Roy Clark

Last November, we all lost a man who had become an active, dedicated, true and faithful brother among us.  Roy Linwood Clark, a talented, acclaimed musician, former Entertainer of the Year, Grammy winner, singer and virtuoso guitarist, passed at the age of 85 to that Lodge not made with hands.

Clark was a perpetual member of Jenks Lodge 497 in Oklahoma. He was made a Mason at sight in 1987 and quickly became a leader in the fraternity. A Shriner and member of the York Rite, he also joined the Valley of Tulsa Scottish Rite, which coroneted him a 33ª Inspector General Honorary in 2001.

Roy Clark was always a talented spokesman for the Craft and avidly promoted its tenets and values. A few years ago, speaking from the heart, he told this story at one of his concerts:

"The importance of Masonic Brotherhood was brought home to our band last month when we were on tour in Regina, Saskatchewan. Our guitar player, Frank Sandusky, had a blood vessel suddenly rupture in his neck, was rushed to the hospital, and the doctor's report was grave. When local brethren found out that he was a Mason they sent for his wife. They took her in, saw that she got back and forth to the hospital, and saw to her needs. It didn't cost her anything, and made an unpleasant situation more bearable — and that is what Masonry is all about. Frank is with us today, as my 'right arm' in the band and plays a lot of the beautiful harmony you'll hear."

"I know of no other organization," said Clark, "where you have a friend all over the world. It gives you peace of mind, especially traveling as much as we do."

We have all had that experience, haven't we, where you can walk into a room full of men you have never met, but they are brothers and they are immediately your friends. When you are a Freemason among Brothers, there are no strangers.