Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor - Rose Croix

Q. What is that new name?
A. It is composed of the words of which the letters on the "key-stone" are the initials.
Q. What are they?
A. "Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's, Son, Sendeth, To, King, Solomon."
Q. Of what use is this circle of letters?
A. It was the mark of our G. M., H. A.; it is now a general mark of this degree, in the
centre of which each brother places his own private mark, to which the tie in the
obligation particularly alludes.
Q. What is the price of a brother's mark?
A. A Jewish half shekel of silver, equal in value to one-quarter of a dollar.
Q. Were you, at any time during your advancement to this degree, called upon with this
portion of your obligation? A. I was.
Q. At what time?
p. 182
A. While on my bended knees at the altar.
Q. Why at that particular time?
A. To impress upon my mind in the most solemn manner that I should never hastily reject
the application of a worthy brother, especially when accompanied by so sacred a pledge
as his mark, but grant him his request if in my power; if not, return him his mark with the
price thereof, which will enable him to procure the common necessaries of life.
Q. By whom was this degree founded?
A. Our three Grand Masters--Solomon King of Israel, Hiram King of Tyre, and Hiram
Abiff.
Q. For what purpose was it founded?
A. To be conferred upon all those who should be found worthy and well qualified, not
only as an honorary reward for their zeal, fidelity and attachment to Masonry, but to
render it impossible that any brother who should be found worthy of being advanced to
this degree should ever be reduced to such extreme indigence as to suffer for the common
necessities of life, when the price of his mark would procure the same.