Freemasonry Degrees and Ritual Terms (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering degrees, signs, grips, passwords, and sacred words as presented in the notes.

Entered Apprentice

First degree in Freemasonry; initiation involves the oath with the Bible and specific hand positions; includes the Boaz grip and the Sign of an Entered Apprentice.

Boaz

Name of the grip used by the Entered Apprentice.

Dueguard of an Entered Apprentice

Position of the hands when taking the Entered Apprentice oath: left hand on the Bible and right hand resting thereon.

Sign of an Entered Apprentice

The sign made by drawing the right hand rapidly across the neck; it alludes to the penalty of the obligation (throat cut, tongue torn out, body buried at sea).

Fellow Craft

Second degree in Freemasonry; introduces new signs, grips, and passwords such as Jachin and the Fellow Craft's seal.

Jachin

Term associated with the Fellow Craft degree; often linked to the degree's signs and grips.

Dueguard of the Fellow Craft

Position of the hands when taking the oath of the Fellow Craft: right hand on Bible, square and compasses, left arm forming an angle.

Real Grip of the Fellow Craft

The true grip used between two Fellow Crafters; described in the ritual.

Shibboleth

Pass grip of a Fellow Craft; exchanged with the top of the thumb against the first two fingers.

Master Mason

Third degree in Freemasonry; includes the Ma-Ha-Bone grip, Tubal-Cain grip, and the Sign of a Master Mason; Sacred Word: Jehovah.

Ma-Ha-Bone

Real grip of a Master Mason; also the syllables used for the Master Mason sign; associated with the Lion's Paw.

Tubal-Cain

Pass grip of a Master Mason; exchanged grips involving the knuckles.

Sign of a Master Mason

Sign of the Master Mason obligation; hand drawn across the waist to the right hip.

Secret Master

Fourth degree; Sign of Silence and the use of two passwords (Zizon and Adonai).

Sign of Silence

Sign used in the Secret Master: place the first finger of the right hand over the lips, answered by the left.

Password Zizon

Password used in the Secret Master degree.

Password Adonai

Sacred word used as a password in the Secret Master degree.

Perfect Master

Degree following Secret Master; Sign of Recognition, a specific grip (Ma-Ha-Bone) and the Sacred Word Jehovah.

Sign of Recognition

Gesture used in the Perfect Master: advance the toes of the right foot to form a square with the body; hands on the heart.

Grip (Master Mason)

True grip of a Master Mason; the Lion's Paw; fingers pressed while the grip is exchanged; four presses.

Ma-Ha-Bone

Syllables used for the Master Mason sign; Sacred Word Jehovah.

Intimate Secretary

Sixth degree; includes the sign, tokens, passwords (Berith, Neder, Shelemoth), and password Joabert; Sacred Word Jehovah.

Berith

One of the three words used in the Intimate Secretary sequence.

Neder

One of the three words used in the Intimate Secretary sequence.

Shelemoth

One of the three words used in the Intimate Secretary sequence.

Joabert

Password for the Intimate Secretary degree.

Sacred Word Jehovah

Sacred word used across multiple degrees, affirmed in the Intimate Secretary and beyond.

Provost and Judge

Seventh degree; teaches justice and impartiality; Passwords Tito, Civi, Ky; Sacred Word Shekinah; Sign and Grip described.

Tito

Password for the Provost and Judge degree.

Civi

Password for the Provost and Judge degree.

Ky

Password for the Provost and Judge degree.

Intendant of the Building

Eighth degree; duties of building and justice; Sign of Surprise (Benkhorim), Sign of Admiration, Sign of Sorrow; Password Benkhorim; Sacred Word Jah Hus Yevay Shekinah.

Benkhorim

Sign of Surprise and password in the Intendant of the Building degree.

Jah Hus

Part of the Sacred Word used in the Intendant of the Building.

Yevay

Part of the Sacred Word used in the Intendant of the Building.

Shekinah

Part of the Sacred Word used in the Intendant of the Building.

Grand Master Architect

Twelfth degree; Chief Architect of the Temple; Password Rabanaim; Sacred Word Adonai; Sign of plan tracing.

Rabanaim

Password for the Grand Master Architect degree.

Enoch / Royal Arch of Enoch

Thirteenth degree; narrative of Enoch and the quest for the ineffable name; Passwords Hamalek and Gibulum; Sacred Word YHVH.

Hamalek

Password for the Royal Arch of Enoch.

Gibulum

Password for the Royal Arch of Enoch.

YHVH

Sacred four-letter name of God used as the Sacred Word in the Royal Arch of Enoch.

14th degree Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason

Continuation degree; signs, tokens, passwords, and cover words; Sacred Word Jehovah; Jewel is a graduated compass.

Jabulum

First Cover Word in the 14th degree.

Mahabin

Second Cover Word in the 14th degree.

Adonai

Third Cover Word in the 14th degree.

SACRED WORD Jehovah

Sacred word used in the 14th degree; presented in Hebrew form as needed.

Emeth

Name for Sublime Elect of Twelve; Hebrew for true.

Nekum

Password for Elect of Nine; means vengeance.

Nekah

Answer or response to Nekum in the Elect of Nine sequence.

Gaborai Khayil

Sacred Word in the Elect of Nine sequence.