Are they only words?

 It looks as though we are tip-toeing back into Masonry, therefore I am tip-toeing back into blogging. I had the pleasure of attending an Entered Apprentice degree last evening. The degree was very well done with the candidate being the grandson of a very dear friend and brother.

As with all meetings I attend I have a few pet peeves that I always listen for and last night didn't disappoint.....in a fun sort of way.....and hopefully we can learn from it.

During the opening 90% of the time one can rely on the following; keep off all cowans and eavesdroppers...and so on.....instead of; keep off all cowans or eavesdroppers.

One may ask as I did myself last night what is the difference. When I was a DDI this was one of the things that I always tried to hammer home....the correct word is...OR

It turns out that the definition of AND is a functional word to indicate connection or additional items of the same class or type. Whereas the definition of OR means choosing between different possibilities.

There are two more words that have to be examined to understand why the framers of the ritual may have used "or" instead of "and"......those words are.....Cowans.....Eavesdroppers.

Cowan can be defined as a sneak, a pretender, an intruder or in other words one who would be brazen enough to fraudulently "pose" as a Mason....compared to an Eavesdropper who secretly listens without consent to gather information, a spy who operates undercover or in the shadows instead of trying to intrude.

In conclusion the framers and authors of our Masonic ritual made some very wise choices in the words and phrases they used. As has been noted in numerous older posts the creators of our ritual knew very well what they were doing and made the most of the words they used.

So the next time you hear......to keep off all cowans OR eavesdroppers you will know that one word does matter over another word and there is a reason.

Another misused word is PEACEABLY, when it is given wrong it is always replaced with Peacefully. Again, what's the big deal? It may not be a big deal but there is a difference when one gets into researching the difference.

Peaceably means favoring peace, not at conflict.....whereas peacefully means not at war or disturbed by strife currently.

Peaceably indicates peace and harmony while peacefully indicates not currently at war which lends itself to being the exception rather than the norm. Hopefully lodges are in peaceable operations, and that is the norm not the exception.

Those few words.....and when it should be or......and peacefully when it should be peaceably,,,,they may not be a big deal on the surface, but with a little research as to why those particular words were chosen demonstrate remarkable differences in their meaning and usage.

I've said it a hundred times before, we all too quickly take for granted the ritual words of our fraternity and the planning and forethought of our founding fathers in putting everything together and using words for maximum effect.

WB Billy Gordon

 

Several times in the past I've discussed how blessed I have been and continue to be in knowing some of the real giants of the Craft in our area. As we are reminded in the Masonic memorial; for we are all born to die, and even the legends eventually come to the end of their earthly labors, my brothers we have lost another great one, WB Billy C. Gordon.

WB Billy was known and loved by many local brothers and brothers throughout the state and also other states and at least one other country. 

He was Past Master of Flint Lodge #23 and served as secretary of that lodge for many years. He was a very good ritualist and did the part of King Solomon not only for Flint 23 but countless other lodges in the area. Wow, he did a great job as King Solomon regardless of the fact that the robe usually was, shall we say a tad large for him.

One thing that preceded him was the myth that he was frugal with a dollar which if you knew Billy he played that up to the max. In reality Billy was a generous man giving of his time, talent, and yes even a few dollars here and there.

WB Billy's quick wit was enjoyed by all through the years. Many have heard him introduce Marion as the luckiest woman here tonight. When he would come into a room of brothers he would make the announcement, "Please don't get up, no need to stand." Sometimes when greeting a brother  he would say, " Without going into a long dissertation, how have you been?"

In addition to Billy's quick wit was his quick response to help when called upon. I've often wondered and often right here on this blog will the future Craft have timeless legends such WB Billy. Pictured above is Billy in his Shrine Fez, he could always be counted on to be at his "job" at the Circus always with a smile and impressing the Circus girls with harmless banter, but that was Billy.

He was also very active in Kishma Grotto and the Hillbilly Clan #55, he enjoyed people and being around people and actively involved with his brothers but really all people. 

I just got off the phone with a brother who just got back from Florida and he said he was very thankful that he was back and could go pay his respects to Billy. This brother mentioned that Billy truly loved his lodge and was saddened at it's demise which was extremely depressing for Billy and he took it very personally that he was unable to save Flint Lodge #23 and it's legacy. In fact he expressed to many brothers that it was his fault that he couldn't hold things together, but I don't think for one second anybody blamed Billy for what happened.

Another item we have discussed in the past is sitting with brothers in lodge. We never know if it will be the last time we sit together in lodge. When we put this into perspective it makes all of our piques, quarrels, and disagreements seem extremely petty. If we would just recognize the importance of sitting in lodge with a brother or brothers which may be the last time, the importance and joy of that moment shines through.

We've been experiencing some tough times for the fraternity due to Covid, some lodges have yet to meet. Some lodges have found ways to meet safely, and have reinvented some of their fund raising events. Lodges that have traditionally held dinners and such have resorted to take out only and are enjoying great success financially, but the social aspect has not restarted thus far.

The fraternity as a whole will survive this epidemic, it has survived many challenges throughout history and this too shall pass. The fraternity is far bigger than any of us and even bigger than this worldwide epidemic.

One thing that the life of WB Billy illustrates can be found in a few lines taken from one of the lectures; thus was man formed for the social and active life, the noblest part of the work of God.

If we want to honor WB Billy Gordon, then the next time you sit in lodge with someone you may have disagreed with or have a dispute with, try to look in your heart to find forgiveness for those transgressions. You don't have to do it publicly or even privately, unless of course you wish to, forgive them in your heart and mind for this may be the last time you sit together in lodge. God Bless.