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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 415
before the king, who orders them to be executed according to their own
imprecations. The three ruffians are taken down the south side of the lodge and
out of the room. Hereafter, the search for Hiram Abiff is continued, and a
slightly macabre ceremony follows: the first craftsman removes the earth but
finds a body in so mangled and putrid a condition that they have to stand aside
until the effluvia passes off. He gives the due guard of a Master Mason, turning
his head to the left, and then resumes the search, finding a jewel. The second
craftsman proposes to take this jewel to King Solomon, who attributes it to
Grand Master Hiram Abiff. King Solomon is convinced that Hiram Abiff is dead
and fears that the Master's word is lost, because it was agreed between Hiram
Abiff, Hiram, the King of Tyre, and himself that the secret word should not be
given unless they all three were present and agreed (cf. p. 167).
King Solomon asks King Hiram of Tyre to assemble the craft and go to the
grave with him. He further suggests that the first sign given on arriving there and
the first words spoken after the raising of the body should become the "grand
hailing sign of distress of a Master Mason" (p. 168). The words are to become a
substitute for that which is lost, "unless the wisdom of future generations shall
discover and bring to light the true word" (p. 168).
A procession is formed, the brethren assembling on the North side of the
lodge, two by two, facing the East. The Senior Deacon and the Marshall are
leading, after them the craftsmen, followed by the Stewards and the Chaplain,
and King Solomon with Hiram, King of Tyre in the rear. This procession passes
three times forward, and a funeral dirge is played. At the "grave," the Marshall
places himself south of the body, the Tyrian king at its feet, King Solomon at the
head of the grave, and the Chaplain at the altar. The brethren give the sign of due
guard, and King Solomon gives the sign of distress. Then follows the climactic
ceremony of "raising": King Solomon asks Hiram, King of Tyre to endeavor to
raise the body by the grip of an Entered Apprentice, which fails. The King of
Tyre comments this with the remark that owing to the high state of putrefaction,
the body cannot be so raised, for the skin slips from the flesh (cf. p. 169).
Therefore, King Solomon asks him to try it with the grip of a Fellow Craft, but
the King of Tyre answers that this is equally impossible, since the flesh cleaves
from the bone. This time, King Solomon orders all to pray, the brethren kneel on
their left knees, and the Chaplain offers a prayer.
Hereafter, King Solomon tries to raise the body together with Hiram, King of
Tyre, by "the strong grip of a Master Mason or lion's paw:" King Solomon goes
to the foot of the body, while the King of Tyre steps to the north side of it. As
King Solomon takes the candidate by the real grip of a Master Mason, the King
of Tyre takes the candidate's left hand in his left, and with his right hand assists
the Marshall to raise the body, placing the candidate's left hand on King
Solomon's back (cf. p. 170). King Solomon now gives to the candidate the word
on the "five points of fellowship" (cf. p. 170):