The Fellowship's True Purpose?

[Lyta_Underhill]

After the decision was made and the Fellowship was formed - a group of of keen thinkers, keen fighters and friends of the Ringbearer, representative of all the Free People - Gandalf had only, as The Saucepan Man said, to trust in providence.

Somehow, SoN, this makes me think of an alchemist pouring the required ingredients into an alembic and then allowing the little understood "force of Providence" work it into the Philosopher's Stone. Perhaps Gandalf was simply following an old Maia recipe!

I think another reason why Bilbo was able to resist and give it up, after 60 years of having it, was because he wasn't aware of the Ring's power.

Boromir88, if we were to follow this line of reasoning to its conclusion, Smeagol should not have been corrupted either, and yet he was--almost instantly. I think Firefoot hit the hobbit on the head with this one. so to speak!

Cheers!
Lyta