Union Lodge No. 38 F.& A.M.

History of Union Lodge No. 38’s Cave Degree

1. SEPTEMBER 30, 1972.  Three TENNESSEE MM degrees were conferred on Union Lodge Candidates, Donald Faril Colyer, Charles Alex Colyer, and Timothy Guy Farr. 120 Masons, representing 20 Tennessee lodges attended.

2. AUGUST 25, 1973.
A TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred by Union Lodge officers on their candidate Robert Doyle Bullock. 200 Masons, representing 5 states and most of the Tennessee Grand Officers attended.

3. AUGUST 17, 1974.
An ALABAMA MM degree was conferred on Charles Donald Kewgrell by York Lodge #211, of Jasper, Alabama 311 Masons, representing 77 lodges and 15 states attended

4 AUGUST 16, 1975.
A DELAWARE MM degree was conferred on John R. Duncan by Ionic Lodge #31 Newport, Delaware. 250 Masons, representing 93 lodges and 9 states attended.

5. AUGUST 21, 1976.
Two KENTUCKY MM degrees were conferred on their candidates by Washington Meredith Lodge #355 of Brownsville, Kentucky. 350 Masons representing 87 lodges and 10 states attended.

6. AUGUST 20, 1977.
A TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred on Union Lodge candidate, Paul E. Mayfield Jr. by a team composed of Tennessee 33rd degree Scottish Rite Masons. 450 Masons, representing 200 lodges and 29 states attended.

7. AUGUST 19, 1978.
2 SOUTH CAROLINA MM degrees were conferred by the Spartanburg County (SC) third degree team on Don Mobley and Harley Earl P. Kiepper. The team was directed by Bro. Joel Wilson. 250 Masons, representing 110 lodges and 17 states and England attended.

8. AUGUST 18, 1979.
2 GEORGIA EA degrees were conferred by Rossville Lodge #397, on Wayne H. Bean (Rossville Lodge Candidate) and Stanley R. Rooker (Thompkin Lodge #466 Candidate). The degree team was led by MW Kirk Nicholson Jr., (Georgia Grand Master) using the old English Ritual used in Solomon Lodge of Savannah, Georgia. 350 Masons representing 14 states and Canada attended.

9. AUGUST 16, 1980.
An OHIO MM degree was conferred by Lima Lodge #205, Lima, Ohio on Mercer Lodge #121 candidate, Sam Wellbacker. 300 Masons, representing 86 lodges and 15 states, South Africa and Canada attended.

10. AUGUST 15, 1981.
A FLORIDA MM degree was conferred on William B. Barnette Lodge #187 candidate, Donald E. Bores. The degree team was under the jurisdiction of Temple Lodge #23, Jacksonville, Florida, and comprised of Brethren from all over the state. 200 Masons, representing 90 Lodges, 12 States and Japan attended.

11. AUGUST 21, 1982
A KANSAS EA degree was conferred by Solomon City Lodge #105, Solomon City, Kansas on F. Warren Starnes. 215 Masons, representing 109 Lodges and 12 States attended.

12. AUGUST 20, 1983.
A TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred on Union Lodge Candidate Ledford Ray Johnson. The degree team was comprised of Tennessee Past Grand Masters directed by MW John A. Arp, Jr. (Tennessee Grand Master). 302 Masons, representing 118 Lodges, 14 States and Canada attended.

13. AUGUST 18, 1984.
An ARKANSAS MM degree was conferred by Desha Lodge #643 of McGhee, Arkansas on Bill Bunker. 260 Masons, representing 109 Lodges and 9 States attended.

14. AUGUST 17, 1985.
An ILLINOIS MM degree was conferred by Triple Lodge #835, Granite City, Illinois on Leon Streif. 214 Masons, representing 104 Lodges and 18 States attended.

15. AUGUST 16, 1986.
A TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred on Union Lodge Candidate Jack Arp, (son of MW John B. Arp Jr. PGM). 372 Masons, representing 121 Lodges, 17 States, Germany and Mexico attended.

16. AUGUST 15, 1987.
An OKLAHOMA MM degree was conferred by Rock Lodge #513 of Tulsa, on Charles Scott Lammers. 231 Masons, representing 93 Lodges, 19 States, and Canada attended.

17. AUGUST 20, 1988.
A MISSISSIPPI MM degree was conferred by Pontonoc Lodge #81, Pontonoc, Mississippi on Alan Criss Armstrong. 175 Masons, representing 12 States attended.

18. AUGUST 19, 1989.
A NORTH CAROLINA MM degree was conferred by Keystone Lodge #726, Charlotte, NC, on David Joseph McGaffigan. 275 Masons, representing 112 Lodges and 20 States attended.

19. AUGUST 18, 1990.
A MARYLAND MM degree was conferred by Pythagoras Lodge #123 and Charity Lodge #134, Baltimore, Maryland on Peter Carroll Tinley. 268 Masons, representing 164 Lodges, 21 States, Mexico and Germany attended. On Friday August 17, Union Lodge conferred an EA degree while Tennessee Grand Master MW “Tex” Tisdale conferred a MM degree at Southgate Lodge #569 in Harriman.

20 AUGUST 17, 1991.
A VIRGINIA MM degree was conferred by Clover Hill Lodge #253, Moseley, Virginia on Paul Gregory Tysor. Clover Hill Lodge’s WM was Bro. Jeff Kyte–a former and now dual member of Union Lodge. 289 Masons, representing 118 Lodges, 16 States and Germany attended. An ALABAMA MM degree was also conferred on Friday Night August 16 at South Gate Lodge #569 in Harriman.

21. AUGUST 15, 1992.
A LOUISIANA MM degree was conferred by the Louisiana Red River Road Runner Degree Team, under the auspices of Fair Park Lodge #436, Shreveport, Louisiana on Richard David Gates. 301 Masons, representing 148 Lodges, 21 States and Germany attended. A DELAWARE MM degree was also conferred on Friday Night August 14 at South Gate Lodge #569 in Harriman by the DELAWARE COLONIALS.

22. AUGUST 21, 1993.
A CALIFORNIA MM degree was conferred by Mission Bay Lodge #771, San Diego, California on Richard W. Knight. The degree was conferred by his father, Charles Knight, secretary of Mission Bay Lodge. 327 Masons representing 112 Lodges, 20 States and Germany attended. A KANSAS MM degree was also conferred on Bro. “Jack Daniels” on Friday Night August 20 at Union Lodge.

23. AUGUST 20, 1994.
A DELAWARE MM degree was conferred by THE SHIELD & SQUARE CLUB OF DELAWARE on Eric Scott Wagner. 247 Masons representing 116 Lodges and 19 States attended. Union Lodge also conferred a Fellow Craft Degree on Friday Night August 19.

24. AUGUST 19, 1995.
An OHIO MM degree was conferred by Hamer Lodge #228, Owensville, Ohio on Todd Cousineu. 227 Masons representing 105 Lodges and 14 States attended. Union Lodge also conferred an Entered Apprentice Degree on Jason Taylor on Friday Night August 18.

25. AUGUST 17, 1996.
A TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred by the Past Masters of Union Lodge and the Knoxville Scottish Rite Third Degree Team on Union Lodge Candidate Paul Edward Taylor. 288 Masons representing 104 Lodges and 19 States attended. Union Lodge also conferred an Entered Apprentice Degree on Timothy Dean Kile on Friday night August 16.

26. AUGUST 16, 1997.
A MISSISSIPPI MM degree was conferred by Byhalia Lodge #115, Byhalia, MS. on Stephen Jeffery Thomas. 378 Masons representing 144 Lodges and 17 States attended. On Friday night August 15, 2 NORTH CAROLINA EA degrees were conferred at Union Lodge by Creasy Proctor Lodge #679, Fayetteville, NC on John Mark Tripp and Joseph Simmons Jr.

27. AUGUST 15, 1998.
A SOUTH CAROLINA MM Degree was conferred by the Hejaz Shrine Temple Past Masters Degree Team on James E. Terry, member of Taylors Lodge #345, Taylors, S.C. 281 brethren, representing 118 Lodges, 19 States, Canada and the Panama Canal Zone attended. On Friday night August 14, a NORTH CAROLINA FC degree was conferred at Union Lodge by Creasy Proctor Lodge #679, Fayetteville, NC on Rickie Marl Foor.182 brethren, representing 84 Lodges and 14 States, Canada and the Panama Canal Zone attended.

28. AUGUST 21, 1999.
A NORTH CAROLINA MM degree was conferred by Keystone Lodge #726, Charlotte NC on Mark Jennings. 198 brethren, representing 86 Lodges and 16 States attended. on Friday night August 20, 2 FLORIDA EA Degrees were conferred by a team comprised of brethren from the 17th and 18th Florida Masonic Districts on Gregory Gardiner Kinsey and George Richardson Van Pelt Jr. 173 brethren, representing 66 Lodges and 11 States attended.

29. AUGUST 19, 2000.
A MARYLAND MM degree was conferred by Charity Lodge #134 of Freeland on Bobby Phillips. 175 brethren, representing 10 States and 94 Lodges attended. On Friday night August 18, a SOUTH CAROLINA EA Degree was conferred at Union Lodge by Cavins Lodge #226, AFM, Wodruff South Carolina on David Scott Roberson. 192 Brethren, representing 86 Lodges and 12 States attended.

30. AUGUST 18, 2001.
A NORTH CAROLINA MM degree was conferred by Charles M. Setzer Lodge #693, Charlotte, NC on Tony Allen Nesgoda. 192 brethren, representing 13 States and 87 Lodges attended. On Friday night August 17, a MISSISSIPPI Fellow Craft Degree was exemplified by Southern Star Lodge #500, Long Beach MS. 164 brethren, representing 10 States and 66 Lodges attended.

31. AUGUST 17, 2002.
A GEORGIA MM Degree was conferred by Riverdale Lodge #709, Riverdale GA on James Robert Walker. 264 brethren, representing 19 states, the District of Columbia and 128 Lodges attended. This This degree was named in memory of Brother Leon Meade, who passed away in January 2002. Brother Meade served Union Lodge #38 as Worshipful Master in 1972–the year the first Cave Degree was held. On Friday Night, August 16, a FLORIDA FC degree was conferred on Raymond A. Overbee at Union Lodge by a degree team comprised of brethren from the 17th and 18th Florida Masonic Districts. 188 brethren, representing 15 States and 83 Lodges attended.

32. AUGUST 16, 2003.
A FLORIDA MM degree was conferred on Tony Herrington by a team comprised of brethren from the 17th and 18th Florida Masonic Districts. 291 brethren, representing 134 Lodges and 19 States attended. On Friday night August 15, South Carolina EA Degrees were be conferred on Travis Grove and Roger Styles at Union Lodge #38 by the HEJAZ SHRINE TEMPLE Past Masters Degree Team. 246 brethren, representing 19 States and 112 Lodges attended.

33. AUGUST 21, 2004.
A NORTH CAROLINA MM was conferred on Keith Edward Wilson by Creasy Proctor Lodge #679, Fayetteville, NC. 205 brethren, representing 60 Lodges and 11 States attended. On Friday night August 20, a California EA Degree was conferred at Union Lodge on David Dewan Dent by Pleasanton Lodge #321, Pleasanton, CA. 274 brethren, representing 72 Lodges and 13 States attended.

34. AUGUST 20, 2005.
A MISSISSIPPI MM Degree was exemplified on Peter Smits by Southern Star Lodge #500, Meridian, Mississippi. 168 brethren, representing 10 States and 65 Lodges attended. On Friday Night, August 19, the Tennessee DeMolay Degree was conferred by young men representing several local DeMolay Chapters. State Master Councilor, Brother Nick Workman directed the work. In March 2005, Tennesse lowered the age for Masonic membership to 18; Brother Workman (age 19–he was raised in July 2005) was the first Master councilor who was also a Master Mason. Tennessee Grand Master M. W. Rev. Brother Paul Phillips also conducted a memorial service for cave owner Martha Brashears who died January 24, 2005.

35. AUGUST 19, 2006.
A CALIFORNIA MM Degree was conferred by Pleasanton Lodge #321, Pleasanton, CA on Preston Keith Fox. 201 brethren, representing 90 Lodges, 17 States and Canada attended. On Friday night August 18, Pleasanton Lodge #321 conferred a CALIFORNIA FC Degree at Union Lodge #38 on Bradford Clayton Cofield. 164 brethren representing 68 Lodges, 15 states and Canada, attended.

36. AUGUST 18, 2007.
A VIRGINIA MM Degree was conferred by Lee Lodge #209, Waynesboro, VA on Daniel Crowe. 229 brethren, representing 104 Lodges and 15 States attended. On Friday night August 17, Florida E. A. Degrees were conferred on Gregory Howard Householder and Andrew Jonathan Clark at Union Lodge by a team comprised of brethren from the 17th and 18th Florida Masonic Districts. 185 brethren, representing 17 States and 84 Lodges attended.

37. AUGUST 16, 2008.
A GEORGIA MM Degree was conferred by Pickens Star Lodge #220, Jasper GA on William Gary Boyes. 250 Masons, representing 96 Lodges, 14 States, Ontario Canada and England attended. On Friday night August 15, a North Carolina EA Degree was exemplified by Creasy Proctor Lodge #679 on Steven Matthews. 166 Masons, representing 77 Lodges, 15 States, Ontario Canada and England attended.

38. AUGUST 15, 2009
A FLORIDA MM Degree was conferred by a team comprised of brethren from the 17th and 18th Florida Masonic Districts on Sahad Nabivi. 336 brethren, representing 170 Lodges, 21 States, Canada, Germany and The Philippines attended. On Friday night August 14, a South Carolina EA Degree was conferred at Union Lodge on Michael Lee Clardy by Bailey Lodge #146, Greenville, SC. 256 brethren, representing 127 Lodges, 18 States, Canada, Germany and The Philippines attended.

39. AUGUST 21, 2010.
To honor the fact that Cave Degree Director (and Union Lodge’s Secretary) M. W. Brother Tom Boduch was serving as Tennessee’s Grand Master, a TENNESSEE MM degree was conferred by the HIRAM LODGE #7’s CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTOR’s Degree Team on Bro. Heath Robert Potter.  451  brethren, representing 23 States, Canada, the United Kingdom and 200 Lodges attended.  On Friday night August 20, a Province of Ontario E.A. degree was exemplified on John Melvin Rodriguez by Palmer Lodge #372, Fort Erie Ontario. 371  brethren, representing 20 States, Canada, the United Kingdom and 166 Lodges attended.

40. AUGUST 20, 2011
A CALIFORNIA MM Degree was conferred on Michael Papatsos by Pleasonton Lodge #321. 253 brethren, representing 115  Lodges, and 14 States attended.  On Friday night August 19, a Georgia EA Degree was conferred on Joseph Wayne Childers by Pickens Star Lodge #220, Jasper, Georgia.  215 brethren, representing 83 Lodges, 13 States and Canada attended.

41. AUGUST 18, 2012 A MISSISSIPPI MM Degree was conferred by the Mississippi Mountain Man Degree Team representing Lumberton Lodge #417 on Cameron Walter Nuzzo.   292 Masons, representing 130 Lodges and 16 States attended.  On Friday night August 17, a FLORIDA FC degree was exemplified by a degree team from the Florida 17th and 18th Districts on William Erd.  246 brethren, representing 72 Lodges and 17 States attended. The Mississippi Mountain Man Degree Team will return in 2018 to confer a MM Degree.

42. AUGUST 17, 2013  On December 27, 1813, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina chartered the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. To celebrate this bicentennial, a NORTH CAROLINA MM Degree was conferred by Fairview Lodge #339, Kings Mountain on Marcus Owens.  275 brethren, representing 142 Lodges 18 States and Ontario attended.  On Friday night August 16, a Tennessee EA degree was conferred at Union Lodge #38, on Joseph Henry Watson III (son-in-law of Union Lodge 1987 Past Master Brother Russell Thornton) by a team comprised of brethren from the original Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of Tennessee (these Lodges were chartered by North Carolina and had North Carolina Numbers–they were reassigned Tennessee numbers from 1 to 9).  200 brethren, representing 99 Lodges 14 States and Ontario attended.

43. AUGUST 16, 2014   A SOUTH CAROLINA MM Degree was conferred by Whitney Lodge #264 on Jared Carl Miller.  218 brethren, representing 12 States and 71 Lodges attended.  On Friday night August 15, a GEORGIA FC Degree was exemplified on Wayne Halsby by Pickens Star Lodge #220, Jasper, GA.  169 brethren, representing 95 Lodges and 15 States attended.

44. AUGUST 15, 2015  A FLORIDA MM Degree was conferred by a team of brethren from the Florida 17th District on Jamin Mark Leichering. 202 brethren, representing 104 Lodges 16 States and Nova Scotia attended. On Friday night August 14, an OHIO FC Degree was exemplified on Ryan Kilmarti by High Point Lodge #773, Monroe, OH. 150 brethren, representing 80 Lodges and 16 States and Nova Scotia attended.

45. AUGUST 20, 2016 a FLORIDA MM Degree was conferred by a team of brethren from the 17th Florida District on Ryan Keegan. 244 brethren, representing 106 Lodges and 14 states attended. On Friday night, August 19, a SOUTH CAROLINA EA degree was conferred by the Spartanburg AFM Club on Preston Boyter. 203 brethren, representing 94 Lodges and 14 States attended.

46. AUGUST 19, 2017  Two GEORGA MM Degrees were conferred on Ron Workman and William Atkission by Pickens Star Lodge #220, Jasper, Georgia and brethren from the 9th Masonic District.  294 brethren, representing 134 Lodges, 18 states and Germany attended.  On Friday night August 18, an ALABAMA FC degree was exemplified on TN Fellowcraft Brother Clark Herron (253) by Bolivar Lodge #127, Stevenson, Alabama.  230 brethren, representing 115 Lodges, 14 states, Brazil and Nova Scotia attended.

47.  AUGUST 18, 2018 A MISSISSIPPI MM Degree was conferred by the Mississippi Mountain Man Degree Team representing John Henry Wooten Sr. Lodge #503 (courtesy work for Orange Grove Lodge #635, Gulfport, MS) on Randolph Freemont Davis Jr.  308 Masons, representing 117 Lodges and 16 states attended.  On Friday night August 17, a NEW JERSEY EA Degree was exemplified on RW Brother Raymond Edward Bowkley (A Past Grand Chaplain) by Host Lodge #6, Highbridge, NJ.  209 brethren representing 82 Lodges and 14 States attended.

48.  AUGUST 17, 2019  On Friday night August 16, a Florida EA Degree will be conferred by a team from the 16th Florida Masonic District. On Saturday a South Carolina MM Degree will be conferred by the Spartanburg AFM Club. 

49.  AUGUST 15, 2020 An INDIANA MM Degree was scheduled to be  conferred by Indianapolis Lodge #669. On Friday night August 14, a NEW JERSEY FC degree was scheduled.  Due to COVID-19 issues, both degrees were cancelled. A Tennessee Degree on a Union Lodge #38 candidate was conferred on July 25, 2020 by 28 brethren representing Union Lodge #38, Rockwood Lodge #403, East Fork Lodge #460 and Southgate Lodge #569

The candidate was Brother PAUL CHARLES COLYER, (the son of Charles Alex Colyer, a candidate at the first cave degree).

50.  August 21, 2021 A MISSISSIPPI MM Degree was conferred on JACOB ALAN WARD by the Mississippi Mountain Man Degree Team. A Tennessee Fellow Craft Degree was conferred on RYAN SHANE WATSON of Rockwood Lodge 405 by Union Lodge #38, (courtesy work) on Friday night in the Lodge. 21 states and 131 Lodges were represented.

51.   On Friday Night August 19th, a New Jersey FELLOW CRAFT degree was exemplified on John Alexander by a team from the 14th New Jersey Masonic District in the Lodge room at Union Lodge No. 38. 248 brethren, representing 16 states, Canada, and 108 lodges attended.   August 20, 2022 A DELAWARE MM Degree was conferred on Robert Miller by IONIC Lodge #31. The Degree was conferred by Masonic Brotherhood Riders of Delaware Southern Chapter Degree Team. 310 brethren representing 18 states and the Province of Ontario and 141 Lodges attended. The degree was conferred in Eblen cave.

52.   August 19th. 2023  A NEW JERSEY MM Degree will be conferred by a team from the 14th New Jersey Masonic District. On Friday night, Aug. 18th., a Florida EA degree will be conferred by VOLUSIA LODGE #77.

53.   August 17th. 2024 A FLORIDA MM Degree will be conferred bo the Florida 13th. Masonic District.  A North Carolina E.A. Degree will be conferred in the Lodge by MONROE #244, AF&AM, From Monroe, N.C.

54.   August 15th. PENDING:  August 16th. 2025 A TEXAS MM Degree will be conferred by the RISING STAR RANGER DEGREE TEAM

55.  August 14th. Volusia Lodge #77 will confer a FLORIDA EA degree in the Lodge on Friday night. August 15th., A North Carolina M.M. Degree will be conferred in the Cave by MONROE #244, AF&AM, From Monroe, N.C. on Saturday afternoon.

56. August 20th., A Wisconsin EA Degree will be conferred in the lodge on Friday night.  August 21st., A degree team from Massachusetts will confer a MM Degree in the cave on Saturday afternoon.

57. August 18th., PENDING, August 19th., A Wisconsin MM degree will be conferred in the cave.