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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
The Senior Deacon vouches for the candidate and takes him before the
Worshipful Master to decide whether the usual punishment is to be inflicted. The
Worshipful Master shows his indignation that the Mark Man has attempted to
receive a Mark Master's wages but spares him, because it was rather ignorance
than willful intention, and the candidate is ordered to return to the quarries to do
a better job.
Suddenly, the Worshipful Master is informed that the work is at a standstill
for want of the keystone for the arch. The Junior, Senior, and Master Overseers
remember to have seen such a stone, but each has rejected it and forwarded it to
the next for examination. The Worshipful Master promises a rich reward for him
who succeeds in discovering the "most important stone in the building." Diligent
search is made, and finally the skilful craftsman himself, i.e. the candidate,
comes up with his keystone. He is congratulated by the Worshipful Master, who
reads to him 2 Chron. ii., v. 11-16. 1315
Then, the new Mark Master receives the secret tokens, consisting of steps,
manual signs, and a password. Since the secret work is veiled in the English
ritual, we will give the exposed American version of Duncan's ritual from the
late 1800's: The password is JOPPA, alluding to the ancient city of Joppa with
reference to the Scripture (2 Chron. ii., v. 11-16):
Masonic tradition informs us that the sea-cost at that place was so nearly
perpendicular it was difficult for workmen to ascend without the
assistance from above, which assistance was afforded them, given by
guards stationed there for that purpose. It has since been adopted as a
proper pass to be given before gaining admission to any regular and
well-governed Lodge of Mark Master Masons. 1316
The pass grip, therefore, is said to have "originated from the fact that the
banks of the river at Joppa were so steep that the workmen on the Temple had to
assist each other up them while conveying the timber from the forests of
Lebanon." 1317 The grip is made by extending the right arms and clasping the
fingers of the right hands, "as one would naturally do to assist another up a steep
ascent." 1318
1315
This Biblical passage relates how Huram, King of Tyre, writes to King Solomon that he will send
a cunning workman, son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, to him for the construction of the
temple, and that he will have wood of Lebanon cut, which will be brought by the sea to Joppa, to
be carried up to Jerusalem.
1316
Duncan, p. 176.
1317
Ibid, p. 168.
1318
Ibid.