.....the strength and SUPPORT.....

It never ceases to amaze me as to the choice of words that the author(s) of our ritual used. They certainly maximized the use of choice words and phrases to communicate their points and teachings. We hear the words over and over again and too often we take those for granted. Therefore delving into the meanings behind the words sheds a whole new light on the ritual.

Light....that reminds me of a story. A year or so ago I picked up a cap at a flea market with a nice square and compass on it. Shortly after getting the hat I stopped in a gas station, and a gentleman in line saw my hat. He said, " You a Mason?", to which I replied "Yes." "What you lookin' for?" was his next question and my reply was, "Nothing really."......his comeback was stellar......"You a Mason, you supposed to be lookin' for light.....you supposed to be always lookin' for light!"

That really has nothing to do with the focus of support as it's used in conjunction with harmony and strength......but my point is that it's true....we should always be searching for more light.....the ritual is a source of light and enlightenment....but it has a dimmer switch.....if you leave it closed it's off....if you read it....then it's dimly lit.....the more you read and study and get into the meaning behind the words then the dimmer switch continually increases the light.....at this point I am willing to concede that the max setting of that dimmer switch is infinity.

Harmony being the strength and support of all institutions but especially this of ours

Looking at the word support we find that it is defined in the physical sense as something which bears a load, to sustain and withstand weights, pressures, strains, etc. Support can also be defined in the emotional or mental angle; to sustain a person, institution, policy or theory.

So we know that harmony according to the ritual performs two tremendous tasks for the craft. Harmony is not only the strength but the support of our fraternity. Anything that bears or displays great strength has to have an equal or greater amount of support.

All things which endure, start with a firm foundation capable of bearing predicted loads at a minimum and hopefully increased unpredictable loads.

Further, support is necessary to maintain principles and theories. Coupled with strength, support is an integral part of our craft. While pure strength can endure for the present, to have longevity it must be supported.

Unfortunately most of us have seen the results when there is a lack of harmony. Disharmony can be a terrible disease which can totally destroy a lodge. When disharmony is prevalent in a lodge, surely there is a serious lack of strength and support in that lodge. For the good of the whole, if a lodge fails for whatever reason....the craft survives.....although weakened, the craft rebuilds and continues on. This was proven in the dark ages of Masonry....when the Fraternity nearly folded due to the "Anti-Masonic Movement".....however harmony among the few and tremendous amounts of strength and support, the craft survived.

Well WB Carl Davis was correct in his idea that the word harmony plays a major role in our fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. We are very blessed in AD20 to see harmony's true definition alive and at work....not always...but most generally. However, we are also keenly aware of when that harmony is challenged.

Freemasonry notwithstanding has still survived.