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Treasures in the Basement
By Peter Brusoe, Worshipful Master The Eagle Lodge No. 1893
Each year for Thanksgiving, Christmas/ Chanukkah, and Easter/Passover, the surviving spouses of William R. SingletonHope-Lebanon Lodge No. 7 are sent a gift, generally flowers. No one knew how long we have been doing this for, but it’s as much of our lodge tradition as the famous crab feast, the festive board, or our community engagement. We can now say at least back to the 1890s.
MWB Villarreal and I were going through the Singleton basement to determine what belonged to our Eastern Star Chapter, Friendship Lodge No. 17, and what belonged to other organizations. (It is usually pretty easy to identify Eastern Star, if there are women’s names in the book, chances are it’s an Eastern Star Chapter.)
We came across a book that at first we thought was Eastern Star. It contained names of women, it listed children and details such as “Christmas Card” or “Visited on” with the date. Then, we came across three other books, when we opened the second of which, we realized that these were not Eastern Star Rosters, rather they were “widow books” belonging to Lebanon Lodge No. 7.
In looking through these books, Lebanon Lodge No. 7, the precursor to today’s William R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge No. 7, had a very robust widows and orphans care program. Each widow of a member had her own page, her birthday, the birthday of her children, and her husband’s death. Notes were made each time a brother visited the widow, or flowers sent, and eventually when she died. There were also notes about the children including needs they may have, what they are doing now, or in some cases when they passed on.
A total of four books were recovered and will be digitized in the near future. At first glance at least one of the widows was
receiving visits, cards, and flowers as early as 1890, though we suspect when it is fully digitized it may go further back than that.
These books were lovingly maintained and regularly updated, which speaks to the care and effort that our brothers of yesteryear put into caring for our widows and orphans. It’s a good reminder that if you haven’t done so recently, reach out and see how the surviving spouses of your lodge are doing!
Among the other interesting items found in the basement –
Minutes from the Eastern Star Meeting the week after the Kennedy assassination:
In the minutes the chapter secretary reports that they had to have the meeting, but attendance was down because of the tragic assignation of President Kennedy last week and the chapter remembered the late president in their prayers. A 48 Star Flag: Property of Barristers
Lodge, one of the lodges incorporated into Singleton #7. The age of the flag is unknown, but at least dates back to before 1952.
The Cryptic Masons use cherubim for part of their degree work. Two ornate and heavy cherubim were found in a box. We think they are iron and painted gold, but absolutely beautiful and date back to 1936
DeMolay Trophies: There’s a lot of debate about which was the most successful
DeMolay Chapter in Nation’s Capital
DeMolay. Based on the boxes and boxes of trophies we found for everything from swimming, to basketball to international membership accomplishments it was clear that it was Potomac/Tenley –Chevy
Chase Chapter Checks written to MESH for The
Night of Thrills: This huge annual fundraiser enjoyed the wide support of both Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star
Chapters. We found several canceled checks for both.
I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg, too. As we continue to digitally archive these items, we will be sure to keep sharing them with you.
