Richard A. Klein, 32°
5033 Carillon Way, Charlotte, North Carolina 28270
rkleinnc@aol.com

Videotape interviews of prominent Brothers offer an effective way to preserve a vivid, personal record of Masonic history.

It's the usual custom in my Blue Lodge on Past Master's Night to have those being recognized file in chronologically, from their earliest years of tenure in office to the most recent. I remember that it didn't seem so long ago that I pulled up the rear, following behind some very distinguished leaders that included two Past Grand Masters.

But in the last such parade of Past Masters, I was the third in file. That served to remind me that we had lost by death not only the physical beings of outstanding Masons, but also their colorful stories and inspiring personal characteristics. Along with my father and other relatives, these Past Masters had played powerful roles in my Masonic and everyday life. If we had the foresight years ago, my Blue Lodge would have filmed or videotaped such people. A "Day for History," consisting of such interviews, would have been a welcome and appreciated token to store in the archives of the Lodge.

Gone is Jake Goodman, the former Chief of Police of Charlotte and Past Grand Master who was a bigger-than-life Masonic presence in our Lodge with a thousand stories for every Masonic function.

Gone is Clarence Welch who was the personification of King Solomon during appropriate Degree work.

Gone is Obie D. Simms, my beloved and ever-patient coach.

Gone is Jimmy Johnston, a Past Grand Master and active Scottish Rite leader who installed me as Master in 1979.

Many organizations and institutions are now taking time to set aside a day or more each year to capture the essence and stories of their esteemed leadership. Why not do this same in every Masonic Body? Don't our members, each and every one, have stories to tell about their lives and Masonic connections?

As I entered the Fraternity in the early 1970s, I heard then and for many years, one Brother after another talk about Brother Sam McCall, a former railroad man who coached untold members of the Lodge with dignity, passion, and love. The fame of this good man made me envy those who knew him. Brother McCall died before I petitioned. I often wished I could have heard his voice and understood, in his words, what motivated him in Masonry. Today his portrait hangs outside the Lodge Room, but few are left to talk about the coach who made such a difference and helped prompt so many men to become Masters.

Setting aside one or more days to be known as a "Masonic Day for History" would help preserve what we've created today. Perhaps these tapes might inspire those who follow. It doesn't take much to make it happen, and it can easily be an all-volunteer effort.

The working tools for such history days require a camera with microphone, an operator and an interviewer. A committee should be appointed to decide when to have such history days, the priority for inviting participants, who should be interviewed. The committee should arrange for sample questions to submit in advance to those being interviewed. Also, participants should be prompted on how best to prepare and how to dress for the interview. What kinds of questions should be asked? They might include:

• What motivated you to petition to become a Mason?
• What have been the highlights of your Masonic years?
• Who in Masonry has inspired you, and how?
• What can we do to improve our Fraternity?
• What would you say to those interested in Masonry?

Each interview could last between 30–60 minutes and should be done with the future in mind. If done properly, each tape will be a small treasure, with a copy to be given to the person interviewed and at least two copies, stored in different places for safety, for the Masonic Body.

At some point, someone may wish to compile the contents to put together a history, or a visual montage. Eventually, technology will dictate that the tapes be transferred to something else for posterity. But the effort is well worth it. Our Masonic history is in the making. We owe it to ourselves and the future of our Fraternity to record our stories and share them whenever and wherever possible.

Richard A. Klein is Past Master of Excelsior Lodge No. 261 of Charlotte, N.C. He is a member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Charlotte, Orient of North Carolina, and of Oasis Shrine Center of Charlotte. He retired in 1997 as President of Walter J. Klein Company, Ltd., of Charlotte, and now serves as Major Gifts Director and Southeast Regional Director for the Network of Independent Communities, United Jewish Communities. He is also a Past Chairman of the Charlotte Jewish Historical Society.