The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols
signs current at these periods. Of course, the Masons had to change them
afterwards, and thus it can be of no damage to the Craft today if, for illustrative
reason, this paper refers to the arcana as published in the 19 th century. As defined
in Duncan's ritual, signs and tokens are of a different nature: signs are
geometrical figures (e.g., right angles, which are not only used in the "square
alphabet" as written signs (cf. Section 4.4.2) but are also performed in body
language), while tokens are the secret grips. This is illustrated in a question-andanswer
dialogue between the Junior Warden and the Senior Deacon in the First
Degree catechism:
J.W. Who comes here?
S.D. An obligated Entered Apprentice.
J.W. How shall I know him to be such?
S.D. By signs and tokens.
J.W. What are signs?
S.D. Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars (f , ═ ,║ ).
J.W. What are tokens?
S.D. Certain friendly or brotherly grips, by which one Mason may
know another, in the dark as well as in the light. 697
The EOF gives an etymological background for the word "token," defines it
as "grip of recognition," and compares the Masonic "token" to the Biblical one,
which stood for a covenant or promise:
The word token is derived from the Anglo-Saxon tacn, which means a
sign, presage, type, or representation, that which points out something;
and this is traced to tœcan, to teach, show, or instruct, because by a
token we show or instruct others as to what we are. [...]
The Hebrew word [...], ōth, is frequently used in Scripture to signify
a sign or memorial of something past, some covenant made or promise
given. Thus God says to Noah, of the rainbow, 'it shall be for a token of
a covenant between me and the earth' [...].
In Masonry, the grip or recognition is called a token, because it is an
outward sign of the covenant of friendship and fellowship entered into
between the members of the Fraternity, and is to be considered as a
memorial of that covenant which was made, when it was first received
by a candidate, between him and the Order into which he was then
initiated. 698
The EOF further maintains that "[i]n the technical use of the word token, the
English-speaking Masons have an advantage not possessed by those of any other
country." 699 Neither in the French nor in the German Masonic languages exists
697 Duncan, p. 87. Bold print added.
698 EOF, p. 789.
699 Ibid.