Fraternal Light

By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Trinity Cornett, Nicole Mitchem, Chuck St John & Terry Wester

All it takes to make a difference in this dark world is one voice brave enough to share his light.

Renounced Freemason Terry W. Wester, along with fellow film creators Kevin Wayne, Matthew Wester and Robert McDonald, held the one-night-only premiere of their short film, “Broken Ashler,” on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Shelby County Arts Council in Columbiana, Alabama. Set in modern-day Alabama, “Broken Ashler” is a 43-minute film concept to pitch a three-season TV show of the same name.

The plot line involves greed, lust, betrayal and more—the overall battle each man fights when walking the “straight and narrow” in a fallen world controlled by a corrupt fraternity. Though entirely fictional, the film is inspired by Terry’s own experiences.

“I was a 33rd Degree and the Deputy of the Scottish Rite in Alabama,” he says. “I served on committees with the Grand Lodge of Alabama.”

Then a Freemason of 15 years, Terry organized volunteer efforts within his community and fundraised for numerous local charities. Notably, he fundraised for the Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation, which provides services to identify and aid students with dyslexia.

In May 2024, he made his exodus from the organization due to a difference in opinion with the Grand Lodge of Alabama. Around that time, he and Kevin were working on a documentary of the history of Freemasonry called “Order out of Chaos.”

Both Calera residents, Terry and Kevin’s paths first crossed at Terry’s cigar shop, Trussville Cigar Company. A mutual friend of theirs–legendary Alabama radio personality “Dollar” Bill Lawson–brought Kevin to sample some cigars, serendipitously introducing them.

“We were working on the documentary [Order out of Chaos], and a couple of weeks later, Terry sent me an outline of what would be the teasers of ‘Broken Ashler,’” Kevin says. “He’s like, ‘What do you think?’ I was like, ‘Let’s go! This is incredible. This would be great for TV.’”

By August 2024, Terry and Kevin were already in production for “Broken Ashler.” Instead of shooting one or two scenes, they decided to shoot this short film to pique interest amongst potential distributors.

The two partnered with Matthew and Robert, sourcing some of the finest in the film industry throughout the Southeast for their project. Nearly 85 percent of the cast and crew is from Alabama, and impressively, 100 percent of scenes were shot here in the state as well.

Although the short film is not available for streaming, Terry and Kevin do plan to enter it in film festivals this year.

“This is a combo of ‘Shameless,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Sopranos’ and ‘Sons of Anarchy’ mixed into one show,” Kevin says.

The film opens with a Masonic-inspired ritual performed by Master Mason John Trent–the character Terry plays. Blindfolded, quivering Randy Craine (Chaney Morrow) is asked to kneel before the brethren and kiss the sacred text.

Three dark hooded figures in masks appear, alluding to the ever-growing eerie atmosphere engulfing the blacked-out room. As the film progresses, these three “ruffians,” played by Joe Cook, Erik Baker and Creek Wilson, take Randy under their wing, pretending to uphold the outstanding moral code each Freemason abides by oath.

Only one of Randy’s friends Raymond Washington (Tremayne Blair) challenges Randy’s unwavering loyalty to this more sinister than sincere brotherhood.

“‘Broken Ashler’ is a world where conspiracy theory and reality meet, and sometimes, reality is worse,” Terry says, later adding, “in the TV show, we’re going to explore the demographics between race, sexual orientation, fraternal bonds, brotherhood, brothers lying to each other with one overlying theme of ‘What would it take for you to want to kill one of your brothers, somebody that you spent a lot of time with? What has to happen to drive you to that point?’”

Terry says he loved serving as a Freemason. Some of his best friends are his former “brothers.”

Yet, he witnessed wickedness in the flesh, hiding behind its own deceit. As a true Freemason, Terry defended the truth and upheld his own honor, even when it cost him his fraternity.

“Freemasonry is not inherently bad, but just like the premise of the show, there are some bad apples,” he says.

According to “Freemasons for Dummies,” by Christopher Hodapp, Past Master, Knight Templar, the origins of Freemasonry are heavily debated; yet, historians consider either the mythical theory or the historical theory as evidence pointing to the birthplace of this organization.

Dating back to around 1000 B.C., the mythical theory suggests Freemasonry began when the Temple of King Solomon was created. Then considered man’s most extravagant tribute to God, the Temple of King Solomon housed the Sanctum Sanctorum–the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments.

However, the historical theory is more widely accepted, suggesting origins from the stonemason guilds in Europe during the Medieval period. The physical craft of stoneworking, known as Operative Masonry, became one of the most selective trades of the age.

Stonemasons were highly skilled craftsmen who were educated in math, science, architecture, religion and literature but were often still considered peasants by birth. They knew building secrets nobody else did at the time–they knew how to design and create ginormous gothic cathedrals and castles out of unassuming mountains of stone.

To keep leverage in the workforce and earn respect from their nobles, stonemasons never divulged their secrets, meaning they never printed nor wrote them down. Their knowledge was imparted on generations of laborers by word of mouth only.

As the Renaissance swept Europe, so did the demand for stonemasons and their talents. By 1600, however, gothic architecture became outdated, and the general population became more and more educated.

Thus, stonemasons faced a crisis. Guilds began recruiting scholars and nobles–anyone who coveted the stonemasons’ wealth of philosophy and ethical principles.

Operative Masonry soon gave way to Speculative Masonry–a fraternity of stonemasons and non-working “brothers” bonded by moral enlightenment. The first-ever recorded Freemasons’ group was the Grand Lodge of England in London, which formed in 1717.

“Instead of making stones perfect, it [became] this organization of men that would make good men perfect,” Terry says.

Freemasonry later made the trek to the Americas in the early days of the 13 Colonies. Nine of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, including President George Washington, were Freemasons.

Of all the presidents of the United States, 14 were Freemasons as well. The Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA) reports that Freemasonry enrollment in the U.S. was at its peak in the mid-to-late 1950s and early 1960s.

As of 2023, the MSANA states that 869,429 Americans were Freemasons. Today, Terry says Freemasons are everywhere–on Wall Street, in Hollywood, in the Capitol, in the medical field, in local schools and churches and more.

There are many wonderful members who are actively working to make the world a better place. One of the best examples, he says, are the Freemasons who fund Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is a group of hospitals most known for effectively treating children with severe, life-threatening injuries.

However, Terry says there are also those who abuse their power, making moves in silence. He challenges readers not to allow themselves to be “blindfolded by society,” naively accepting the so-called truths pivotal figures often feed to them.

“One of the taglines for Freemasonry is ‘making good men better,’” he says. “That’s something Freemasons like to say a lot. They like to ‘make good men better.’ That line does not say, ‘Freemasons make men better.’ They take good men and make them better. Because if you’re not a good man, you’re not supposed to be allowed to enter.”

Terry hopes “Broken Ashler” encourages audiences to seek out truth in the web of lies spun by some of society’s most influential figureheads. If one seeks out evil, he will find it, he says.

On the other hand, if he searches for the good in men, he will find it, too.

“The truth to anything in life is recognizing the fault and then making it better,” he says. “Where you have problems is you find the fault, and you continue carrying on with the fault.”

Like a light in the darkest of times, truth, in the heart of the righteous, will always prevail. Thanks to Terry Wester’s courage, this light is catching fire across the U.S., spurring the wake of justice.

To learn more about the “Broken Ashler” series, click here.

Behind the Scenes

Terry Wester, Executive Producer/Co-Writer
Kevin Wayne, Producer/Director
Matthew Wester, Producer/Investor
Robert McDonald, Co-Writer
Vanessa Wester, Production Assistant
Angie Soule, UPM
Derek Boyd, D.P./Gaffer/Light Truck
Trinity Cornett, Social Media Manager
David Gentry, Storyboard/Grip/Logo/Poster Creator/BTS
Jeremy Cornett, PA
Steven Wilson, On Set Audio Tech
Bernadette Chapman, Script Supervisor/Continuity
Linda Thacker, Makeup Artist
Danielle Bowman, 1st AD
Madison Bowman, 2nd AD
Lauren Foster, Craft Service
Kelly Griggs Wilson, Hair Stylist
Catherine Beaton, Props/Set Deco
Wes Verzwyvelt, Grip
Cody Willis, PA 1
William Geiger, PA 2
Syndnee Moore, PA 3
Amanda Cook, Wardrobe
Jake Ferrier, 1st AC
Ben Swearingen, 2nd AC
Nicole Mitchem, BTS Photographer
Hassel Kromer, Picture Car Supervisor
Maximos Tatum, Editor/TOS/D.I.T.
Sam LaFlamme, Composer
D.C. Douglas, V.O. Actor
Troy Clayton, Stunt/Fight Coordinator
Katelyn Foxworth, Makeup & FX Makeup Artist
Jay Galloway, A.C.
Brennan Martignoni, Color Grade Artist