While the above words are well known, the entire quote is well worth our contemplation:
"‘Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far.’ If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble; and neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power. In private life there are few things more obnoxious than the man who is always loudly boasting; and if the boaster is not prepared to back up his words his position becomes absolutely contemptible. So it is with the nation. It is both foolish and undignified to indulge in undue self-glorification, and above all, in loose-tongued denunciation of other peoples.”
-Brother Theodore Roosevelt
Today I’d like to talk about carrying a big stick.
Why?
Because the average age of all Master Masons in Washington State is a bit more than 68 and a half years old.
And honestly, I don’t see very many of our Brothers carrying a stick when they come to Lodge.
We are charged, as Freemasons, to look after our Brothers. To advise them in the most friendly manner. This is an attempt to do so.
TR’s quote is excellent, check out this one:
“Falls are also the leading cause of death from injury in older adults.”
-2011-2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study
I get it. Some adjustable aluminum tube, done up in some garish color, with an odd shape and a foam handle. Such things do tend to mark one as old and infirm. Not to mention, they sure don’t cut a fine sense of fashion. No one wants that, it's no wonder that such things are avoided.
Practical yes, but any good for anything beyond their intended purpose? No.
But, I do understand the importance of practicality.
Quite a few years ago now, VW Clayton Lavigne and I were climbing four stories up, to make some repair or another to the roof of the Centralia Masonic Temple. As I was climbing from the ladder to the roof, my body went one way, and my knee went the other way. Clayton and I have discussed it since, neither of us remember how he got me off of that roof. That’s the nature of adrenaline fueled actions I suppose.
But the thing is, that knee has never been any good since. 99% of the time, it’s just fine, I wander around aimlessly with no problem at all. But that 1% of the time, almost always on stairs, for some reason that I’ve never been able to decipher, it decides to collapse. I can feel it going, and myself going over with it.
I’ve never actually tipped over. I’ve always been able to catch myself. But, the day will come when I won’t.
And I know, without a doubt, that many, if not most, of the seniors in our Lodge have old injuries like mine. That’s why falls are apparently the largest cause of death from injury faced by older adults.
So, when considering our own safety, we’ve got to get over this stigma.
Might I suggest that one way of doing that is to get a better stick! Something that looks good, feels good, and is practical in more than just one way. Something like the Irish Blackthorn pictured above.
I’ve got an antique Blackthorn, (they were made a bit differently long ago than they are today) I’ve tested it against my weight, and I know that if I had it in my hand while going over, it could help to keep me upright. I also know that with some thought, and practice, it can be a formidable weapon.
Another way to change the image projected by the stick is in how it is carried. Sure, if we have one of those modern aluminum jobs, and we are holding on to it as if for dear life, and we aren’t taking a step without moving it first. Well, in that case, we are going to project an infirm image.
If instead we are grasping it by the shaft. The point held just off the ground in front of us. If that point only ever makes contact with the ground when we actually need it for balance, well, then we are projecting an image of a tough old guy ready to whack the heck out of any Ruffian that should present himself.
My point is that we can control the image we portray while carrying a stick, and we therefore shouldn’t leave a stick that could help us at home because we don’t want to portray the image of being old and infirm.
We can portray an image that we are comfortable with. Based on our stick, and how we carry it.
If doing so keeps us from falling over and seriously injuring ourselves, it has to be a good thing, better and better as we age.
For a variety of reasons including drugs, homelessness, and mental health, our streets and sidewalks are becoming less and less safe. The stick can counterbalance that trend on an individual level.
The average guy, in average shape, with average skills isn’t going to be able to defeat the committed and armed bad guy looking to cause harm. In our society we have other tools for dealing with those kinds of threats, for those who choose to have them at hand.
But, let’s face it, no matter what we may see on the nightly news, we aren’t in great danger of running into that committed armed bad guy looking to cause us harm. The streets aren’t teeming with really smart, really evil criminals.
But, in some places, the sidewalks are teeming with people high on drugs or experiencing a mental health crisis who might, while not in their right mind, seek to cause us harm in order to quickly and easily get our money. I see this, in places, even within my own small town.
The stick, with even a small amount of practice, can effectively deal with situations like this that could arise. Almost always with nothing at all more than its simple presence. The average person, hopped up on God knows what, is going to still have enough sense to not accost a man with a stick, holding it as if he knows how to use it. There are plenty of easier targets out there.
That’s my suggestion. Get a stick. A really strong stick, preferably wooden. And start carrying it in order to lessen the chance of falling, and to decrease the chance of serious injury should a fall occur.
With the right stick, carried in the right way, one need not look infirm.
Plus, it keeps problems on the sidewalk at a distance.
I’ve written elsewhere that I often take my little granddaughter to our public library. I’ve also written elsewhere that the sidewalks and park surrounding it are overwhelmed by undesirable people. A stick in hand keeps those elements at bay.
I like Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa) because it is traditional, looks great to my eye, and is incredibly strong, allowing for a quite small yet still effective stick. But there are lots of options out there, hickory an excellent choice.
If I’ve convinced you to buy a good stick, I’ve got some suggestions:
For a nice Blackthorn:
For a nice Hickory:
If you are looking to learn about the capabilities of the stick for self defense, a quick Google search will turn up instructors seemingly everywhere. Perhaps, for some Lodges, that would make a tremendous program, both enjoyable and instructive.
Using a big stick in the Lodge I think if you need to use it then it's time for people to leave. As WM for 23-24 I have had to use it and two members left. I feel that I may even leave because of Using the stick. Officers not turn up and having to fill their jobs on Lodge nights and now having to move Brothers around for the new Master Coming in.
A friend is a *highly* skilled martial artist. His specialty is jodo (short staff) but there is quite a learning curve.
His knees are shot now so he wondered about defensive use of canes.
Behold the tactical walking stick.
https://canemasters.com/