"What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate"
Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good afternoon. Bob Hope once accepted an invitation to address a convention of the American Bar Association. He began his talk by saying, "My being here results from a slight misunderstanding. I thought I was to talk to the American Bra Association." I hope we don't have a misunderstanding when I talk about:

When we communicate with others we do so in many different ways and through many different mediums such as speech and writing, body language and gestures, facial expression and eye movement all the while utilizing our senses and emotions. We have never been able to communicate our thoughts and desires by remaining silent, closing our eyes and using any telepathic powers that are present to get our point across. We cannot read the minds of others - or anticipate what actions should be taken - or predict what the outcome of a problem is. It just doesn't work. In order to communicate effectively one must get the words out.

It was the author Thomas Mann who said, "Speech is civilization itself. The word, even the most contradictious word, preserves contact - it is silence which isolates."

Besides not getting the words out, what constitutes a communication breakdown? Is it the lack of concern or care for the other party? Maybe it is improper knowledge or preparation about the subject at hand? Or could it be the inability to listen or understand what is being said in the conversation?

In 1849, in a week on the Concord and Merrimack rivers, Henry David Thoreau wrote: "It takes two to speak the truth,-one to speak, and another to hear."

When we have a communication breakdown we fail to get our point across, we fail to hear the other side of the issues and we fail to learn the truth.

Clear, precise and open communication is extremely important especially in our Fraternity where there are factors such as age, time and family restraints. These factors should cause us to rely on the ability to be flexible in ones position and opinion while keeping ego and emotion at bay. Take this actual radio communication for example. It was released by the Chief of Naval Operations, on October 10th 1995:

Hail: Please divert your course fifteen degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

Reply: Recommend you divert YOUR course fifteen degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Hail: This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Reply: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Hail: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE; WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!

Reply: This is a lighthouse…your call.

Good conversation like good manners should always be conducted with the utmost consideration for both parties. We should be expected to speak clearly, listen intently and comment without bias.

The old saying, "Don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you read" has a lot of validity in today's society.

The American novelist Gore Vidal said: "Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either."

When we have a communication breakdown we fail to interpret what is printed, we fail to understand what is written and we fail to gain the knowledge that was intended.

Our Masonic ritual has not changed for hundreds of years because it has been effectively communicated down through time by a printed catechism that adheres to the original manuscript and the steadfast concern for preserving the ancient word and principles of the Fraternity.

Communication through the printed word, from books and newspapers and manuscripts are only effective if they are efficiently proof read and corrected. Anything that is written down can be lost in translation, misunderstood through typographical errors or misinterpreted by transposed letters.

For example, a new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices however, that they are copying from copies, not from the original manuscripts. So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this, pointing out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies.

The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point my son." So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours go by and nobody sees him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him.

After hearing sobbing coming from the back of the cellar, he finds the old monk leaning over the original book crying. He asks the old monk what is wrong, and in a choked voice came the reply, "The word is celebrate."

When we have a communication breakdown we fail to converse in a civil and polite manner, we fail to keep our passions within due bounds and we fail to respect the thoughts, actions and feelings of others.

Communicating with others must be a civil process. If we can't be civil or say anything nice or be respectful, maybe it's better to not say anything at all.

Take this couple for instance: The couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, jackasses and pigs, the wife asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" Yep, the husband replied, "in-laws." The fight is now officially on again!!

Someone once said, "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

When we have a communication breakdown we fail to relate to the other person, we fail to put ourselves in their shoes and we fail to show an interest in the conversation.

Here is a test in understanding fully and interpreting clearly what is said: There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper, and the toothbrush purchase is completed.

Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?

Think about it for a moment…he opens his mouth and says, "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses." If you got this wrong . . . don't admit it!

The ability to listen closely, see through and make sense out of a comment that isn't quite clear makes all the difference in understanding what the intentions of the communicator is. For example, you have to love the great Yankee catcher and manager Yogi Berra, his communication skills and dubious advice is…well, enough said, here are a few of his quotes:

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." He also said,

"It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much."

"If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer."

"I don't mind being surprised, so long as I know about it beforehand."

"You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours."

Simply put, good communication is the ability to share ideas, thoughts and knowledge with others through a precise, clear and civil tongue. And remember, when driving by a barnyard full of animals; keep your eyes on the road and your opinions about relatives and in-laws to yourselves!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 10 June 2006