December 6, 2023 • 10 mins
Embark on a historical journey with us, your hosts Chris and Fred, as we unpack the annual Masonic trip to Washington D.C., a tradition richly steeped in camaraderie and history. We promise you'll acquire a deeper appreciation for this annual pilgrimage as we chat with our erudite guest, Stephen Silver. Together, we trace the origins of this trip, from its initiation in 2016 by Grandmaster Stan Hudson to the myriad of activities it encompasses, such as our time-honored visit to the Potomac Lodge and George Washington National Masonic Memorial.
Boldly delving into the patriotic tradition of honoring those who have selflessly served our nation, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Steve. The significance of this practice, its impact on younger generations, and the anticipation surrounding the upcoming event honoring four historic contributors - all promise to keep you riveted. We are confident this episode will not only enlighten but also inspire you, highlighting the enduring ties of tradition, history, and camaraderie that bind us all. Tune in, and let's explore together.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey Chris, yeah, fred , what's a Mason?
That's a really good question,fred.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
You've reached the internet's home for all things
masonry.
Join Chris and I as we plumbthe depths of our ancient craft,
from the common gavel to thetrowel.
Nothing is off the table, sograb your tools and let's get to
work.
This is On the Level.
Well, chris, we are.
We just continue to rollthrough.
There.
It is the Rebel Yell one moretime.
(00:36):
Well, that was an awesomeinterview with Jeremy Incredible
.
We are definitely going to havehim back.
There's no doubt about it.
He is a lifer we are definitelygoing to harass him and follow
him around until he says yesagain.
So we'll get him back on theshow, no matter what.
Steve brother, how are you?
It's good to see you.
You cannot hear me.
You should be able to hear meloud and clear, man we have.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Oh, it could be, check and make sure you're
plugged in fully here.
Now we're good.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Oh, there you go, there you go.
You're going to have to speakright into that microphone,
brother.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
This is actually one of our very close neighbors from
Hillsborough Lodge.
Hillsborough Lodge yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah, we met up there at the symposium last year it
was the first time I met you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, that was a lot of fun.
We had a great time Rightworshipful.
Yeah, Right worshipful.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Stephen Silver's.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Stephen Silver's yeah , yeah, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Hey, no problem.
No problem at all, man, we wantto get as many people on as we
possibly can.
All right, so give us theskinny.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
John was talking a little bit about the history of
so originally this started outin 2016, when Stan Hudson became
the grandmaster of Masons ofFlorida Right.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
You were district deputy there.
I was a district deputy for him.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Bill was a district deputy for him.
Yes, we were also districtinstructors at the same time the
year before.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Right.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And several of the other guys that are here were
also Really District deputiesfor Stan.
We were known as Hudson'sheroes.
Okay, and after Stan'sopportunity to sit in the grand
east at the Grand Lodge ofFlorida, Bill came up with this
idea hey, let's go to Washington.
And because we wanted to visitthe guys from Potomac, number
(02:15):
five and attend theirinstallation.
Oh, and while we're at it,since we're going to be here for
a few days, let's do a fewthings.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Right.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And then a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
on Friday became one of ourthings that we do all the time
in the grandmaster of the timeat the time.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Florida Grandmaster.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Florida Grandmaster Glenn Bishop, this year most
swishable bishop will be one ofthe four people who lay the
wreath tomorrow at the tomb.
And in just a few minutes we'regoing to draw three names out
of a hat of all of theparticipants that are here from
Florida to see the next threepeople that got to go with him,
because four people can lay thewreath.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
That is awesome.
What a privilege for people.
Right, right?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
We've done a lot of different things in our time up
here, as well as going to theinstallation Will the first year
we laid a wreath at the Tomb ofGeorge Washington at.
Mount Vernon in a ceremony thatwe do right outside of his
grave site, and does that stillgoing?
Well, we did it last year, youdid.
(03:21):
We went to Mount Vernon againfor the first time since the
first year.
So we started this in 2017.
And, if I can, if I remembercorrectly, the only there may be
three people that have beenhere every year, I think we said
two before, but I believe thatGreg Wynn over my left shoulder
here.
I believe that he's been hereall every year that we've had
(03:43):
this trip, as well.
And Bill and myself so and everyand the first year that we did
it, it was just Hudson's heroes.
There were about seven or eightof us, maybe nine, of the
district deputy grandmasters,the grandmaster Stan Hudson and
his grand marshal, and we werehere and we have a picture in a
(04:05):
hotel, you know, in front of theChristmas tree.
And there's just there's likeyou know, there's like 10 or 12
of us and that was it Right.
So this started in 2017 withlike 12 brothers and now, six
years later, we're getting 40,50 guys coming riding on up the
gigantic bus to go and do allthese great things together.
So it's a great time to meetpeople from around the state who
(04:27):
maybe I haven't met, who heardabout the trip for a year and
everybody to get to know eachother and, and you know, masonry
is one big happy family, soit's a great time to get
together, and it's right beforethe holidays and it's become
quite a tradition.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I love it.
I think it's as, as Masonrybegins, we see an ascendancy of
masonry, it's kind of comingback to.
We see younger and younger mengetting involved in masonry and
they need to know this.
This is what the new masonscoming in need to understand the
history and to actually seethis place that was very masonic
(05:06):
in its founding, and they needto understand the fraternity
that they're getting involved inhas some deep, deep roots in
the very country you know thatwe're hoping to make an impact,
a positive impact on in thefuture.
You know, and so this is agreat event, man, I mean
absolutely an amazing event.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's magical to be here Right.
This year we're gonna, as ourfirst time, we're gonna go to
Capitol Hill.
Really, we're all going up tothe United States Capitol
tomorrow afternoon.
We're gonna get a tour, we'regonna have lunch in the Capitol
cafeteria.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
If you guys could show me where the suggestion box
is, I'd like to throw one in.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
They don't have a suggestion box apparently not no
we've gone to the GeorgeWashington National Masonic
Memorial several times Beautiful.
A couple of years ago weactually held a tiled meeting at
the George Washington a tiledmeeting a tiled meeting in one
of those three lodges on theground floor.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
No kidding.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yes, absolutely as a matter of fact.
It's really funny.
I was walking around thebasement area of that.
They have those photographs ofthe historic lodges around the
country downstairs.
I'm walking along in thecorridor and I look and there's
a picture of Hillsborough Lodge,number 25 on the wall in the
Masonic Memorial for GeorgeWashington.
(06:20):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
We don't have a lot of time, but there's something I
have to ask you, because wewere just talking to Jeremy
about the fact that he spoke tosomeone that you know actually
had experiences with GeorgeWashington.
So we're talking about legendsthat are going to survive time,
and this is something that notvery few men have an opportunity
(06:43):
to be remembered in time.
You are one of three people whostarted this adventure, this
historical precedent that'shappening in Freight Nationry.
I know, be humble, but don't behumble Now you, okay, we're
only in the sixth year, but Ican see 200 years down the line
(07:03):
when we're all dead and gone.
This could be a mecca migrationfor Masons in the future.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I hope, so what does?
Speaker 1 (07:11):
it feel like to be a man who could be remembered in
history.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Do you?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
even realize it?
Do you even realize it?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I'm getting goosebumps as you say that, but
honestly, to be quite honest,Bill Cazulus was in Ocala with
another brother who's not here,who came a couple of years and
to bring the gavel down to Ocalawhen Bill had arranged for that
to happen, he asked me to comeup and join them and I did, and
(07:44):
it was great.
He, kind of Bill, dragged meinto this in 2016.
And ever since, you know, we,Bill and I have been very close
for a long time, but he draggedme into traveling around with
the gavel meeting the guys whobrought it down from Washington
and who we became great friendswith.
(08:04):
So the general purpose of ourcoming up here originally was
specifically to attend theinstallation of officers at
Potomac.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Number.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Five and so, because we became friends and every year
there's a different chairman ofthe gavel, they brought the
gavel down to the Grand Lodge ofthe floor.
The Warshville Master ofPotomac Lodge Number Five is
like the chairman of the gavelcommittee.
And then they have people thatare authorized to remove it in a
special lock case with thatRight?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
yeah, that's what Jerry was talking about With the
handcuff to your wrist and soyeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
It was a.
I'm happy to be part of thatgroup.
I'm thankful for Bill includingme in all of the activities
that he imagines in his head andthen makes come true.
So we owe this to Bill Sure,and I'm happy that you know be
one of the trusted confidantsthat he'll call up and say hey,
(09:03):
we're thinking about, let's dothis, what do you think about
going here?
What do you think about goingthere?
And there are a group of fourof us now, including him, that
we bounce these ideas off of todecide on what we're going to do
for the trip.
So we have a good time doingthat.
I have a good time, you know,meeting all the new brothers.
I have a wonderful Masonicfamily that comes up here every
(09:24):
year.
It's a great tradition and Iagree If they remember my name
in oh in a hundred years.
that's great, but I don't do itfor that.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I do it for them.
It's a, it's a tradition,that's.
That's the perfect word.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's a tradition and it'll keep going, and yeah, so,
um so, steve, thanks, man.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Thanks for sitting down and giving us the skinny on
that.
I appreciate it.
We are there about to drawnames for those four people that
Jeremy talked about, so we'regoing to cut off for right now
and we'll come back out a littlebit.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
We have so many people.
We need to talk so much.
That's right.
That's right.
These are historic people doinghistoric things for our country
and our country.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
We will be back after the drawing to do a few more
interviews and uh and we'll,we'll see y'all.
We'll see y'all on the otherside, brother, see you in a
little bit.
Hey Chris, yeah, fred , what's a Mason?
That's a really good question,fred.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
You've reached the internet's home for all things
masonry.
Join Chris and I as we plumbthe depths of our ancient craft,
from the common gavel to thetrowel.
Nothing is off the table, sograb your tools and let's get to
work.
This is On the Level.
Well, chris, we are.
We just continue to rollthrough.
There.
It is the Rebel Yell one moretime.
(00:36):
Well, that was an awesomeinterview with Jeremy Incredible
.
We are definitely going to havehim back.
There's no doubt about it.
He is a lifer we are definitelygoing to harass him and follow
him around until he says yesagain.
So we'll get him back on theshow, no matter what.
Steve brother, how are you?
It's good to see you.
You cannot hear me.
You should be able to hear meloud and clear, man we have.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Oh, it could be, check and make sure you're
plugged in fully here.
Now we're good.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Oh, there you go, there you go.
You're going to have to speakright into that microphone,
brother.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
This is actually one of our very close neighbors from
Hillsborough Lodge.
Hillsborough Lodge yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah, we met up there at the symposium last year it
was the first time I met you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, that was a lot of fun.
We had a great time Rightworshipful.
Yeah, Right worshipful.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Stephen Silver's.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Stephen Silver's yeah , yeah, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Hey, no problem.
No problem at all, man, we wantto get as many people on as we
possibly can.
All right, so give us theskinny.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
John was talking a little bit about the history of
so originally this started outin 2016, when Stan Hudson became
the grandmaster of Masons ofFlorida Right.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
You were district deputy there.
I was a district deputy for him.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Bill was a district deputy for him.
Yes, we were also districtinstructors at the same time the
year before.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Right.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And several of the other guys that are here were
also Really District deputiesfor Stan.
We were known as Hudson'sheroes.
Okay, and after Stan'sopportunity to sit in the grand
east at the Grand Lodge ofFlorida, Bill came up with this
idea hey, let's go to Washington.
And because we wanted to visitthe guys from Potomac, number
(02:15):
five and attend theirinstallation.
Oh, and while we're at it,since we're going to be here for
a few days, let's do a fewthings.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Right.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And then a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
on Friday became one of ourthings that we do all the time
in the grandmaster of the timeat the time.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Florida Grandmaster.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Florida Grandmaster Glenn Bishop, this year most
swishable bishop will be one ofthe four people who lay the
wreath tomorrow at the tomb.
And in just a few minutes we'regoing to draw three names out
of a hat of all of theparticipants that are here from
Florida to see the next threepeople that got to go with him,
because four people can lay thewreath.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
That is awesome.
What a privilege for people.
Right, right?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
We've done a lot of different things in our time up
here, as well as going to theinstallation Will the first year
we laid a wreath at the Tomb ofGeorge Washington at.
Mount Vernon in a ceremony thatwe do right outside of his
grave site, and does that stillgoing?
Well, we did it last year, youdid.
(03:21):
We went to Mount Vernon againfor the first time since the
first year.
So we started this in 2017.
And, if I can, if I remembercorrectly, the only there may be
three people that have beenhere every year, I think we said
two before, but I believe thatGreg Wynn over my left shoulder
here.
I believe that he's been hereall every year that we've had
(03:43):
this trip, as well.
And Bill and myself so and everyand the first year that we did
it, it was just Hudson's heroes.
There were about seven or eightof us, maybe nine, of the
district deputy grandmasters,the grandmaster Stan Hudson and
his grand marshal, and we werehere and we have a picture in a
(04:05):
hotel, you know, in front of theChristmas tree.
And there's just there's likeyou know, there's like 10 or 12
of us and that was it Right.
So this started in 2017 withlike 12 brothers and now, six
years later, we're getting 40,50 guys coming riding on up the
gigantic bus to go and do allthese great things together.
So it's a great time to meetpeople from around the state who
(04:27):
maybe I haven't met, who heardabout the trip for a year and
everybody to get to know eachother and, and you know, masonry
is one big happy family, soit's a great time to get
together, and it's right beforethe holidays and it's become
quite a tradition.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I love it.
I think it's as, as Masonrybegins, we see an ascendancy of
masonry, it's kind of comingback to.
We see younger and younger mengetting involved in masonry and
they need to know this.
This is what the new masonscoming in need to understand the
history and to actually seethis place that was very masonic
(05:06):
in its founding, and they needto understand the fraternity
that they're getting involved inhas some deep, deep roots in
the very country you know thatwe're hoping to make an impact,
a positive impact on in thefuture.
You know, and so this is agreat event, man, I mean
absolutely an amazing event.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's magical to be here Right.
This year we're gonna, as ourfirst time, we're gonna go to
Capitol Hill.
Really, we're all going up tothe United States Capitol
tomorrow afternoon.
We're gonna get a tour, we'regonna have lunch in the Capitol
cafeteria.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
If you guys could show me where the suggestion box
is, I'd like to throw one in.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
They don't have a suggestion box apparently not no
we've gone to the GeorgeWashington National Masonic
Memorial several times Beautiful.
A couple of years ago weactually held a tiled meeting at
the George Washington a tiledmeeting a tiled meeting in one
of those three lodges on theground floor.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
No kidding.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yes, absolutely as a matter of fact.
It's really funny.
I was walking around thebasement area of that.
They have those photographs ofthe historic lodges around the
country downstairs.
I'm walking along in thecorridor and I look and there's
a picture of Hillsborough Lodge,number 25 on the wall in the
Masonic Memorial for GeorgeWashington.
(06:20):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
We don't have a lot of time, but there's something I
have to ask you, because wewere just talking to Jeremy
about the fact that he spoke tosomeone that you know actually
had experiences with GeorgeWashington.
So we're talking about legendsthat are going to survive time,
and this is something that notvery few men have an opportunity
(06:43):
to be remembered in time.
You are one of three people whostarted this adventure, this
historical precedent that'shappening in Freight Nationry.
I know, be humble, but don't behumble Now you, okay, we're
only in the sixth year, but Ican see 200 years down the line
(07:03):
when we're all dead and gone.
This could be a mecca migrationfor Masons in the future.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I hope, so what does?
Speaker 1 (07:11):
it feel like to be a man who could be remembered in
history.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Do you?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
even realize it?
Do you even realize it?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I'm getting goosebumps as you say that, but
honestly, to be quite honest,Bill Cazulus was in Ocala with
another brother who's not here,who came a couple of years and
to bring the gavel down to Ocalawhen Bill had arranged for that
to happen, he asked me to comeup and join them and I did, and
(07:44):
it was great.
He, kind of Bill, dragged meinto this in 2016.
And ever since, you know, we,Bill and I have been very close
for a long time, but he draggedme into traveling around with
the gavel meeting the guys whobrought it down from Washington
and who we became great friendswith.
(08:04):
So the general purpose of ourcoming up here originally was
specifically to attend theinstallation of officers at
Potomac.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Number.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Five and so, because we became friends and every year
there's a different chairman ofthe gavel, they brought the
gavel down to the Grand Lodge ofthe floor.
The Warshville Master ofPotomac Lodge Number Five is
like the chairman of the gavelcommittee.
And then they have people thatare authorized to remove it in a
special lock case with thatRight?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
yeah, that's what Jerry was talking about With the
handcuff to your wrist and soyeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
It was a.
I'm happy to be part of thatgroup.
I'm thankful for Bill includingme in all of the activities
that he imagines in his head andthen makes come true.
So we owe this to Bill Sure,and I'm happy that you know be
one of the trusted confidantsthat he'll call up and say hey,
(09:03):
we're thinking about, let's dothis, what do you think about
going here?
What do you think about goingthere?
And there are a group of fourof us now, including him, that
we bounce these ideas off of todecide on what we're going to do
for the trip.
So we have a good time doingthat.
I have a good time, you know,meeting all the new brothers.
I have a wonderful Masonicfamily that comes up here every
(09:24):
year.
It's a great tradition and Iagree If they remember my name
in oh in a hundred years.
that's great, but I don't do itfor that.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I do it for them.
It's a, it's a tradition,that's.
That's the perfect word.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's a tradition and it'll keep going, and yeah, so,
um so, steve, thanks, man.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Thanks for sitting down and giving us the skinny on
that.
I appreciate it.
We are there about to drawnames for those four people that
Jeremy talked about, so we'regoing to cut off for right now
and we'll come back out a littlebit.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
We have so many people.
We need to talk so much.
That's right.
That's right.
These are historic people doinghistoric things for our country
and our country.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
We will be back after the drawing to do a few more
interviews and uh and we'll,we'll see y'all.
We'll see y'all on the otherside, brother, see you in a
little bit.
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