Secret Masonic Handshakes, Passwords, Signs and Grips for the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees of Blue Lodge Freemasonry (2024)

Secret Masonic Handshakes, Passwords,Grips

And Signs Of Blue Lodge Masonry

ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE

The Duegard of an Entered Apprentice represents the position of thehand when taking the oath of an Entered Apprentice, "my left hand supportingthe Bible and my right hand resting thereon."

SIGN OF AN ENTERED APPRENTICE

The sign of the Entered Apprentice alludes to the penalty of the EnteredApprentice's obligation. The sign is made by drawing the right hand rapidlyacross the neck as shown on the left. The penalty that the sign alludesto is, "having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots,and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea at low water mark, wherethe tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowinglyviolate this my Entered Apprentice obligation."

Explanation of the Entered Apprentice sign: Draw the right hand rapidlyacross the neck as represented and drop the arm to the side. This actionshows the penalty of having the throat cut and the tongue ripped out.

The Grip of the Entered Apprentice is made by pressing the thumb againstthe top of the first knuckle-joint of the fellow Mason, the fellow Masonalso presses his thumb against the first Mason's knuckle.

The name of this grip is "Boaz". When a candidate is impartedwith this grip and its usage it is done in this manner."

First the Worshipful Master says to the candidate:

"I now present my right hand in token of friendship and brotherly love,and will invest you with the grip and word. As you are uninstructed,he who has hitherto answered for you, will do so at this time."

The Worshipful Master of the lodge then has this exchange with the SeniorDeacon, who is standing next to the candidate, who is still kneeling atthe altar, after have assumed the obligation of this degree:

Note: In the following discourse WM stands for Worshipful Master,and SD stands for Senior Deacon.

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.

SD: Worshipful Master.

WM: I hele.

SD: I conceal.

WM: What do you conceal?

SD: All the secrets of a Mason in Masonry, to which this token alludes.

(At this time, the candidate is shown the grip of an Entered Apprentice)

WM: What is that?

SD: A grip

WM. Of what?

SD: Of an Entered Apprentice.

WM. Has it a name?

SD: It has.

WM: Will you give it to me?

SD: I did not so receive it, neither will I so impart it.

WM: How will you dispose of it?

SD: Letter it or halve it.

WM: Letter it and begin.

SD: You begin.

WM: Begin you.

SD: A

WM: B

SD: O

WM: Z

WM: (Directing his words to the candidate): "Boaz, my Brother, is thename of this grip, and should always be given in the customary manner,by lettering or halving. When lettering, always commence with theletter, "A".

FELLOW CRAFT DEGREE

The duegard of the Fellow Craft represents the positions of the handswhen taking the oath of the Fellow Craft degree, "my right hand on theHoly Bible, square, and compasses, my left arm forming an angle, supportedby the square and my hand in a vertical position."

SIGN OF A FELLOW CRAFT

The sign of the Fellow Craft alludes to the penalty of the Fellow Craftobligation. The sign is made by cupping the right hand over the left breast,drawing it quickly across the body, then dropping the hand to the side.The penalty that the sign alludes to is "having my left breast tornopen, my heart plucked out, and given to the wild beasts of the field andthe fowls of the air."

Explanation of the Fellow Craft sign: The action of cupping one handover the left breast and drawing it quickly across the body signifies theheart being ripped out if the candidate should violate his Fellow Craftobligation.

"SHIBBOLETH"

PASS GRIP OF A FELLOW CRAFT

(HANDSHAKE)

The name of this grip is "Shibboleth". When a candidate isimparted with this grip and its usage it is done in this manner:

First, the Worshipful Master says to the candidate:

"I now present my right hand in token of the continuance of friendshipand brotherly love, and will invest you with the pass-grip, pass-word,real grip and word of a Fellow Craft. As you are uninstructed, hewho has hitherto answered for you, will do so at this time. Giveme the grip of an Entered Apprentice."

As previously explained from the Entered Apprentice degree, he thenhas this exchange with the Senior Deacon, who is standing next to the candidate,who is still kneeling at the altar, after having assume the obligationof this degree):

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: Worshipful Master.
WM: Will you be off or from?
SD: From.
WM: From what and to what?
SD: From the grip of an Entered Apprentice to the pass-gripof a Fellow Craft.
(At this time, the candidate is shown the Pass Grip)
WM: Pass. What is that?
SD: The pass-grip of a Fellow Craft.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it; neither will I so impart it.
WM: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or syllable it.
WM: Syllable it and begin.
SD: You begin.
WM: Begin you.
SD: Shib
WM: bo
SD: leth
WM: Shibboleth, my Brother, is the name of this grip.You should always remember it, for should you be present at the openingor a Fellow Crafts Lodge, this pass-word will be demanded of you by oneof the Deacons, and should you be unable to give it, it would cause confusionin the Craft.

The Mason takes the fellow Mason by the right hand as in an ordinaryhand shake, and presses the top of his thumb hard on the second knuckle,the fellow Mason presses his thumb against the same knuckle of the firstMason's hand.

At this point in the ritual, the instruction goes directly fromthe pass grip to the real grip.

WM: Will you be off or from?
SD: From.
WM: From what and to what?
SD: From the pass-grip of a Fellow Craft, to the real gripof the same.
WM: Pass. What is that?
SD: The real grip of a Fellow Craft.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it; neither will I so impart it.
WM: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or halve it.
WM: Letter it and begin.
SD: You begin.
WM: Begin you.
SD: A
WM: J
SD: C
WM: H
SD: I
WM: N
WM: Jachin, my Brother, is the name of this grip, and shouldalways be given in this manner, by lettering or halving it. Whenlettering, always commence with the letter "A".

MASTER MASON DEGREE

The Duegard of the Master Mason alludes to the position of the handswhen taking the oath of the Master Mason, "both hands resting on theHoly Bible, square, and compasses."

SIGN OF A MASTER MASON

The sign of the Master Mason alludes to the penalty of the Master Mason'sobligation, "to have my body cut in two, my bowels removed and burnedto ashes which are then to be scattered to the four winds of heaven."

Explanation of the Master Mason sign: The sign is made by drawing thethumb quickly across the waist to the right hip, then dropping the handto the side. This action shows the stomach being ripped open.

"TUBALCAIN"

PASS GRIP OF A MASTER MASON

(HANDSHAKE)

The Mason places his thumb on the space between the second and thirdknuckles of the fellow Mason's right hand, while the fellow Mason moveshis thumb to the corresponding space on the first Masons hand. The thumbis pressed hard between the second and third knuckles of the hands.

The name of this grip is "Tubalcain". When a candidate is impartedwith this grip and its usage it is done in this manner:

First, the Worshipful Master says to the candidate:

"I now present my right hand in token of the continuance of friendshipand brotherly love, and will invest you with the pass-grip and pass-wordof a Master Mason. As you are uninstructed, he who has hitherto answeredfor you, will do so at this time. Give me the real grip of a FellowCraft."

(As explained from the preceding degrees, he then has this exchangewith the Senior Deacon, who is standing next to the candidate, who is stillkneeling at the altar, after having assume the obligation of this degree):

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: Worshipful Master.
WM: Will you be off or from?
SD: From.
WM: From what and to what?
SD: From the real grip of a Fellow Craft to the pass-grip of a MasterMason.
WM: Pass. What is that?
SD: The pass-grip of a Master Mason.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it; neither will I so impart it.
WM: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or syllable it.
WM: Syllable it and begin.
SD: You begin.
WM: Begin you.
SD: Tu
WM: bal
SD: cain
WM: Tubalcain, my Brother, is the name of this grip.

"MA-HA-BONE"

REAL GRIP OF A MASTER MASON

(HANDSHAKE)

The Mason firmly grasps the right hand of a fellow Mason. The thumbsof both hands are interlaced. The first Mason presses the tops of his fingersagainst the wrist of the fellow Mason where it unites with the hand. Thefellow Mason at the same time presses his fingers against the correspondingpart of the the first Mason's hand and the fingers of each are somewhatapart. This grip is also called the Strong Grip of the Master Masonor the Lion's Paw. Instruction for this grip is given at the "graveside", after the candidatehas been "raised".

Speaking to the candidate, the Worshipful Master says, "My Brother,I will now instruct you as to the manner of arriving at the real grip andword of a Master Mason. As you are uninstructed, he who has hithertoanswered for you will do so at this time. Give me the pass-grip ofa Master Mason."

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: Worshipful Master.
WM: Will be you be off or from?
SD: From.
WM: From what and to what?
SD: From the pass-grip of a Master Mason to the real grip of thesame.
WM: Pass. What is that?
SD: The real grip of a Master Mason, or lion's paw.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: Place yourself in the proper position to receive it and I will.
WM: Mark the difference, my Brother, Heretofore your answerhas been; I did not so receive it, neither will I so impart it. Nowit is: Place yourself in the proper position to receive it and Iwill.
WM: What is the proper position to receive it?
SD: On the Five Points of Fellowship.
WM: What are the Five Points of Fellowship?
SD: Foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back,and cheek to cheek or mouth to ear. (Cand and WM are placing themselveson the Five Points of Fellowship as the SD names them.)
WM: Ma
Cand: Ha
WM: Bone.
(WM may have the cand begin, while still in position, ie., Cand:Ma. WM: Ha. Cand: Bone, being sure the candidate fullyunderstands the word.)

THE FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP
During initiation into the Master Mason Degree,the candidate first receives the Real Grip of a Master Mason, along withinstructions in how it is properly communicated, as he is "raised", orresurrected, at the conclusion of the Hiramic Legend. The WorshipfulMaster, or a lawful designee, reaches down and grasps the hand of the candidateby this grip and "raises" him from the dead to the position known as theFive Points of Fellowship.

The Five Points of Fellowship is demonstratedas the Worshipful Master and candidate embrace one another thusly: footto foot; knee to knee; breast to breast; hand to back; and cheek to cheek,or mouth to ear. While in this position, and at low breath, the WorshipfulMaster then whispers "Mah-Ha-Bone" into the ear of the candidate."Mah-Ha-Bone" is the substitute for the Master's Word. It means,"What, the Builder!". This proper means for an exchange of the substitutefor the Master's Word is alluded to in the Obligation of a Master Mason:"Furthermore, I do promise and swear that I will not give the substitutefor the Master's Word in any other way or manner than that in which I receiveit, which will be on the Five Points of Fellowship, and at low breath."

GRAND HAILING SIGN OF DISTRESS

After receiving instruction in the proper communicationof the substitute for the Master's Word, the candidate is then instructedin regards to the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress. It is given by raisingboth hands toward heaven, with each arm forming the angle of a square,or a 90 degree angle. The arms are then lowered in three distinctmotions to the sides. In other words, ending with both arms in thenatural downward position, such as when one is standing at

"Furthermore, Ido promise and swear that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distressof a Master Mason, except for the benefit of the Craft while at work orfor the instruction of a Brother, unless I am in real distress; and shouldI see the sign given, or hear the word spoken, I will hasten to the reliefof the person so giving it."

The candidate is additionally instructed, however,that if he is in a place where the sign could not be seen, he is to uttera substitute for the sign: "O Lord, my God, is there no help for theWidow's Son?" He is additionally advised that the sign and thesewords are never to be given together.