The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2019 The North Carolina Mason Page 13 By Walt Clapp Grand Secretary We all have important moments in life, like birthdays and wedding anniversaries. In Freemasonry we are taught to mark the passage of time – metaphorically upon a small gauge or ruler. at small gauge is there to remind us of our brief time here on earth and to use that time well. Personally, I am approaching just such an event. On Dec. 2, my father, T. Walton Clapp, Jr., will celebrate his 50th year as a Mason, and I have every inten- tion to celebrate this milestone with him. By the time this paper reaches your mailbox, the moment will have come and gone, but my anticipation and appreciation for that moment cannot be understated. I petitioned Mystic Tie #237 in 1974 when my father was Master. I did not tell him I was petitioning and swore the men who signed my petition to secrecy. As the day approached, the Secretary informed dad there was a petition to read that night but did not tell him the name of the man petitioning. As luck would have it, another man petitioned that night also, and as dad read down the list of lodge business he asked the secretary to read the petition. e secretary read the first petition, and dad assigned it a committee of investigation. As dad began to move on to the next order of business he was inter- rupted by the secretary. "Excuse me Worshipful, we have another petition." "Oh," my father replied. "Go ahead and read it." e secretary pulled my petition out from under his desk blotter and began to read, "To the Masters, Wardens, and members of Mystic Tie Lodge No. 237: I, eophilus Walton Clapp, III, being a free man…" "What? Who was that?" My father interrupted the secretary. "eophilus Walton Clapp," he replied. "e ird." I was told my father stared at the secretary in disbelief as the members of the lodge began to laugh and chatter amongst themselves. Dad, who served in World War II aboard the USS Arkansas off the coast of Normandy during D-Day and dodged kamikazes while enroute to Japan when the bomb was dropped, was rarely flustered. But he recov- ered fast, then smirked at the secretary and bade him to finish reading. I'm told dad stumbled over his parts the rest of the night. Afterward, dad brushed up his memory on every degree and presided over my first, second, and third degrees and raised me a Master Mason. So, why do we celebrate these milestones? Why do we measure time? e significance is not the actual event, but the people that make the event happen. at's why my father's milestone means so much. Freemasonry is about relation- ships and shared experiences. We value our achievements because our brothers have helped us pass these milestones. Sometimes we walk by them. Sometimes we run. And, sometimes we're carried. Over the years, I've had many powerful experiences in Freema- sonry. However, his upcoming milestone is so important to me. At age 45, dad was late coming into Freemasonry, so the probability of him ever receiving his 50-year award was slim. He joined late because he was waiting for someone to invite him into membership. He did not and could not understand that since his father and grandfather were members why was he not asked to join. Of course, he did find out no one would ask him, and that he had to do the asking. My father means so much to me—as a father, a mentor, and friend. And, I've learned so much from the example he has set in each of those roles. ree of his characteristics stand out in my mind as lessons that have changed my life. Like I said, Dad was rarely caught off guard, and when he was – like the night I peti- tioned the lodge (and he'll be the first to tell you) – he learned some- thing from the whole experience: You have to roll with the punches and seize the moment. Our reac- tions to events define who we are. I've tried to remember that and exemplify his traits. At the end of any circumstance, you're going to have a story. Recently, I received an email from a brother taking me to task and calling me a name. He did not appreciate what he considered an offhand comment I made during a serious piece of business. I made the comment because I always believe that laughter breaks the tension. You have to move on. And, you can't hold grudges. Dad was in the funeral business where you have to engage people who are angry and upset. ey say things they don't mean – or maybe they do mean them. But, taking it personally is not worth the time and effort to dwell on it. Working in the Grand Lodge Office is no different. Doubtless, the Grand Lodge is blamed for most of the Craft's problems. e Office is an easy target and the complaint usually lands on the Grand Secre- tary's desk. I roll with it as best I can, but I'm much more concerned with my failure to help someone understand a situation than I am relieving their anger at me. It's what we do as Masons – help people understand. Some people just understand better than others, and you just roll with it. e last lesson my father taught me was to respect everyone, regard- less of race, creed, or persuasion. In particular, he taught me early to not lump people together because of the color of their skin. One night, back in the early 1960s, Dad and several other funeral home employees were coming home late from a distant funeral. On their return they stopped at a restaurant to get supper. A gentleman named Roosevelt was traveling with Dad. Roosevelt dug graves for the funeral home, as well as many other unsa- vory jobs. He did them all without complaint and he did them well. Roosevelt was also a fine man who enjoyed life and enjoyed people. He happened to be black. When they entered the restaurant, the person greeting them at the door said that he would seat the white men but Roosevelt would have to go around back to the kitchen door – only he didn't call him Roosevelt. I remember Dad telling my Mom that they told the restaurant owner that if they all could not eat in the dining room, they would go elsewhere. e restaurant refused, and they all left. ey all found their way to a grocery store, picked up something to eat, and broke bread together as humans. Some will argue it was a different time and culture. But, as my dad pointed out, people were just as aware then as now that some people were treated differently because of their skin's color, and they knew it was wrong then, just as much as it is now. As I have aged and we – the Freemasons of this Grand Lodge – have fought the wars of recognition and race, I am continually reminded of this story, and I am so proud of my Dad for taking a stand for what is right. Brethren, we're all on this ride together. Our trips around the sun are limited. We have all been given the gift of friendship – you would not be a member of this fraternity if you hadn't. What lessons have you learned? What milestones have you passed? Who have you carried? And, who has carried you? oughts of milestones and mindsets By Walt Clapp Grand Secretary READ THE MASON ANYTIME ONLINE AT WWW.GRANDLODGE-NC.ORG/NEWS-CALENDAR-OF-EVENTS

• Cover