>cquery = "select mastddup.location, mastddup.census, ;
>mastddup.name,mastddup.addr1, mastddup.city, mastddup.state, mastddup.zip,;
>mastddup.zip4,bs_arch.location, bs_arch.mail_date,bs_arch.mail_code from mastddup,;
>bs_arch where mastddup.location=bs_arch.location and bs_arch.mail_date >= '19981201' "
>
>The problem I've got with this particular string is the last "and" clause. I keep getting syntax errors.

If what you posted is an exact copy of your string assignment command, then your problem is that you're putting line continuation character (semicolon) inside the quotes.

Try it like this:
strvar = "first part" ;
+ "second part" ;
+ "third part"
etc.