August 4, 2023 • 39 mins
Join us on a captivating journey as we explore the intriguing world of Masonry with our special guest, R:. W:. Tom Haber, is a third-generation mason with a rich history and invaluable experiences. Born into a family of Masons and raised in Cabul Lodge, Right Worshifold has served at various reputable lodges, climbing the ranks to the 32nd Degree of Masonry. His journey is one of dedication and commitment, offering listeners a rare opportunity to learn from his experiences and gain a deeper understanding of Masonry.
During his tenure as the Deputy District Grandmaster of the 23rd District, R:. W:. Haber faced a slew of challenges, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, but his unwavering focus on unity, peace, and brotherhood remained steadfast. In our conversation, he shares insightful reflections on his time in office, presenting a unique perspective on the roles and responsibilities of a District Deputy Grandmaster. His strength and resilience in the face of adversity are an inspiring testament to the core values that underpin the Masonic craft.
As we wrap up our enlightening discussion, R:. W:. Haber emphasizes the significance of membership growth and quality over quantity in Masonry. He shares his thoughts on the essential role of mentorship, the impact of 'festering zombie lodges', and his reflections on the Grand Communication 2023. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in Masonry's dedication, commitment, and service. Tune in for a captivating exploration of one of Masonry's pillars, R:. W:. Tom Haber.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hey, chris, yeah, fred, what's a Mason?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
That's a really good question, fred.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
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, here we are.
What Grand Lodge.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Grand Lodge Communication 2023.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We're in a salon, and we're in salon 18.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I didn't know what to make of that.
I didn't know what to make ofthat?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Well, you do, I guess .
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I got a little hanging on.
I posted a photo on Twitter andsome guy hated what I said and
he said that I looked like I wastrying to break my neck with
that comb over.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And I was like wow, oh man.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
This is time to shave , I think, when you get the comb
over comment on Twitter.
I always think that if you getinsults, like that you're doing
something right.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You know to me you're touching a nerve.
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
If you're not making people mad in radio.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You're doing it wrong .
Yeah, I mean by making them mad.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I might have said I like red velvet cake.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It was nothing like you know, really earth
shattering stuff that makes memad, I don't know.
Well, you don't like red velvet, I don't eat cake.
Who are you?
Did we just?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
meet.
You know that I just saw youdown a bag of potato chips.
That's because some of the bagof potato chips and a piece of
cake.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That's because somebody scheduled an interview
without consulting the executivedirector Speaking of.
Speaking of our first interviewof the Grand Communication ever
Ever.
This is our first interviewever, that's right, that's right
, wow, I am going to introduceyou in his proper role, which
would be right-worshifolddistrict deputy grandmaster
(01:57):
Haber.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Thank you.
Thank you for at least two moredays or three more days, is
that right?
When's your last day, wednesdaymorning, they will install the
next right-worshifold districtgrandmaster in 9 free, and then
at that from that point forwardyou're just right-worshifold
Haber.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Then I'm your brother .
You're always our brother,that's right.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
The brother that makes your butt pucker when he
wants in the room.
Okay, Chris is on one.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Ladies, and gentlemen , I thought you had a machine to
beat me out when I say dumbthere we go yeah, I do, I do.
You better just keep yourfinger on that.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I will, I will, I got it, I'm ready to go so
right-worshifold, haber, it's anhonor and a pleasure to have
you on the show as our firstinterviewer.
Truly.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Truly an honor.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So tell us give us kind of just your masonic
history, a little bit of it Sure, and then also maybe a little
family background, just so wecan get to know who you are.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
This isn't the humble history.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
This is like the people that are listening.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Damn it, he's going to be dangerous at that day
there's people all over theworld listening that won't know
who you are.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So you know, let them know.
Yeah, we know you, we know andlove you.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I could probably do this.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
We want the world to know and love you as well.
No worries, no worries.
So yes, my grandfather was amason in the shrine, was large
in the Dima Lake but didn't doas much in Blue Lodge.
He was actually mayor for a dayof St Louis through his Dima
Lake chapter and went on to bemaster counselor and all that
Did you say mayor for a day?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
He was.
He has a key.
How the hell is that work?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I don't know.
I wasn't born young.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
But from that he basically raised me with masonic
values.
All right Nice.
He became a mason in 2011.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I was raised Was that in Kabul.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It was in Kabul Lodge .
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Kabul Lodge.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Cable number 6116 over in Green Cove Springs.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What's the proper way to say that?
Cable, cable, that's how theysaid it Cable Lodge it's
pronounced C, I mean it'sspelled C-A-B-U-L, so in my mind
it's Kabul.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Isn't that a city.
It is a city, I believe, kabul,you're thinking Kabul.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That's in Afghanistan .
That's spelled with a K.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
K right, We'll go back in time and be this whole
conversation out.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Apparently, we're having an interview with Chris.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'velistened to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This is how it goes.
This is definitely how it goes.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yes, our guest is ready.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Cable, cable.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Go on, sir.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No words Raised in Kabul Lodge.
So then I moved to the westcoast of Florida.
When my wife got cold on theeast coast and started getting
more active at Manatee 31, whichis my home lodge on the west
coast Shout out to Manatee andthen in 2015, I was part of the
Manatee and Liberty Lodge, whichis a daylight lodge here, Shout
out to.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Was that Worshipful Robert?
Yeah, robert Leonard, he's heresomewhere, we'll get him.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Third Master of Liberty in 2019.
And I was given the opportunityto be District Deputy
Grandmaster last year by mostWorshipful Rob Lambert.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
But you also served in Independent Body as a leader.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I am the monarch of Samore Grotto right now.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I will do your term at Samore.
I'm Scottish Wright, 32ndDegree Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Oh, I didn't know you had done the Scottish Wright.
I am.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Excellent.
Yeah, I wanted to be part ofRusty Glendennig's class.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Oh, wow, yeah, that's great, and you were.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I would have been, but he was not able to make that
ceremonial?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh right yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
But otherwise that was a big deal for me.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
That's why I joined Scottish Wright when I did Well.
That's a good reason, becausehe was a good man, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Did you do this one day thing before you did?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
No, no mine was before that.
Mine was before that right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
So you got the real deal, you saw actual degrees
conferred.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I did.
I believe you may have been inone of my degrees, I think so.
Thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I wish will buryheart.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yep, all right.
All right, we're gonna.
You will be now Right.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So how about our family?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
married, wife, children married beautiful wife,
33 years, two daughters.
Youngest daughter has twochildren now, so I have two
grandchildren.
That's great.
Less than work, life andmasonry kind of have the
trifecta nice.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What do you do for a?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
living.
I lead a group of men whoinspect storage tanks
non-metallic storage tanks allnon-metallic storage?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Did you?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
say all over the world they do.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Oh wow, that's very live in their house, wherever
that happens to be, and we'llfly them to the job site for the
inspection.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
No kidding, yep, that's a highly specialized
Skill day, Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
There's not many of us.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Yeah, right, yeah, I get that, I get that.
So tell us a little bit aboutso deputy.
District deputy grandmaster forthe 23rd district.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Rolls off the tongue.
Rolls off the tongue.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
But tell us a little bit about the year past, sure?
What are some of the things yousaw?
Let's, let's, let's start withthe good stuff.
What did you see that?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
was really good.
Oh, absolutely I'm gonna get tosome bad stuff.
I am and I'm implying nothingright to the bad stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
There was bad, there was, there was a, there was,
there were challenges, therewere challenges.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Perhaps I don't know, but we could discuss those if
there's time.
But let's stick with thepositive stuff.
What, what did you see?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So for me, one of my biggest things this year Besides
working with Grand Lodge andmaking sure most worship
Lambert's message was pushedthrough the craft was that we
all share In unity and that weall work together and we truly
act as a brotherhood, at leastin our district.
It was very important to methat we all work together,
because we can do a lot moretogether than we can alone.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You know, yeah, that's, that's a fact.
How very Masonic of you.
Well, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, and it worked well, honestly.
Current master Sarasota 147sitting here now.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I am among Giants.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yes, he's literally jobless y'all six foot three,
helping lead all of us that istrue Helping lead all of his
brothers, the other masters inthe district, to make sure that
this peace and harmony and unitywork through our district all
year.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, so anything in particular that sticks out
through the last year, that thatkind of comes to mind Something
you're real proud of orsomething you know, something
that happened made it to the end.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Oh yeah, other than making it to the end which is a
hell of a comment.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yes, they'll have my.
No, we had an outdoor degreerecently.
Yeah, that was one of ourlodges and I believe five
different lodges Participated inthe conferring of that master
Mason degree.
Yeah so for me that was veryoutstanding Because it showed
all of our brothers workingtogether to do an outstanding
degree for some great young men.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I was there and I got to tell you.
You know, you get these momentsright.
So we're outside and we're inEnglewood in the woods as you
guys know, you guys yeah.
And it's still in quiet andthere's a rainstorm coming and
there's a giant moon behind me.
Yeah, and all of a sudden youdid.
You guys hear it a whipperwheel.
Oh did you hear that whipper?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I heard lots of stream sounds whipper wheel.
I know that's very, very bird.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
It's a bird, yeah, okay, yeah but there was just
this moment and it was quiet Didyou do the sound?
No, the T.
The Tiki torches were goingright and it was just a solemn
moment, and I thought, man.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I just love this stuff.
Yeah, you're, yeah, I just lovethis.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
and you're right, there was a representation From
the district.
I mean big representation fromthe district.
That was a really good night.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I see a lot of that, yep.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I see a lot of crossing over, a lot of
traveling within our district.
I hope so and and hopefully wecan get we will be interviewing
People from other districts.
I'm interested to find outwhat's going on.
You know, throughout the state,as far as you know, getting
getting lodges to visit eachother, getting lodges to be more
involved with each other.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
That's a you will be one of your big goals.
You're right, friend.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, and I think that, from my point of view, I
think you achieved it because weeven had a.
We had a Esoteric discussiongroup.
Yeah, and it was just atChris's house.
Yeah, 15 guys, five worshipfulmasters and six lodges
represented when that was barelytrying.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That was barely trying.
Yeah, that was just the guyswanting to do it.
Yeah, everybody wanted to do it.
It was just a matter of where,and as soon as we picked a place
, everyone showed.
And now it's gonna be evenbigger.
This next one we're doing onthe 20th, I think.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I saw yeah, yeah, it's coming up worshipful for
Don's house.
Yeah, I hope he understands theinternet, so go get it.
Yeah, these 30 guys knocking onhis door and send him some
pizzas on that night.
He's gonna need some pizzas,man.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
No, but I think it'll be even bigger, because there's
one thing we know for sure isthat people want to talk about
the esoteric parts of Freemasonthey do, they do, and, and we
had a gentleman come in to theMMA, which is not fighting, by
the way.
Yeah, my wife keeps sayingevery time I say MMA, she's like
who's fighting?
Yeah, she's all excited, right.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
No, not like that, but I lost my train.
See, darn it.
Chris, you're welcome again,thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
You were talking about the master Mason's a nice
Mason.
Well, obviously you get a lotof lodges there it's meant for
all the lodges together.
Yeah, yeah yeah but we dostruggle we have some lodges in
our district that struggled toParticipate in that and I don't
really know you probably knowbetter than me why but ever
(11:27):
since I've been in this districtthere's always been a couple
lodges that tend not toparticipate, although this year
we had one that never does.
That did quite a bit.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yes, so that was a win.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Oh, who was that Peace River?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Oh right, and then?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
yeah, I'm gonna go to also put a quarter.
Yeah, both of them actuallyknow that I think about it,
right?
Yeah, I don't do a lot ofthings and gave a lot of reports
and right man.
I heard a lot of like EAs andwe're doing degree work and
we're right, yeah, yeah, bothlodges are doing well.
I don't know if maybe theyalways do that.
They just didn't come to themeeting, so I didn't know what
(12:02):
they were doing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Well, in our district both of those lodges came from
other districts Relativelyrecently, so they're still
becoming more acclimated to whatwe do.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
We're still trying to bring them into.
I fold a little bit, which,honestly, is one of the reasons
why I wanted the district towork together, so that everyone
could see that together we'restronger and no one has to try
to struggle to do a degree ontheir own, mm-hmm plenty of
brothers to help you.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You just have to ask that's right and, yeah, that's
something that I, that I see youknow, is that like you get
asked all the time to come overand help, help out and you jump
in and then people we needpeople over one four seven, they
jump in and and it's like there.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I got a call Friday from a woman whose husband had
died.
She's a member of our lodge andhe had just died, like two days
earlier, and she was telling meall these stories about Him and
he was big-time Mason, he waslying and stuff, and so I'm
laughing.
You know she's crying.
Yeah and I said I'm so sorry, Idon't mean to be rude, I'm only
laughing because I can relate tobrother and even though I don't
(13:02):
know him, and so I started totalk about some of the Things we
do and she started laughing.
Right, and we're there, she'scrying and laughing and I'm kind
of crying and laughing, yeah,and we're having a conversation
that led to you know, I want tobe in his funeral, obviously
myself now, and go there and dothat.
But it's about us reaching outto each other and this is what I
(13:24):
told her we are waiting for anopportunity to show somebody
that we care.
Yeah, because words don't meananything.
We all know that and I saidyou're, he's gone, but you may
not know this.
We made an obligation to him totake care of you.
Yeah and if you please wouldtell us when you need you
lawnmower, when you need yourgroceries picked up.
It's an opportunity for us toshow him how much we loved him
(13:45):
as a brother.
All right, so you're doing us afavor.
So this is how I look at thedegree work in the lodges too.
A lot of lodges want to beproud and say we do it ourselves
, we can do this ourselves,which I have no problem with.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
I get, I get that mentality, a certain point, but
yeah, yeah, there's a pride indoing it yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That I do understand, but it can go too far and I
think the value is even higherin bringing other people in and
giving them a chance to show youhow much they love you by
coming in doing work with youright.
Because doing work together, aswe know, is how we gain light
and that's right yeah and how weJust search for the lost word
is through the work.
(14:23):
So doing it together is reallyimportant part of that and you
have been an essential part ofthat this year.
Yeah, you really paved the wayfor most of the masters because
we all want.
Every year we say we're gonnado these things right and they
do and I think they intend to.
But you know, you're a pastmaster.
Once you get installed all the,you know all the world comes
(14:44):
falling on you.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, the business rears its ugly head.
Yeah, all of a sudden thattakes up so much time,
absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, it's like a boxing match.
I got a great plan until youget hit in the face the first
that's Mike Tyson right.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Everybody's got a plan until you take a punch in
the face same thing being amaster, everybody's spends years
putting these.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Come on like just get in there and like, keep the
lodge together and hopefullyyou'll come out the other side
better than you went in, andthen you did a good job.
That's a good goal, I thinkthat's right.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Leave a lot stronger than you found it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, and I hear a lot of talk about yeah,
five-year plan and being able to.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I love that to.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
You know, a worshipful master lays out an
agenda for the next worshipfulmaster and then that past master
, he, he picks up the mantle ofthe things he tried to start and
follows them through after he'sgone, his year after that he's
gone, yeah, and I just thinkthat is a really successful
Conversation.
You know that we should all behaving, because anytime you got
(15:43):
an organization that turns turnsits administration over every
year.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Almost completely.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, well then you're gonna end up where?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
and there's a lot of talk right now.
What do you think about that?
I think it's outstanding.
I think it keeps the pastmasters involved and I think the
past masters of your lodge aremuch more integral in doing
things than people reallyUnderstand there's a lot of
scholarship programs and widows.
Yes, and things like that thatthe past masters will help you
with.
You don't have to do ityourself, unless you want to.
Yeah right, that's right, yeahand I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
I shouldn't say this, I suppose, but I don't know why
you would, because it's just somuch fun.
I would beep you, but I can'treach.
You, can't reach it, that's mybutton.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
You're not allowed to do that either.
I've lost all power with thisnew technology.
I don't like it anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Oh, I love it.
I slept with it last night.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Okay, anyway, touch that.
All, it's all yours.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, I'm a bit of a wire geek, I gotta be honest.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
All right, so that is a.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Right worth for paper .
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I'm sorry.
What's objective to this?
Thank you be here apparentlypeople like this.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Around the world around the world.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Everyone likes to see the car accident on the side of
the road to slow down and go isanyone?
They look okay.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So what do you see for the future?
Now, who yours, your successor,coming in?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Right, where's full Tom?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Hey, not quite, but almost almost.
Left where's full.
Yes, I'm.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Davey, tom Davey, thank you, it's coming in.
What would you what?
I'm sure you've already hadthis conversation with, but what
would you?
Several times yes yes, whatwould you?
What are you telling him?
What advice are you giving him?
What are you?
What are you sharing with himas far as the future goes?
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Well, in our case it's very difficult because each
Grandmaster selects his Choicesof what he wants done that year
.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
So okay, each of us honestly, is the Grandmaster's
representative.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
So, in truth, I don't have an agenda this year.
My agenda is the Grandmaster'sagenda and it's only to pursue
that.
That's explained to you prettyquickly that you are the
Grandmaster spokesman right.
Not your spokesman representinganyone.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah.
So what was Lambert, as big asyou were, about the Harmony and
working together.
I felt like that was more.
Some of your words were gettingput into that.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Well, the unity thing is directly from the
Grandmaster.
And then I did expand upon that, yes, because it fit well with
what I wanted our district to doalso.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, okay, I get it.
I get it so um.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
So it's hard to give Tom Advice because I'm not sure
what advice he would need, justwhat the lodges in the district
is not as much, because most ofour brothers are in good shape
now.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I got a feeling he's gonna get, he's about to get,
all the advice he's ever gonnaneed so yeah, he's about to get
all the phone calls, yeah.
But you maybe we'll have him onhere too, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
That's the kind of advice you can give him is how
to handle those phone callsright yeah, because I don't
think.
Maybe Grand Lodge preps them asmuch for that kind of
day-to-day stuff.
Is, as they do, the big picturethings.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Well, I've learned, each, each district is different
also, and each one of us as DDGM's is different because I was
fairly well known, right, soonto be right, where she'll Davey
will also be well known.
But some are not.
So you have to go out andexplain to people who you are a
little bit.
I had the benefit of beingfairly well known already
because I had done work aroundin the district and helped a lot
(19:05):
of my brothers out.
Yep man right, that was abenefit to me, and so it made it
easier to talk to my brothers.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
So a key part of the role and actually I was talking
to Tom the other day a key partto this position Is getting out
there and getting to the lodges,meeting, the meeting with
brothers and talking with themon a regular basis, so that's a
big job it is if you are theGrand Master's representative in
the district.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So you are his eyes, ears and mouthpiece, right if
there's questions at your job toanswer them.
You know once you get hisanswers and be the direct link
to the Grand Master from thebrothers.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
So how many districts are there in Florida?
Do you know of?
Him 29 so the Grand Master has29 representatives out there
there.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
That's correct, that are reporting to him.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Wow, that's no joke bro.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, huh, it's true, and he's got a hand pick him
himself, wow, in every district.
So you know he doesn't know youEverybody in every district.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So I assume they rely on people, they trust in
certain areas, sure, sure, but Iwill tell you that I'm sure
they each meet each of usindividually.
I mean, 29 seems like a lot,but when you're they travel a
lot.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yes, they do yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That makes sense, sure.
Well, one thing you reallyexcelled at as a district deputy
grandmaster that I have seenothers fail is you did a great
job of being a man of thedistrict and not a guy that got
picked in your lodge.
You see, these guys who are,like, I'm the district deputy,
(20:35):
but that means my lodge has gotthe district deputy and they're
all about their lodge.
Right and not as much about thedistrict.
You definitely, I feel like,took steps to try to make sure
that you didn't do that.
Was that a conscious thing, oris that just who you are as a
guy?
You just did that.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I'm sure some of it's unconscious just who I was
raised to be, but I would tellyou that it was something that I
wanted to pay attention to.
I have seen that also.
I'm not interested in being outthere for any one lodge right
now because, honestly, if I was,it would be just for the
grandmasters Lodge, becausethat's my job, Sure but I had
done again.
I had done a little bit ofritual work and a lot of our
(21:13):
lodges before I was everdistrict deputy.
So a little bit so I could goaround and sit with my brothers
comfortably, before I was DD andthen yes, for me it made it
much more comfortable when I wasthe district deputy.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, and I know that I mean there.
Our, our stated meeting is thesecond and fourth Tuesday of the
month and I I'm sure you werethere More than you weren't on
our meetings.
I see you were there all thetime.
Yeah, no.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I tried to make every special event.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah, I had the opportunity to do a lot of
really neat presentations, youknow.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
So I look at that as one of the blessings of this job
that I did Was being able togive a 50 year Mason
presentation Remember one timewe were a stated meeting.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I don't know I'm sharing this anyway, I don't
care, but we are a state ofstated meeting and Our secretary
had forgot to close it.
Now ours, our secretary'soffice door is connected to the
lodge and he left it open and Iwalked back over to his desk.
That may have been our firstmeeting maybe, and I just love I
, just I could see it in my mindand Randy sat down.
(22:16):
That's our secretary, randy,shout out to Randy and we were
about to get going again andright where Schwell Haber stood
up and said where's what, master, I don't feel comfortable with
the door open in a sti in atiled lodge and everybody was
like Tough to be the guy that'sgot a stand.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
I thought it was great.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
It's not a strength of mine, because one of the
reasons I have enjoyed masonryis because it puts me in
Uncomfortable speaking positions.
Yeah, not a great person infront of people, mmm.
When I sit with my brothers,I'm very comfortable right
typically just in a publicsituation.
I'm happy to stand in thebackground to be an assistant.
I don't need to be in front,didn't?
Speaker 2 (22:54):
you give a presentation for work.
I did give a couple of them.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Keeps coming to me, but it's honestly, I don't think
it's something that I aspire to, but right, it does come to me.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
So I've learned yeah, public speaking is it's a
learning thing.
You have great presence.
Yeah, yeah yeah, when you, whenyou do speak, when you stand up
and speak, you have a realstrong presence.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
So I think it's the authenticness comes through
absolutely people like that,absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Thank you guys.
I appreciate that it.
Usually, if I'm speaking, it'ssomething that I mean.
Yeah not a lot of just fluffand banter.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Mm-hmm, I'm not real good with that yeah no I get it
fluff and banter.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Yeah, we, we don't know anything about that, do we
Chris?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
I'm just proud that you made it.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Made it that you did this?
Because I know that you're notthat guy and to me I mean as a
guy who's in the pits workinghard with my brothers in the
quarry.
I mean, yeah, I think of theFlintstones when you say that,
but I don't know why, wheneveryou say quarry, I picture
Flintstones.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
All right, rabbit trail right.
Great picture of a quarry rightnow.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
This is how you get on your rabbit trail.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Okay, where was I going with that?
I think you were telling right.
Where's Wilhaber?
Something positive, yes.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yes, that you didn't do the ass-kissing game to get
where you've got right and iceI've been.
I was around a lot of people inmy early days in Mason sure and
Seem like they were reallyobsessed with the how to get
there right, and I heard a lotof here's the steps.
You got to join the Scottishright.
(24:31):
Then you got it.
You got to be the president ofthe master Mason Association and
then you got to get on acompetition.
They had these steps.
They thought you had to do.
I heard those things too.
You did okay, so I'm not crazy,and in my mind I was like man.
People spend a lot of time.
Thinking about stuff that'sgonna come to you if you just do
your job.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Most of those people giving me advice at that time
had never, done this job.
Yeah, and that's pretty typical, right.
So what I learned quick was ifyou truly think that you have an
interest in a job like this,talk to the people that've done
it.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah, that's right, not the guys who would like to
do it.
Yeah, well, sage advice rightthere.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
For sure, my favorite thing is to ask it out, going
DDGM I.
Is there anything thatsurprised you, because you know
you did talk to a lot of past.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
DDGMs.
I did and you're close to someof them.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Correct and you, you were through the orientation and
I'm sure they told you stuffand you have expectations in
your mind.
So now that you're at the endof it, looking back, was there
anything that actually shockedyou that you didn't see coming
or didn't expect?
Speaker 3 (25:34):
There's always something.
One of the masters and one ofthe lodges one of my nine lodges
, uh, decided to not continue topursue masonry halfway through
his year, so that was unexpected.
Mm-hmm made things a bitchallenged, but the lodge
persevered and did really wellin the end, honestly.
So that was unexpected.
Hurricane ian.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, oh yeah, right, two days before your
grandmaster visit right, we'resupposed to have our
grandmaster's official visitright Two days before they start
using our venue as a hurricaneshelter.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Because he and hit us , that that that day comes a
shock to you.
It was, and I tell people don'tthink that everything wasn't
planned.
The food was ordered.
Always rented they actuallyused our hall is uh staging for
florida power and light?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Wow, yeah, well, that's.
That's what they always use itfor, florida, power light.
It's always our robots arenaduring hurricanes.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe hurricane.
What, what went down in yourposition?
Were you having a heart attackat that time.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Well, how stressful was it.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
You know, like most of us, we were living through it
at the time too, so you're yeah, that's responsibilities to
your family in your house.
Yep, that's right.
But then the next day, um, ourdistrict instructor right,
where's full dobs?
And I got into his truck and wedrove down to see all nine of
our lodges.
We couldn't get to peace riverat the time because Arcadia
(26:52):
river, I mean, it was floodedgoing out to Arcadia.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
So we couldn't get them.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
But we knew their roof was still on.
We saw peace.
I mean, put a gore to the nextday and half their roof was gone
.
Um Englewood lost a number oftrees and everything on the
outside of their building.
Venice is a brick building, abrick lodge, but they lost
everything off the outside trashcans every awning.
Right everything there was.
(27:17):
Uh, there's a tree outside ofvenice lodge, if you look, one
of those large, tall pine trees.
Half of the needles arestripped off of that tree on one
side, so the wind blew so hard.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It's amazing.
Yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
So several lodges had significant damage Um.
The southern lodges reallysuffered pretty badly not as bad
as district 24.
They actually lost the lodge, Iheard they did, master mason, I
just heard that, yes, theycouldn't lost the lodge couldn't
recover from the damage.
I guess that was done to theirlodge.
Yeah, they're.
They're now meeting withanother lodge, so hopefully they
(27:52):
can recover from that right?
Well, you know, if they want to,they will, because we're here,
we're all here to help, you knowWell a lot of times these
things will galvanize thebrothers and bring Brothers
who've been away back and startbuilding it up.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, that's right.
That's the irony of thatsituation you were talking about
earlier, because I saw thathappen as an outsider.
I tried to stay away from whatwas happening there, because I
have a history With that lodgein particular and I don't ever
want to Be my intentionsmisconstrued, so I tend to try
to stay away.
Yep, at least they did at thattime.
But we all knew something wasgoing on and we were all scared
(28:28):
that it was going to be so badfor them.
But when you look back, thatwas about the best thing that
probably could have happened tothose guys.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
That grew their officer line very close together
.
Yeah, they had to.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
They had to be a unit .
They had to stop.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
It was very important to me that in the beginning,
when that situation washappening, that they understood
that they had my support andeveryone in the district support
and that we would not let themfail.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
It's been different since then.
Right, they've been a lot moreopen and Involved and I think
the officers have stepped up andyou know, it's kind of odd how
those Difficult, challengingsituations can be positive.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Well, it's adversity.
You know it's a strong, that'sright.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Well, much like your lodge.
That lodges also Relativelystrong, with a good group of
past masters in the backgroundthat can help them through
difficult situations.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
So yeah, I assume that's why you were there so
much.
The grandmaster was like you.
Better keep an eye on thoseguys.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Bring the handcuffs.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Have them on, you know.
You know, I'm just in gate.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
One of my goals this year was to do a good enough job
that the grandmaster didn'thave to be involved in our
district very often.
So we we spoke about that.
He's aware of the situation,but oh really, yeah, no, it's,
it was handled by us.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yeah, that's what how it should be handled right, and
you handled it Well, I thinknobody got hurt in that
situation.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Thank you.
You know, everybody walked awaywith their honor as best as
they could.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Yeah, that was my goal in the end.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
So so let's change the subject, if you don't mind,
just a little bit.
The future this coming year yes, sir, what do you?
Speaker 2 (30:04):
What?
What challenges?
Culture change right.
Yeah, how do you go from thetop of the hill?
Speaker 3 (30:10):
For me.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Personally but, also, just as you know, the craft in
general here in Florida.
What do you see?
There's a lot of.
There's talk of a couple of bigissues Out there, right, and
they're certainly going to bebuzzing around here about that.
I don't think this is theformat to bring that up, but
what do you see going forwardthis next year?
What?
What are some of the challengescoming our way?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
Sure, Well, continued membership.
We need to continue to work togrow membership.
From the numbers I've seenthat's going well.
We just need to continue towork in the right direction
there.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Well, would you consider a membership right now,
membership as a problem?
Are we, or are we, our numbersLow to where it's a problem, or
are we just in need of justgrowing?
Where are we at?
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Do you know, I think I may be in the minority on this
, because I'm not a fan of hugenumbers, right, okay, I'm a fan
of the right numbers.
I agree with that and I don'tknow what the right number is,
but I know I don't need amillion brothers to know, just
to pick per capita.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Right, right, numbers for numbers sake is a great way
to kill an organization, right,yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I see it now as we're growing again, at least in
Florida masonry.
We seem to be growing.
We are bringing in good men,we're giving them reasons to be
here, which will grow thefraternity and in the long run,
that's what perpetuates us.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Yeah, okay, I like that.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
That's right yeah there's definitely a schism on
the membership thing.
You hear people like me pushingnumbers, because that's what
we're here to do.
We have blue lodges to raisenew masons, and so I'm like I'm
gonna do my best at doing that.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
And then you have the other camp, which is quality
matters more than quantity, andI agree with that too.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I definitely do, but you know Well, sometimes you
find a diamond in the rough,though.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Yeah, absolutely, and we talked about this in lodge
the other day.
We want young brothers.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
We look forward to bringing young men into masons
so that we can help mold them.
But when I was 30, 35 years old, I was not the man that you see
sitting in front of you now.
So if a 50 year old brother hadpushed me away at 35 because I
was immature at the time which Iwas you might well not see the
brother you see sitting in frontof you now.
(32:23):
That's right.
So, you have to be willing toput your hand out to people who
aren't like you and are going tochange you also.
Yeah, but that's difficult forall of us.
That is difficult.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
But then you know, the challenge you have is a lot
of lodges can't support evenadding a couple of new members.
They can't even open theirlodges, they can't get the
meetings done hardly.
You have the same people beingthe same positions for years
after years, because this is allthey have to keep it going.
And I think you know somebodyat some point up, further up the
(32:55):
chain has to say this ishurting us.
We got to cut it out.
I think that has to go away,because we tried to support them
and they couldn't turn itaround, and at some point, you
know, because the more of thosefestering zombie lodges we have
out, there, I think the more thehole hurts.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Did you just say festering zombie lodge?
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Where was your beeper ?
Speaker 1 (33:17):
The beeper, that one should stay.
I think that's going to stickaround, I think.
I think I'm going to make abutton out of that Festering
zombie lodge.
Sometimes you get some winnersout of the festering zombie
lodge they are.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
They're like out there, they're dead already, but
they're still functioning andit's like they're dragging
everybody around them down.
You know, it's like making usall look bad.
So, yeah, I think some.
If we're going to talk quality,which is the argument I get
when I do my presentations isit's not about?
Numbers, it's about quality.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Well, it's about both , is it not?
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Yeah, let's start at quality from the bottom too.
Let's cut out the stuff that'snot working then, and if we're
going to bring people, bringthem into functional lodges.
That's yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I think that the mentorship programs as they come
in, you know, but I guess Idon't know how I feel about it.
Quality matters, it mattersQuality.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
You don't have to have an opinion.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
I don't have a grand lodge guy.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
So you get the luxury of you know, right Saying I
don't know how I feel about it.
I don't know how I feel aboutit and I'm okay with that.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Because you're right, it doesn't what I think doesn't
really matter.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
What applies to all of us.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Here's something to consider.
I sat through the memorialservice this morning and
listened to the fact that 800plus of our past brothers passed
away last year 800.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
800.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Wow, so Wow.
If we don't bring 800 masons inthis year, we will decline in
numbers.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
There, it is there Just for that reason.
There you go.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yep, that's that's, and it's not for me that then we
chase numbers, but that just iswhat it is If there's not 800
good men out there in Florida,in all of Florida.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
I would be shocked.
Yeah no, there is, there is,and we far more here to find
them, right?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Well, right Words for Haber.
This has been a great interview, our first interview of the
show of our show.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
And it's fitting.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
It's fitting that it's you.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
And you've heard the show right.
Absolutely, I think I'velistened to everyone.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Oh, hey, wow.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Do you have any feedback for us?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Hold on, hold on, I'm going to be, Having heard every
no, no, I think it's I thinkit's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
I think your true friendship and your banter comes
across well and I think that'swhy people enjoy it, because
they can feel your discussions.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Well, I appreciate that.
That's that's how we feel.
That's how we started thisRight.
It's good, it's a conversation.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
It was a decision that we made for sure early on,
because when we did it we didrecord like eight or nine
episodes and didn't tell anyoneor let them listen to it.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Right, so not even our moms.
We did like no, seriously, Idon't think I never let anyone
listen to it.
No me either.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
So we put one out tentatively and let some of our
close friends listen to it, sure, and the feedback we got was
all over the place.
You know, people were like toomany rabbit holes.
You guys got to keep it moreprofessional, stay on track, so
we had to look at ourselves andsay who are we going to be Like?
Do we want to be that Like no,I don't think so.
I think we're always going to bethis, so it was a choice we
(36:16):
made, knowing that some peopledon't like it or, you know, may
not get it.
That's life.
Yeah, no, that's right.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
That's right.
We got to be us, yeah, andwe've always said you know, if
we're not going to, we're notgoing to hide who we are, but we
are going to be open to anybodywho disagrees with us.
They go to the front of theline.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Sure, we want to talk to them.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
We love those kind of conversations, we love those
guys, that's how you love themwe love them.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We love everyone with gentleness and respect.
And Masonry is just that.
Any man can come in here with abelief structure and become a
brother and grow in his life.
Very unique organization.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
So, unique.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
You won't find that anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
You know you got to be part of the prevailing, you
know group.
You know you got to do thegroup think.
Well, I don't have to do groupthink, I do have to to behave
and perform in the way Masonryhas laid down the foundations of
Masonry within.
You know, with my brothers.
But I bring a very uniqueperspective to Masonry and
(37:11):
everyone I meet does and it'sjust for me it's been an
absolute thrill.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
That's our strength.
Our strength is that we look atthings from so many different
angles.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Yeah, and we can still get stuff done.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
So go find that somewhere else in this world.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
You won't find it Right.
We're Sphahaber.
It has been an absolute honorand pleasure, sir.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Thank you, my brothers and we are very
grateful that you've been here.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
You came on, chris, you got anything else.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Is there anything you'd like to share that we
didn't talk about?
We're not professionalinterviewers.
We don't really get a chance tointerview people very often, so
I don't know.
If there are things, maybe youwish that we talked about that.
We didn't?
Speaker 3 (37:44):
No, no, really I enjoy the banter.
I would say keep it as fun asyou are doing now.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
This is something that's different for most of us,
so it's just really growing, atleast in our district that I'm
aware of in the state.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
It's definitely growing.
We're seeing a lot of bignumbers, yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
So much like your esoteric group you talked about.
This is something that brotherswant.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I mean it's still.
Brothers tell you they don'twant it.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Follow your heart.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Well, the ones that don't want it don't come right,
Right.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
Isn't that the way?
Speaker 2 (38:16):
They just don't come.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
This is the way, all right.
Well, we have been interviewingWright Warshville.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
He has a big ball to get to.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
I think tonight I do, I do it's 7 or 7.30 this
evening is the Grand Master'sreception District.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Deputy Grand Master Haver.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Yes, thank you, he has a big ball.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
He has a big ball to go to.
Yeah, big ball, head, and youand me both, brother, yes, and
this is here we are.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
We're signing off from the Grand Communication
2023.
Here in beautiful Orlando,Florida, Chris, I will see you
on the next one.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Thank you for coming, tom.
My pleasure, my pleasure, seeyou soon.
Hey, chris, yeah, fred, what's a Mason?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
That's a really good question, fred.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
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, here we are.
What Grand Lodge.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Grand Lodge Communication 2023.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We're in a salon, and we're in salon 18.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I didn't know what to make of that.
I didn't know what to make ofthat?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Well, you do, I guess .
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I got a little hanging on.
I posted a photo on Twitter andsome guy hated what I said and
he said that I looked like I wastrying to break my neck with
that comb over.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And I was like wow, oh man.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
This is time to shave , I think, when you get the comb
over comment on Twitter.
I always think that if you getinsults, like that you're doing
something right.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You know to me you're touching a nerve.
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
If you're not making people mad in radio.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You're doing it wrong .
Yeah, I mean by making them mad.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I might have said I like red velvet cake.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It was nothing like you know, really earth
shattering stuff that makes memad, I don't know.
Well, you don't like red velvet, I don't eat cake.
Who are you?
Did we just?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
meet.
You know that I just saw youdown a bag of potato chips.
That's because some of the bagof potato chips and a piece of
cake.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That's because somebody scheduled an interview
without consulting the executivedirector Speaking of.
Speaking of our first interviewof the Grand Communication ever
Ever.
This is our first interviewever, that's right, that's right
, wow, I am going to introduceyou in his proper role, which
would be right-worshifolddistrict deputy grandmaster
(01:57):
Haber.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Thank you.
Thank you for at least two moredays or three more days, is
that right?
When's your last day, wednesdaymorning, they will install the
next right-worshifold districtgrandmaster in 9 free, and then
at that from that point forwardyou're just right-worshifold
Haber.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Then I'm your brother .
You're always our brother,that's right.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
The brother that makes your butt pucker when he
wants in the room.
Okay, Chris is on one.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Ladies, and gentlemen , I thought you had a machine to
beat me out when I say dumbthere we go yeah, I do, I do.
You better just keep yourfinger on that.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I will, I will, I got it, I'm ready to go so
right-worshifold, haber, it's anhonor and a pleasure to have
you on the show as our firstinterviewer.
Truly.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Truly an honor.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So tell us give us kind of just your masonic
history, a little bit of it Sure, and then also maybe a little
family background, just so wecan get to know who you are.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
This isn't the humble history.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
This is like the people that are listening.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Damn it, he's going to be dangerous at that day
there's people all over theworld listening that won't know
who you are.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So you know, let them know.
Yeah, we know you, we know andlove you.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I could probably do this.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
We want the world to know and love you as well.
No worries, no worries.
So yes, my grandfather was amason in the shrine, was large
in the Dima Lake but didn't doas much in Blue Lodge.
He was actually mayor for a dayof St Louis through his Dima
Lake chapter and went on to bemaster counselor and all that
Did you say mayor for a day?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
He was.
He has a key.
How the hell is that work?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I don't know.
I wasn't born young.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
But from that he basically raised me with masonic
values.
All right Nice.
He became a mason in 2011.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I was raised Was that in Kabul.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It was in Kabul Lodge .
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Kabul Lodge.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Cable number 6116 over in Green Cove Springs.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What's the proper way to say that?
Cable, cable, that's how theysaid it Cable Lodge it's
pronounced C, I mean it'sspelled C-A-B-U-L, so in my mind
it's Kabul.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Isn't that a city.
It is a city, I believe, kabul,you're thinking Kabul.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That's in Afghanistan .
That's spelled with a K.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
K right, We'll go back in time and be this whole
conversation out.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Apparently, we're having an interview with Chris.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'velistened to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This is how it goes.
This is definitely how it goes.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yes, our guest is ready.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Cable, cable.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Go on, sir.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No words Raised in Kabul Lodge.
So then I moved to the westcoast of Florida.
When my wife got cold on theeast coast and started getting
more active at Manatee 31, whichis my home lodge on the west
coast Shout out to Manatee andthen in 2015, I was part of the
Manatee and Liberty Lodge, whichis a daylight lodge here, Shout
out to.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Was that Worshipful Robert?
Yeah, robert Leonard, he's heresomewhere, we'll get him.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Third Master of Liberty in 2019.
And I was given the opportunityto be District Deputy
Grandmaster last year by mostWorshipful Rob Lambert.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
But you also served in Independent Body as a leader.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I am the monarch of Samore Grotto right now.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I will do your term at Samore.
I'm Scottish Wright, 32ndDegree Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Oh, I didn't know you had done the Scottish Wright.
I am.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Excellent.
Yeah, I wanted to be part ofRusty Glendennig's class.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Oh, wow, yeah, that's great, and you were.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I would have been, but he was not able to make that
ceremonial?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh right yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
But otherwise that was a big deal for me.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
That's why I joined Scottish Wright when I did Well.
That's a good reason, becausehe was a good man, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Did you do this one day thing before you did?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
No, no mine was before that.
Mine was before that right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
So you got the real deal, you saw actual degrees
conferred.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I did.
I believe you may have been inone of my degrees, I think so.
Thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I wish will buryheart.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yep, all right.
All right, we're gonna.
You will be now Right.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So how about our family?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
married, wife, children married beautiful wife,
33 years, two daughters.
Youngest daughter has twochildren now, so I have two
grandchildren.
That's great.
Less than work, life andmasonry kind of have the
trifecta nice.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What do you do for a?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
living.
I lead a group of men whoinspect storage tanks
non-metallic storage tanks allnon-metallic storage?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Did you?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
say all over the world they do.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Oh wow, that's very live in their house, wherever
that happens to be, and we'llfly them to the job site for the
inspection.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
No kidding, yep, that's a highly specialized
Skill day, Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
There's not many of us.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Yeah, right, yeah, I get that, I get that.
So tell us a little bit aboutso deputy.
District deputy grandmaster forthe 23rd district.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Rolls off the tongue.
Rolls off the tongue.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
But tell us a little bit about the year past, sure?
What are some of the things yousaw?
Let's, let's, let's start withthe good stuff.
What did you see that?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
was really good.
Oh, absolutely I'm gonna get tosome bad stuff.
I am and I'm implying nothingright to the bad stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
There was bad, there was, there was a, there was,
there were challenges, therewere challenges.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Perhaps I don't know, but we could discuss those if
there's time.
But let's stick with thepositive stuff.
What, what did you see?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So for me, one of my biggest things this year Besides
working with Grand Lodge andmaking sure most worship
Lambert's message was pushedthrough the craft was that we
all share In unity and that weall work together and we truly
act as a brotherhood, at leastin our district.
It was very important to methat we all work together,
because we can do a lot moretogether than we can alone.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You know, yeah, that's, that's a fact.
How very Masonic of you.
Well, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, and it worked well, honestly.
Current master Sarasota 147sitting here now.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I am among Giants.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yes, he's literally jobless y'all six foot three,
helping lead all of us that istrue Helping lead all of his
brothers, the other masters inthe district, to make sure that
this peace and harmony and unitywork through our district all
year.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, so anything in particular that sticks out
through the last year, that thatkind of comes to mind Something
you're real proud of orsomething you know, something
that happened made it to the end.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Oh yeah, other than making it to the end which is a
hell of a comment.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yes, they'll have my.
No, we had an outdoor degreerecently.
Yeah, that was one of ourlodges and I believe five
different lodges Participated inthe conferring of that master
Mason degree.
Yeah so for me that was veryoutstanding Because it showed
all of our brothers workingtogether to do an outstanding
degree for some great young men.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I was there and I got to tell you.
You know, you get these momentsright.
So we're outside and we're inEnglewood in the woods as you
guys know, you guys yeah.
And it's still in quiet andthere's a rainstorm coming and
there's a giant moon behind me.
Yeah, and all of a sudden youdid.
You guys hear it a whipperwheel.
Oh did you hear that whipper?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I heard lots of stream sounds whipper wheel.
I know that's very, very bird.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
It's a bird, yeah, okay, yeah but there was just
this moment and it was quiet Didyou do the sound?
No, the T.
The Tiki torches were goingright and it was just a solemn
moment, and I thought, man.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I just love this stuff.
Yeah, you're, yeah, I just lovethis.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
and you're right, there was a representation From
the district.
I mean big representation fromthe district.
That was a really good night.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I see a lot of that, yep.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I see a lot of crossing over, a lot of
traveling within our district.
I hope so and and hopefully wecan get we will be interviewing
People from other districts.
I'm interested to find outwhat's going on.
You know, throughout the state,as far as you know, getting
getting lodges to visit eachother, getting lodges to be more
involved with each other.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
That's a you will be one of your big goals.
You're right, friend.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, and I think that, from my point of view, I
think you achieved it because weeven had a.
We had a Esoteric discussiongroup.
Yeah, and it was just atChris's house.
Yeah, 15 guys, five worshipfulmasters and six lodges
represented when that was barelytrying.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That was barely trying.
Yeah, that was just the guyswanting to do it.
Yeah, everybody wanted to do it.
It was just a matter of where,and as soon as we picked a place
, everyone showed.
And now it's gonna be evenbigger.
This next one we're doing onthe 20th, I think.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I saw yeah, yeah, it's coming up worshipful for
Don's house.
Yeah, I hope he understands theinternet, so go get it.
Yeah, these 30 guys knocking onhis door and send him some
pizzas on that night.
He's gonna need some pizzas,man.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
No, but I think it'll be even bigger, because there's
one thing we know for sure isthat people want to talk about
the esoteric parts of Freemasonthey do, they do, and, and we
had a gentleman come in to theMMA, which is not fighting, by
the way.
Yeah, my wife keeps sayingevery time I say MMA, she's like
who's fighting?
Yeah, she's all excited, right.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
No, not like that, but I lost my train.
See, darn it.
Chris, you're welcome again,thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
You were talking about the master Mason's a nice
Mason.
Well, obviously you get a lotof lodges there it's meant for
all the lodges together.
Yeah, yeah yeah but we dostruggle we have some lodges in
our district that struggled toParticipate in that and I don't
really know you probably knowbetter than me why but ever
(11:27):
since I've been in this districtthere's always been a couple
lodges that tend not toparticipate, although this year
we had one that never does.
That did quite a bit.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yes, so that was a win.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Oh, who was that Peace River?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Oh right, and then?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
yeah, I'm gonna go to also put a quarter.
Yeah, both of them actuallyknow that I think about it,
right?
Yeah, I don't do a lot ofthings and gave a lot of reports
and right man.
I heard a lot of like EAs andwe're doing degree work and
we're right, yeah, yeah, bothlodges are doing well.
I don't know if maybe theyalways do that.
They just didn't come to themeeting, so I didn't know what
(12:02):
they were doing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Well, in our district both of those lodges came from
other districts Relativelyrecently, so they're still
becoming more acclimated to whatwe do.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
We're still trying to bring them into.
I fold a little bit, which,honestly, is one of the reasons
why I wanted the district towork together, so that everyone
could see that together we'restronger and no one has to try
to struggle to do a degree ontheir own, mm-hmm plenty of
brothers to help you.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You just have to ask that's right and, yeah, that's
something that I, that I see youknow, is that like you get
asked all the time to come overand help, help out and you jump
in and then people we needpeople over one four seven, they
jump in and and it's like there.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I got a call Friday from a woman whose husband had
died.
She's a member of our lodge andhe had just died, like two days
earlier, and she was telling meall these stories about Him and
he was big-time Mason, he waslying and stuff, and so I'm
laughing.
You know she's crying.
Yeah and I said I'm so sorry, Idon't mean to be rude, I'm only
laughing because I can relate tobrother and even though I don't
(13:02):
know him, and so I started totalk about some of the Things we
do and she started laughing.
Right, and we're there, she'scrying and laughing and I'm kind
of crying and laughing, yeah,and we're having a conversation
that led to you know, I want tobe in his funeral, obviously
myself now, and go there and dothat.
But it's about us reaching outto each other and this is what I
(13:24):
told her we are waiting for anopportunity to show somebody
that we care.
Yeah, because words don't meananything.
We all know that and I saidyou're, he's gone, but you may
not know this.
We made an obligation to him totake care of you.
Yeah and if you please wouldtell us when you need you
lawnmower, when you need yourgroceries picked up.
It's an opportunity for us toshow him how much we loved him
(13:45):
as a brother.
All right, so you're doing us afavor.
So this is how I look at thedegree work in the lodges too.
A lot of lodges want to beproud and say we do it ourselves
, we can do this ourselves,which I have no problem with.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
I get, I get that mentality, a certain point, but
yeah, yeah, there's a pride indoing it yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That I do understand, but it can go too far and I
think the value is even higherin bringing other people in and
giving them a chance to show youhow much they love you by
coming in doing work with youright.
Because doing work together, aswe know, is how we gain light
and that's right yeah and how weJust search for the lost word
is through the work.
(14:23):
So doing it together is reallyimportant part of that and you
have been an essential part ofthat this year.
Yeah, you really paved the wayfor most of the masters because
we all want.
Every year we say we're gonnado these things right and they
do and I think they intend to.
But you know, you're a pastmaster.
Once you get installed all the,you know all the world comes
(14:44):
falling on you.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, the business rears its ugly head.
Yeah, all of a sudden thattakes up so much time,
absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, it's like a boxing match.
I got a great plan until youget hit in the face the first
that's Mike Tyson right.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Everybody's got a plan until you take a punch in
the face same thing being amaster, everybody's spends years
putting these.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Come on like just get in there and like, keep the
lodge together and hopefullyyou'll come out the other side
better than you went in, andthen you did a good job.
That's a good goal, I thinkthat's right.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Leave a lot stronger than you found it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, and I hear a lot of talk about yeah,
five-year plan and being able to.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I love that to.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
You know, a worshipful master lays out an
agenda for the next worshipfulmaster and then that past master
, he, he picks up the mantle ofthe things he tried to start and
follows them through after he'sgone, his year after that he's
gone, yeah, and I just thinkthat is a really successful
Conversation.
You know that we should all behaving, because anytime you got
(15:43):
an organization that turns turnsits administration over every
year.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Almost completely.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, well then you're gonna end up where?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
and there's a lot of talk right now.
What do you think about that?
I think it's outstanding.
I think it keeps the pastmasters involved and I think the
past masters of your lodge aremuch more integral in doing
things than people reallyUnderstand there's a lot of
scholarship programs and widows.
Yes, and things like that thatthe past masters will help you
with.
You don't have to do ityourself, unless you want to.
Yeah right, that's right, yeahand I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
I shouldn't say this, I suppose, but I don't know why
you would, because it's just somuch fun.
I would beep you, but I can'treach.
You, can't reach it, that's mybutton.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
You're not allowed to do that either.
I've lost all power with thisnew technology.
I don't like it anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Oh, I love it.
I slept with it last night.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Okay, anyway, touch that.
All, it's all yours.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, I'm a bit of a wire geek, I gotta be honest.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
All right, so that is a.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Right worth for paper .
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I'm sorry.
What's objective to this?
Thank you be here apparentlypeople like this.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Around the world around the world.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Everyone likes to see the car accident on the side of
the road to slow down and go isanyone?
They look okay.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So what do you see for the future?
Now, who yours, your successor,coming in?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Right, where's full Tom?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Hey, not quite, but almost almost.
Left where's full.
Yes, I'm.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Davey, tom Davey, thank you, it's coming in.
What would you what?
I'm sure you've already hadthis conversation with, but what
would you?
Several times yes yes, whatwould you?
What are you telling him?
What advice are you giving him?
What are you?
What are you sharing with himas far as the future goes?
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Well, in our case it's very difficult because each
Grandmaster selects his Choicesof what he wants done that year
.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
So okay, each of us honestly, is the Grandmaster's
representative.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
So, in truth, I don't have an agenda this year.
My agenda is the Grandmaster'sagenda and it's only to pursue
that.
That's explained to you prettyquickly that you are the
Grandmaster spokesman right.
Not your spokesman representinganyone.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah.
So what was Lambert, as big asyou were, about the Harmony and
working together.
I felt like that was more.
Some of your words were gettingput into that.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Well, the unity thing is directly from the
Grandmaster.
And then I did expand upon that, yes, because it fit well with
what I wanted our district to doalso.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, okay, I get it.
I get it so um.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
So it's hard to give Tom Advice because I'm not sure
what advice he would need, justwhat the lodges in the district
is not as much, because most ofour brothers are in good shape
now.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I got a feeling he's gonna get, he's about to get,
all the advice he's ever gonnaneed so yeah, he's about to get
all the phone calls, yeah.
But you maybe we'll have him onhere too, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
That's the kind of advice you can give him is how
to handle those phone callsright yeah, because I don't
think.
Maybe Grand Lodge preps them asmuch for that kind of
day-to-day stuff.
Is, as they do, the big picturethings.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Well, I've learned, each, each district is different
also, and each one of us as DDGM's is different because I was
fairly well known, right, soonto be right, where she'll Davey
will also be well known.
But some are not.
So you have to go out andexplain to people who you are a
little bit.
I had the benefit of beingfairly well known already
because I had done work aroundin the district and helped a lot
(19:05):
of my brothers out.
Yep man right, that was abenefit to me, and so it made it
easier to talk to my brothers.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
So a key part of the role and actually I was talking
to Tom the other day a key partto this position Is getting out
there and getting to the lodges,meeting, the meeting with
brothers and talking with themon a regular basis, so that's a
big job it is if you are theGrand Master's representative in
the district.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So you are his eyes, ears and mouthpiece, right if
there's questions at your job toanswer them.
You know once you get hisanswers and be the direct link
to the Grand Master from thebrothers.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
So how many districts are there in Florida?
Do you know of?
Him 29 so the Grand Master has29 representatives out there
there.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
That's correct, that are reporting to him.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Wow, that's no joke bro.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, huh, it's true, and he's got a hand pick him
himself, wow, in every district.
So you know he doesn't know youEverybody in every district.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So I assume they rely on people, they trust in
certain areas, sure, sure, but Iwill tell you that I'm sure
they each meet each of usindividually.
I mean, 29 seems like a lot,but when you're they travel a
lot.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yes, they do yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That makes sense, sure.
Well, one thing you reallyexcelled at as a district deputy
grandmaster that I have seenothers fail is you did a great
job of being a man of thedistrict and not a guy that got
picked in your lodge.
You see, these guys who are,like, I'm the district deputy,
(20:35):
but that means my lodge has gotthe district deputy and they're
all about their lodge.
Right and not as much about thedistrict.
You definitely, I feel like,took steps to try to make sure
that you didn't do that.
Was that a conscious thing, oris that just who you are as a
guy?
You just did that.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I'm sure some of it's unconscious just who I was
raised to be, but I would tellyou that it was something that I
wanted to pay attention to.
I have seen that also.
I'm not interested in being outthere for any one lodge right
now because, honestly, if I was,it would be just for the
grandmasters Lodge, becausethat's my job, Sure but I had
done again.
I had done a little bit ofritual work and a lot of our
(21:13):
lodges before I was everdistrict deputy.
So a little bit so I could goaround and sit with my brothers
comfortably, before I was DD andthen yes, for me it made it
much more comfortable when I wasthe district deputy.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, and I know that I mean there.
Our, our stated meeting is thesecond and fourth Tuesday of the
month and I I'm sure you werethere More than you weren't on
our meetings.
I see you were there all thetime.
Yeah, no.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I tried to make every special event.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah, I had the opportunity to do a lot of
really neat presentations, youknow.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
So I look at that as one of the blessings of this job
that I did Was being able togive a 50 year Mason
presentation Remember one timewe were a stated meeting.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I don't know I'm sharing this anyway, I don't
care, but we are a state ofstated meeting and Our secretary
had forgot to close it.
Now ours, our secretary'soffice door is connected to the
lodge and he left it open and Iwalked back over to his desk.
That may have been our firstmeeting maybe, and I just love I
, just I could see it in my mindand Randy sat down.
(22:16):
That's our secretary, randy,shout out to Randy and we were
about to get going again andright where Schwell Haber stood
up and said where's what, master, I don't feel comfortable with
the door open in a sti in atiled lodge and everybody was
like Tough to be the guy that'sgot a stand.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
I thought it was great.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
It's not a strength of mine, because one of the
reasons I have enjoyed masonryis because it puts me in
Uncomfortable speaking positions.
Yeah, not a great person infront of people, mmm.
When I sit with my brothers,I'm very comfortable right
typically just in a publicsituation.
I'm happy to stand in thebackground to be an assistant.
I don't need to be in front,didn't?
Speaker 2 (22:54):
you give a presentation for work.
I did give a couple of them.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Keeps coming to me, but it's honestly, I don't think
it's something that I aspire to, but right, it does come to me.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
So I've learned yeah, public speaking is it's a
learning thing.
You have great presence.
Yeah, yeah yeah, when you, whenyou do speak, when you stand up
and speak, you have a realstrong presence.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
So I think it's the authenticness comes through
absolutely people like that,absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Thank you guys.
I appreciate that it.
Usually, if I'm speaking, it'ssomething that I mean.
Yeah not a lot of just fluffand banter.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Mm-hmm, I'm not real good with that yeah no I get it
fluff and banter.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Yeah, we, we don't know anything about that, do we
Chris?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
I'm just proud that you made it.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Made it that you did this?
Because I know that you're notthat guy and to me I mean as a
guy who's in the pits workinghard with my brothers in the
quarry.
I mean, yeah, I think of theFlintstones when you say that,
but I don't know why, wheneveryou say quarry, I picture
Flintstones.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
All right, rabbit trail right.
Great picture of a quarry rightnow.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
This is how you get on your rabbit trail.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Okay, where was I going with that?
I think you were telling right.
Where's Wilhaber?
Something positive, yes.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yes, that you didn't do the ass-kissing game to get
where you've got right and iceI've been.
I was around a lot of people inmy early days in Mason sure and
Seem like they were reallyobsessed with the how to get
there right, and I heard a lotof here's the steps.
You got to join the Scottishright.
(24:31):
Then you got it.
You got to be the president ofthe master Mason Association and
then you got to get on acompetition.
They had these steps.
They thought you had to do.
I heard those things too.
You did okay, so I'm not crazy,and in my mind I was like man.
People spend a lot of time.
Thinking about stuff that'sgonna come to you if you just do
your job.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Most of those people giving me advice at that time
had never, done this job.
Yeah, and that's pretty typical, right.
So what I learned quick was ifyou truly think that you have an
interest in a job like this,talk to the people that've done
it.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah, that's right, not the guys who would like to
do it.
Yeah, well, sage advice rightthere.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
For sure, my favorite thing is to ask it out, going
DDGM I.
Is there anything thatsurprised you, because you know
you did talk to a lot of past.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
DDGMs.
I did and you're close to someof them.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Correct and you, you were through the orientation and
I'm sure they told you stuffand you have expectations in
your mind.
So now that you're at the endof it, looking back, was there
anything that actually shockedyou that you didn't see coming
or didn't expect?
Speaker 3 (25:34):
There's always something.
One of the masters and one ofthe lodges one of my nine lodges
, uh, decided to not continue topursue masonry halfway through
his year, so that was unexpected.
Mm-hmm made things a bitchallenged, but the lodge
persevered and did really wellin the end, honestly.
So that was unexpected.
Hurricane ian.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, oh yeah, right, two days before your
grandmaster visit right, we'resupposed to have our
grandmaster's official visitright Two days before they start
using our venue as a hurricaneshelter.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Because he and hit us , that that that day comes a
shock to you.
It was, and I tell people don'tthink that everything wasn't
planned.
The food was ordered.
Always rented they actuallyused our hall is uh staging for
florida power and light?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Wow, yeah, well, that's.
That's what they always use itfor, florida, power light.
It's always our robots arenaduring hurricanes.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe hurricane.
What, what went down in yourposition?
Were you having a heart attackat that time.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Well, how stressful was it.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
You know, like most of us, we were living through it
at the time too, so you're yeah, that's responsibilities to
your family in your house.
Yep, that's right.
But then the next day, um, ourdistrict instructor right,
where's full dobs?
And I got into his truck and wedrove down to see all nine of
our lodges.
We couldn't get to peace riverat the time because Arcadia
(26:52):
river, I mean, it was floodedgoing out to Arcadia.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
So we couldn't get them.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
But we knew their roof was still on.
We saw peace.
I mean, put a gore to the nextday and half their roof was gone
.
Um Englewood lost a number oftrees and everything on the
outside of their building.
Venice is a brick building, abrick lodge, but they lost
everything off the outside trashcans every awning.
Right everything there was.
(27:17):
Uh, there's a tree outside ofvenice lodge, if you look, one
of those large, tall pine trees.
Half of the needles arestripped off of that tree on one
side, so the wind blew so hard.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It's amazing.
Yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
So several lodges had significant damage Um.
The southern lodges reallysuffered pretty badly not as bad
as district 24.
They actually lost the lodge, Iheard they did, master mason, I
just heard that, yes, theycouldn't lost the lodge couldn't
recover from the damage.
I guess that was done to theirlodge.
Yeah, they're.
They're now meeting withanother lodge, so hopefully they
(27:52):
can recover from that right?
Well, you know, if they want to,they will, because we're here,
we're all here to help, you knowWell a lot of times these
things will galvanize thebrothers and bring Brothers
who've been away back and startbuilding it up.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, that's right.
That's the irony of thatsituation you were talking about
earlier, because I saw thathappen as an outsider.
I tried to stay away from whatwas happening there, because I
have a history With that lodgein particular and I don't ever
want to Be my intentionsmisconstrued, so I tend to try
to stay away.
Yep, at least they did at thattime.
But we all knew something wasgoing on and we were all scared
(28:28):
that it was going to be so badfor them.
But when you look back, thatwas about the best thing that
probably could have happened tothose guys.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
That grew their officer line very close together
.
Yeah, they had to.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
They had to be a unit .
They had to stop.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
It was very important to me that in the beginning,
when that situation washappening, that they understood
that they had my support andeveryone in the district support
and that we would not let themfail.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
It's been different since then.
Right, they've been a lot moreopen and Involved and I think
the officers have stepped up andyou know, it's kind of odd how
those Difficult, challengingsituations can be positive.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Well, it's adversity.
You know it's a strong, that'sright.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Well, much like your lodge.
That lodges also Relativelystrong, with a good group of
past masters in the backgroundthat can help them through
difficult situations.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
So yeah, I assume that's why you were there so
much.
The grandmaster was like you.
Better keep an eye on thoseguys.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Bring the handcuffs.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Have them on, you know.
You know, I'm just in gate.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
One of my goals this year was to do a good enough job
that the grandmaster didn'thave to be involved in our
district very often.
So we we spoke about that.
He's aware of the situation,but oh really, yeah, no, it's,
it was handled by us.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yeah, that's what how it should be handled right, and
you handled it Well, I thinknobody got hurt in that
situation.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Thank you.
You know, everybody walked awaywith their honor as best as
they could.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Yeah, that was my goal in the end.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
So so let's change the subject, if you don't mind,
just a little bit.
The future this coming year yes, sir, what do you?
Speaker 2 (30:04):
What?
What challenges?
Culture change right.
Yeah, how do you go from thetop of the hill?
Speaker 3 (30:10):
For me.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Personally but, also, just as you know, the craft in
general here in Florida.
What do you see?
There's a lot of.
There's talk of a couple of bigissues Out there, right, and
they're certainly going to bebuzzing around here about that.
I don't think this is theformat to bring that up, but
what do you see going forwardthis next year?
What?
What are some of the challengescoming our way?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
Sure, Well, continued membership.
We need to continue to work togrow membership.
From the numbers I've seenthat's going well.
We just need to continue towork in the right direction
there.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Well, would you consider a membership right now,
membership as a problem?
Are we, or are we, our numbersLow to where it's a problem, or
are we just in need of justgrowing?
Where are we at?
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Do you know, I think I may be in the minority on this
, because I'm not a fan of hugenumbers, right, okay, I'm a fan
of the right numbers.
I agree with that and I don'tknow what the right number is,
but I know I don't need amillion brothers to know, just
to pick per capita.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Right, right, numbers for numbers sake is a great way
to kill an organization, right,yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I see it now as we're growing again, at least in
Florida masonry.
We seem to be growing.
We are bringing in good men,we're giving them reasons to be
here, which will grow thefraternity and in the long run,
that's what perpetuates us.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Yeah, okay, I like that.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
That's right yeah there's definitely a schism on
the membership thing.
You hear people like me pushingnumbers, because that's what
we're here to do.
We have blue lodges to raisenew masons, and so I'm like I'm
gonna do my best at doing that.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
And then you have the other camp, which is quality
matters more than quantity, andI agree with that too.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I definitely do, but you know Well, sometimes you
find a diamond in the rough,though.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Yeah, absolutely, and we talked about this in lodge
the other day.
We want young brothers.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
We look forward to bringing young men into masons
so that we can help mold them.
But when I was 30, 35 years old, I was not the man that you see
sitting in front of you now.
So if a 50 year old brother hadpushed me away at 35 because I
was immature at the time which Iwas you might well not see the
brother you see sitting in frontof you now.
(32:23):
That's right.
So, you have to be willing toput your hand out to people who
aren't like you and are going tochange you also.
Yeah, but that's difficult forall of us.
That is difficult.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
But then you know, the challenge you have is a lot
of lodges can't support evenadding a couple of new members.
They can't even open theirlodges, they can't get the
meetings done hardly.
You have the same people beingthe same positions for years
after years, because this is allthey have to keep it going.
And I think you know somebodyat some point up, further up the
(32:55):
chain has to say this ishurting us.
We got to cut it out.
I think that has to go away,because we tried to support them
and they couldn't turn itaround, and at some point, you
know, because the more of thosefestering zombie lodges we have
out, there, I think the more thehole hurts.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Did you just say festering zombie lodge?
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Where was your beeper ?
Speaker 1 (33:17):
The beeper, that one should stay.
I think that's going to stickaround, I think.
I think I'm going to make abutton out of that Festering
zombie lodge.
Sometimes you get some winnersout of the festering zombie
lodge they are.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
They're like out there, they're dead already, but
they're still functioning andit's like they're dragging
everybody around them down.
You know, it's like making usall look bad.
So, yeah, I think some.
If we're going to talk quality,which is the argument I get
when I do my presentations isit's not about?
Numbers, it's about quality.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Well, it's about both , is it not?
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Yeah, let's start at quality from the bottom too.
Let's cut out the stuff that'snot working then, and if we're
going to bring people, bringthem into functional lodges.
That's yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I think that the mentorship programs as they come
in, you know, but I guess Idon't know how I feel about it.
Quality matters, it mattersQuality.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
You don't have to have an opinion.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
I don't have a grand lodge guy.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
So you get the luxury of you know, right Saying I
don't know how I feel about it.
I don't know how I feel aboutit and I'm okay with that.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Because you're right, it doesn't what I think doesn't
really matter.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
What applies to all of us.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Here's something to consider.
I sat through the memorialservice this morning and
listened to the fact that 800plus of our past brothers passed
away last year 800.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
800.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Wow, so Wow.
If we don't bring 800 masons inthis year, we will decline in
numbers.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
There, it is there Just for that reason.
There you go.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yep, that's that's, and it's not for me that then we
chase numbers, but that just iswhat it is If there's not 800
good men out there in Florida,in all of Florida.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
I would be shocked.
Yeah no, there is, there is,and we far more here to find
them, right?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Well, right Words for Haber.
This has been a great interview, our first interview of the
show of our show.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
And it's fitting.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
It's fitting that it's you.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
And you've heard the show right.
Absolutely, I think I'velistened to everyone.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Oh, hey, wow.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Do you have any feedback for us?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Hold on, hold on, I'm going to be, Having heard every
no, no, I think it's I thinkit's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
I think your true friendship and your banter comes
across well and I think that'swhy people enjoy it, because
they can feel your discussions.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Well, I appreciate that.
That's that's how we feel.
That's how we started thisRight.
It's good, it's a conversation.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
It was a decision that we made for sure early on,
because when we did it we didrecord like eight or nine
episodes and didn't tell anyoneor let them listen to it.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Right, so not even our moms.
We did like no, seriously, Idon't think I never let anyone
listen to it.
No me either.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
So we put one out tentatively and let some of our
close friends listen to it, sure, and the feedback we got was
all over the place.
You know, people were like toomany rabbit holes.
You guys got to keep it moreprofessional, stay on track, so
we had to look at ourselves andsay who are we going to be Like?
Do we want to be that Like no,I don't think so.
I think we're always going to bethis, so it was a choice we
(36:16):
made, knowing that some peopledon't like it or, you know, may
not get it.
That's life.
Yeah, no, that's right.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
That's right.
We got to be us, yeah, andwe've always said you know, if
we're not going to, we're notgoing to hide who we are, but we
are going to be open to anybodywho disagrees with us.
They go to the front of theline.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Sure, we want to talk to them.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
We love those kind of conversations, we love those
guys, that's how you love themwe love them.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We love everyone with gentleness and respect.
And Masonry is just that.
Any man can come in here with abelief structure and become a
brother and grow in his life.
Very unique organization.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
So, unique.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
You won't find that anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
You know you got to be part of the prevailing, you
know group.
You know you got to do thegroup think.
Well, I don't have to do groupthink, I do have to to behave
and perform in the way Masonryhas laid down the foundations of
Masonry within.
You know, with my brothers.
But I bring a very uniqueperspective to Masonry and
(37:11):
everyone I meet does and it'sjust for me it's been an
absolute thrill.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
That's our strength.
Our strength is that we look atthings from so many different
angles.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Yeah, and we can still get stuff done.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
So go find that somewhere else in this world.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
You won't find it Right.
We're Sphahaber.
It has been an absolute honorand pleasure, sir.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Thank you, my brothers and we are very
grateful that you've been here.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
You came on, chris, you got anything else.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Is there anything you'd like to share that we
didn't talk about?
We're not professionalinterviewers.
We don't really get a chance tointerview people very often, so
I don't know.
If there are things, maybe youwish that we talked about that.
We didn't?
Speaker 3 (37:44):
No, no, really I enjoy the banter.
I would say keep it as fun asyou are doing now.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
This is something that's different for most of us,
so it's just really growing, atleast in our district that I'm
aware of in the state.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
It's definitely growing.
We're seeing a lot of bignumbers, yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
So much like your esoteric group you talked about.
This is something that brotherswant.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I mean it's still.
Brothers tell you they don'twant it.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Follow your heart.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Well, the ones that don't want it don't come right,
Right.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
Isn't that the way?
Speaker 2 (38:16):
They just don't come.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
This is the way, all right.
Well, we have been interviewingWright Warshville.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
He has a big ball to get to.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
I think tonight I do, I do it's 7 or 7.30 this
evening is the Grand Master'sreception District.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Deputy Grand Master Haver.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Yes, thank you, he has a big ball.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
He has a big ball to go to.
Yeah, big ball, head, and youand me both, brother, yes, and
this is here we are.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
We're signing off from the Grand Communication
2023.
Here in beautiful Orlando,Florida, Chris, I will see you
on the next one.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Thank you for coming, tom.
My pleasure, my pleasure, seeyou soon.
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