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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
signs is the "Sowing Sign" which is made by holding the left hand as if it were
full of seed, picking these out with the right hand, and sowing them. Another one
is the "Drowning Sign," which is used if help is needed, and which is made by
raising the open right hand palm straight above the head. But the most interesting
sign is one of the Signs of Recognition, which is directly related to the Biblical
legend of the ritual by describing the flight of the spies climbing down the scarlet
cord out of the window of Rahab's house on the city walls:
1. Take the corner of a handkerchief and put it in your mouth (sic) and
let it hang down. 2. Grasp the handkerchief with the right hand close up
to your lips. 3. Slide the hand slowly down with the left hand following
in the same manner.
This is the manner in which the spies escaped from the Walls of
Jericho by a scarlet cord. 1498
Instead of the Craft's "Chain of Brotherhood" or "Mystic Chain," the
Heroines of Jericho have the "Circle of Joshua," which is used during the
Dedicating Ceremony, when a Court of Heroines is dedicated either in public or
private. At some point, the Dedicating Officer exclaims: "Please form the Circle
of Joshua" (p. 47): "This is done by linking the little fingers together, and
holding the hands up even with the shoulders, holding the handkerchiefs between
the thumb and fingers by one corner." (p. 47). Here, the members are literally
links in a chain.
In the same ceremony, a sign called "Kinsman's support" is used, which is
made by laying one's hand on each other's shoulder, thus forming a compact
circle around the ark. This also is the enacting of the word "support."
8.2.5 A Fraternal Christmas Play? The
Order of the White Shrine of
Jerusalem 1499
This women's order 1500 was founded by Charles D. Magee at Chicago, being
incorporated under Illinois law on October 23 rd , 1894. Its head-office, the
national or Supreme Shrine, was formed in Michigan in 1897. The order was
rechartered in 1904. Its early growth was hindered by involvement in litigation
during the years 1897 - 1909. Originally, membership was limited to Master
Masons and members of the Order of the Eastern Star; the latter, however,
1498 Cf. leaflet in the ritual.
1499 If not otherwise noted, quotations for this section are taken from the Ritual of the Order of the
White Shrine of Jerusalem, USA, 1953.
1500 For history and data see CME, p. 14.