Ebenezer Lodge #76
One dictionary defines musical harmony as “the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect”
Note that musical harmony doesn’t mean that every musician is sounding the same note at the same time. Instead, harmony means that different musicians play different notes yet still produce a pleasing end result when all the notes are played together. To do this, each musician must understand what the other musicians are doing if the group is to play in harmony.
In Masonry, harmony isn’t the state of full agreement by all parties on every detail.
As Masons, we are taught to strive for harmony in the lodge. We are to work together to produce a pleasing end result.
However, harmony doesn’t mean we are to stay silent about important issues for fear of offending someone, nor does maintaining harmony require us to stay silent when someone says or does something we believe is detrimental to the lodge, to another Mason, or to the speaker himself. In fact, as Masons we are required to speak up in those situations.
So what is harmony? I suggest that harmony is the ability to speak, to listen, and to disagree without being disagreeable.
When we speak, we should attempt to temper our words as much as possible, especially if the subject at hand is one on which the speaker and listener might disagree. We should be clear in our speech, yet avoid inflammatory language. When offense is given inadvertently we should be quick to recognize that and make such amends as we can.
As listeners, we should pay attention to the content of the speech, and do our best to ignore harsh words that may be unintended, or said in the heat of the moment. It’s always better to ask for clarification than to assume ill intent.
I have a friend, a Brother Mason, who has a heart of gold. He is a good, kind man of boundless charity and a drive to work for the betterment of the world around him. He also has a distinct talent for saying the right thing the wrong way with the wrong words at the worst possible time.
The best motives can often be hidden by a poor choice of words, or often by using words that have different meanings for the speaker and the listener. Just as it is incumbent upon a speaker to recognize that offense has been given, it is just as important for the listener to realize that not all offense is intentional, and to try and forgive those who trespass against us.
Today, before we take offense, let us at least pause long enough to ask ourselves “Just what did the other person mean by that?”. If need be, ask for clarification.
In other words, let us stop, think, and measure the situation and the intent before we stop, think, and measure our response. That way, like the musicians, maybe we can speak and act in harmony in our lodges and in our lives.
Richard B Stevens PM
Ebenezer Lodge #76
