Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry.pdf - FatimaMovement

fingers of the right hand, leaving the first two and
thumb open, parallel with each other, and about
one inch apart. This alludes to the manner in
which the candidate is directed to carry the
keystone. You then raise the right hand rapidly to
the right ear, still holding the thumb and first two
fingers open, and with a circular motion of the
hand pass the fingers around the ear, as thought
you were combing back your earlock, the ear
passing between the two fingers and thumb. (See
Fig. 20.) This sign alludes to a penalty of the
obligation, to have the ear smitten off.
After having completed the sign, as just
described, drop the right hand a little to the right
side, about as high up as the waist, the palm open
and horizontal, and, at the same time, lift up the
left hand and bring it down edgewise and
vertically upon the wrist of the right. (See Fig.
21.) These motions must all
p. 156
be made distinctly but rapidly. This sign alludes
to the penalty of the obligation, and also to that of
an impostor, which is to have his right hand cut
off.
The sign of receiving wages is made by
extending in front the right arm at full length, the
thumb and two first fingers open, about one inch
apart, the third and little fingers clinched, palm of
the hand up. (See Fig. 22.) It alludes to the
peculiar manner in which the Mark Master is
taught to receive wages, so that impostors may be
detected.
Here it is proper to remark that in the opening of
any Lodge of Masons, they commence giving the
signs of an Entered Apprentice, and go through