined Lebanon non Lodge No. 7, and was initiated ated December 20, 1935, passed on d on January 17, 1936, and raised on d on February 21, 1936. Back then, hen, Lebanon Lodge met on the fi rst fi rst and third Fridays of the month. nth. While WB Holben was Master, r, R. Hilton Gore, brother of our r treasurer W. Fred Gore, was s the Junior Warden of Wm. R. R. Singleton Lodge No. 30, and d Hugh Y. Bernard was Junior or Deacon of Hope Lodge No. 20. 0.

The total number of Freemasons ons in DC was 25,265, of which ch Lebanon Lodge contributed d 1317 brethren. During his s year, the lodge raised 29 men to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

Several special events took k place in our grand jurisdiction n that year in which WB Holben en took part:

Kevin P. Jay, Past Master

Wm. R. Singleton – Hope - Lebanon Lodge No. 7

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 Lodge was called to lay a corLod nerstone at the Church of ne Self-Realization Fellowship of Se Washington DC located at 4710 W Western Ave., NW. W

The Grand Master re-enacted the consecration of Washingt ton Centennial Lodge No. 14, ton which had been granted its charwhi ter on November 4, 1852. The ter Grand Lodge offi cers wore clothGra ing appropriate to that period ing during the re-enactment. dur

Perhaps the most signifi cant Pe occurrence was the discovery oc of stones bearing the markings of of Freemasonry when the White of

House was being remodeled. Ho

These stones were presented T to the Grand Lodge of DC along to with a letter to the Grand Masw ter from the President of the te

United States, Harry S Truman. Un

Worshipful Brother Holben Wo passed to the Celestial Lodge pass on November 30, 1968. He left on behind many brethren and b 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. ■