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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 477
Admirable Mistress, on both cheeks and on the lips, after which the Inspectress
and Preceptress do the same. Then, the new Sister obtains the words, signs, and
tokens of the degree, which are as follows:
The SIGN is symbolical of the Ladder of Jacob. It is given by closing
the fingers of the right hand, and with the thumb describing a line
perpendicularly down the right side of the chest from the neck, and a
parallel one upward on the left side, and then drawing three lines across
the body, the first near the neck, the others below, and all from left to
right. ("The 'Arcana'," p. 7)
The three principal steps or rounds of the ladder signify Faith, Hope, and
Charity (cf. "The 'Arcana'," p. 7). As shown in Section 4.6.2, "Jacob's Ladder" is
also a symbol in the First Degree of Craft Masonry. The response to this sign is
to take the tip of the right ear between the little finger of the right hand. The
sacred word is AHOTH and means in Hebrew "a Sister." It is shared by letters,
the sister and the one examining her taking it in turns to pronounce one letter,
beginning with the fourth from the left, and then spelling it backward to the
right, thus: TOHAH (cf. "The 'Arcana'," p. 7). The peculiarity of "spelling and
halving" secret passwords is also taken from Craft Masonry. The password is
HEVAH and denotes the Biblical Eve. It is needed to enter the Hall. The token is
"to take each other by the right hand, the middle finger of each extended along
the wrist of the other" ("The 'Arcana'," p. 7). While clasping the hands thus, the
sacred word is given, as described above. There is a short dialogue as a prelude
before giving the sacred word: "Have you this only? - I have something more. -
What more? - A word. - Whose? - A Sister's. - Will you share it with me? - Yes,
-- by letters. - Begin, then. - How shall I begin? - With the fourth." (cf. "The
'Arcana'," p. 7).
Having obtained the secret work, the candidate has to give the signs, words,
and tokens to the Inspectress and the Preceptress as an exercise, and these two
officers report that they recognize the new Sister as duly accepted. Then, the
candidate is seated at the head of the column of Africa, where she has to listen to
an elaborate lecture delivered by the Orator, after which follows the catechism:
the Inspectress and Preceptress repeat in a long question-and-answer dialogue all
the preparations, proceedings, and meanings of the first degree, in order to show
the candidate how she has to reply in case of examination. Thus ends the
ceremony of initiation into the degree of Apprentice, and the lodge is closed
formally.
Second Degree (Companion)
For the initiation into the second degree, that of Companion, the equipment
of the Hall is a little different. Thus, the transparency of the ark, pyramid, and
ladder is replaced by one representing the garden of Eden and Eve's temptation.