Robert Burns, “To See Ourselves As Others See Us.”

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Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. This cartoon was a gift from a colleague in the 1970s, when our group was struggling with a need to change an outdated practice then deemed sacrosanct in our industry. Management’s initial response was the appeal to tradition: “It has always been done this way.”

The message, of the cartoon, is universal. Whatever the custom or rule in question, it is a common characteristic of human nature to be comfortable with the established, proven practice, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But, if it IS broken or obsolete, is needs to be fixed. Every practice has come about in a particular time and place, but times change. Circumstances change. People change.

Especially when we are under stress, people tend to stick to what they know best; what has worked for us in the past. However, when we do a job or follow a practice solely out of habit, we can run the risk of losing a perspective that may be obvious to those who observe us.

The Wisdom of “Rabbie Burns”

On January 25 each year, many a descendant of Scotland pauses to remember the celebrated poet, Robert (Rabbie) Burns, who was born in 1759 on that date. Burns, is a particular favorite of his Brother Freemasons because of the longstanding ties Masonry has to Scotland, said by many scholars to have been the birthplace of the Fraternity as it developed in the eighteenth century.

In hundreds of Masonic Lodges around the world, a “Rabbie Burns Supper” is celebrated with what our cousins call a Festive Board. It is an evening of dining, dancing and fun. In New Jersey, members of The Masonic Kilties often provide bagpipe music and recite poems by Burns at these celebrations.

In 2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, many Suppers have been canceled or suspended, but there still will be many a bite of the Haggis and a wee dram of Scotch whiskey consumed privately in his honor.

Ode to a Louse

Among Burns’ literary achievements was the first publishing of works in the Scots dialect of Habbie. One of his poems that illustrates his ability to express profound truth in simple language is his ode, “To a Louse”, the last stanza of which makes his point.

Wikipedia gives a good description and translation of “To A Louse, On Seeing One on a Lady’s Bonnet at Church” penned in 1786. The poem’s theme is contained in the final verse.

In this poem the narrator notices a lady in church, with a louse that is roving, unnoticed by her, around in her bonnet.[2] The poet chastises the louse for not realising how important his host is, and then reflects that, to a louse, we are all equal prey, and that we would be disabused of our pretensions if we were to see ourselves through each other's eyes.[3] An alternative interpretation is that the poet is musing to himself how horrified and humbled the pious woman would be if she were aware she was harbouring a common parasite in her hair.[1]

A Deeper Meaning in “Secret Handshakes”?

Masons use “grips” as means of recognition. If a Mason wishes to visit a Lodge of which he is not a member, he can identify himself through grips and words that require no written credentials. In a foreign country, this is possible even if a Brother only speaks another language.

The importance of touch, and the danger in it, were both brought home this past year. Grand Lodges in many jurisdictions suspended all physical touching in both ritual practice and day-to-day contact. Masons miss that brotherly contact that goes along with our greetings, but now we have seen peril in the practice.

With vaccines due to be made available to everyone this year, we are looking forward to a return to “normal”, or what may evolve into the new normal. A handshake became custom as a sign that the offeror did so to demonstrate that he did not have a weapon in his hand. Today we know the practice may be forever discredited because so many handshakes exchanged in 2020 transmitted a life-threatening microbe, a different kind of weapon, lethal to friend and stranger alike.

Our cartoon suggests that the solution to this dilemma may simply be right under our eyes. In some ceremonies, Masons already wear gloves. In some jurisdictions, within and outside the United States, Masons always wear gloves in Lodge.

The gesture is no less effective in a gloved hand. In fact, it may be more respectful of the welfare of our Brother Masons than a naked grip could ever be. Does it matter if we have “always done it” a certain way when there is a safer practice available?

Citations

1. ^ Jump up to: a b Rumens, Carol (October 13, 2008). "Poem of the week: To a Louse". The Guardian.

2. ^ "Robert Burns - To a Louse". BBC. 2014.

3. ^ "'To a Louse': A Poem by Robert Burns". Interesting Literature. December 9, 2018.

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