Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-23

associates in the Masonic order with which
a large part of his later years had been so
intimately identified found in him as of
yoTe that encyclopaedia knowledge Of every
thing pertaining to the order; for II Is well
known that Mr.. Singleton was looked upon
as one of the greatest Masonic authorities
in the world, and as such he was freely
consulted and. as his habit all through
his life. he gave without stint the informa-
ton which he had acquired as the result
of studies pursued through many years. 1t
may be said that all through busy career
Mr.. Singleton kept alive an interest in two
subjects. namely, Biblical and Masonic
archaeology, and his researches entitled him
to the authority which was ever recognized
and which gave to his opinion great weight.
He was also a cultured Greek scholar.
He was a Mason all his adult life, his
Masonic history beginning siXty-One years
ago. For about half of that period he has
held the important position of grand see
rotary of the Grand Lodge of the District,
and his office in Masonic Temple, at the
corner of 9th and F streets, was the resort
of the Masons of the city, especially those
who wished information either about the
past history or the present business Of the
order. He had taken every degree in Ma
sonry, and the thirty-third degree was
emeritus in recognition of his services 10
the order.
He was member of Pentalpha Lodge,
No. %, F. A A. NJ; Mt. Horeb R. A. Chap
ter. No. .; Washington Commandery, No. !,
X. T., and also of the Scottish Rite
His Early career.
Mr.. Singleton had a rather adventurous
career and the experiences of his early
years in the west was a favorite topic with
him when talking to his friends. He
seemed to love to dwell upon the stirring
scenes of his vigorous manhood, laid as
they were in the Mississippi valley. that
section of the country which was then be-
ing settled and reclaimed for the uses of
civilized man. He was born in Norfolk
Va, the oath of October, 1878 and went to
the college in Middlebury, Vt, where he
received his education By a singular coin
cidence, as it afterward proved, Rev. Byron
Sunderland, D. D., was at this college at
the same time. and so these two men who
spent the greater portions of their lives in
this city were educated at the same place.
Mr.. Singleton displayed a taste for civil
engineering, and after leaving college he
went to St. Louis, arriving there in the year
1886. There he followed his chosen profess
sion, being engaged in the preliminary sur
veys for the building of the Missouri and
Pacific railroad. He subsequently was
made state surveyor of Illinois He always
attributed the attacks of rheumatism
which he had in his later years 20 the in
fiuence of the lowlands in Egypt, as the
southern portion of that state was known.
He returned TO the east about the year
1916, and engaged in his profession in the
Norfolk navy yard He married Miss Emma
Reed, who died in the year 1850 and of
the five children of this marriage only Mr..
William II. Singleton of this city survives.
II married for the second time Miss Mary
&. Frisby of Baltimore, and one child sur
wives who is now Mrs. J. b. n. Berry and
at whose house Mr.. Singleton made his
home during the latter years of his life,
and where he died. In the year 1851 Mr..
Singleton went 20 Pensacola Fla. where
he in charge of the engineering work
at the navy yard in that place. Suisse
quently he removed to Baltimore and final
| ly, in the year 1863, he came to this city
and was employed in the engineering
branch of the War Department. and had
charge of the work of building forts about
this city.
AT the close of the war he was appointed
examiner in the patent office. where he
continued until the year 1913, when he re-
signed and engaged in business here as a
solicitor of patents. 1t was, however. as
Mason that Mr.. Singleton became most
widely known in late years. About his last
labor was TO complete a work on Masonry
which the death of the late Albert Mackay
had left unfinished.
charge of the Grand Lodge of Masons of
the District
There's Grape on the Door.
y copy of the well-remembered poem by
Gen. W. p Innes, entitled Ring the Bell
Softly, There's Grape on the Door" was
found in Mr.. Singleton's pocket book The
first verse of the poem is:
There's crepe the door. 'Twere manly to weep
Why nOtt one we love sleeps his last sleep.
An unhdden guest with stern message came,
search ont his heart strings, sought he in VAIN
Bid him TO lay all his working tools by
For rest, long rest, in the Grand Lodge high;
Bid him LIES cares, all LIES lay down
Faithful be was. there awaits him crown.
The slow tolng bell, the crepe on the door
Tell those passing by his labor is Ger
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