A couple of my Brothers and I were having a conversation last evening and it got me to thinking about how a Lodge is like a rope. You can see from the diagram that a rope is made up of many parts. The parts are wound around each other and twisted together to make a strong piece of rope which can tie things up or lift heavy objects. All the pieces working together make the strength that is needed. If you look on the ends you can see that the little pieces of string or twine aren't very strong by themselves. But put them together and they are much stronger.
A Lodge (or any organization for that matter) is much like that. Individually the members are much weaker than they are when they join together and intertwine their efforts to make the strength that is needed.
What are the parts of the "Masonic Rope" Well the individual members are obviously a part of it. The Officers each doing their part are vital to the smooth running of the Lodge. The Activities of the Lodge, Degree work, family events, community events, honor events for 50 year members or Past Masters or a Community group such as teachers all play a part to twine the strands together.
The strength of the Masonic Rope is called "Brotherhood" and it has to be done by all working together. There is no (real) place for cliques or exclusionary groups if you want strength. If the officers are not in their places and do not know the members and if they to not pull everyone together the string is snapped, thus weakening the Lodge.
Lodges by their nature are social groups. Masonic Lodges are unique in that every member in the Lodge has been welcomed as a brother by something we call the ballot. You must be accepted by everyone in order to join the fraternity. Our relationship should be so special that before you become a member we know and want you as a Brother.
If all of the strands are woven together correctly the Lodge will be strong and the scripture we use will be fulfilled.. "Behold, how good and howpleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity,
I hope your lodge keeps true to its rope.