brought to light in the same manner
as in the preceding degree, except three stamps on the floor, and
three claps of the hands are given in this degree. On being brought to
light, the Master says to the candidate, "You first discover, as
before, three great lights in Masonry, by the assistance of three
lesser, with this difference, both points of the Compass are elevated
above the Square, which denotes to you that you are about to receive
all the light that can be conferred on you in a Mason's Lodge." The
Master steps back from the candidate and says, "Brother, you now
discover me as Master of this Lodge, approaching you from the East,
under the sign and due-guard of a Master Mason." The sign is given by
raising both hands and arms to the elbows perpendicularly, one on
either side of the head, the elbows forming a square. The words
accompanying this sign in case of distress are, "O Lord, my God, is
there no help for the widow's son?" As the last words drop from your
lips, you let your hands fall in that manner best calculated to
indicate solemnity. King Solomon is said to have made this exclamation
on the receipt of the information of the death of Hiram Abiff. Masons
are all charged never to give the words except in the dark, when the
sign cannot be seen. Here Masons differ very much; some contend that
Solomon gave this sign, and made this exclamation when informed of
Hiram's death, and work accordingly in their Lodges. Others say the
sign was given, and the exclamation made at the grave when Solomon
went there to raise Hiram, and, of course, they work accordingly; that
is to say, the Master who governs a Lodge holding the latter opinion,
gives the sign, &c., at the grave, when he goes to raise the body, and
vice versa. The due-guard is given by putting the right hand to the
left side of the bowels, the hand open, with the thumb next to the
belly, and drawing it across the belly and let it fall; this is done
tolerably quick. After the Master has given the sign and due-guard,
which does not take more than a minute, he says, "Brother, I now
present you with my right hand in token of brotherly love and
affection, and with it the pass-grip and word." The pass-grip is given
by pressing the thumb between the joints of the second and third
fingers, where they join the hand, and the word or name is TUBAL CAIN.
It is the pass-word to the Master's degree. The Master, after having
given the candidate the pass-grip and word, bids hi