The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-12-10
III isc liza N @ O u g..
THE MASONIC SIGN.
BY AN ENGLISH MASON.

Eyes, sir ~ said Jones to his friend Smith,
"the advantages to be derived from our an
cient and honorable institution are meal
culable"
BY the way, we should have said "Broth-
er JONES'" for Brother Jones was "high" in
Masonry, and was Past Grand Deputy
Junior Door Opener for the Courts OF
Cockayneshre."
"For instance" continued Brother Jones,
P. G. D. j. d. o., "look at the position you
take when traveing-think of the consid-
Grafton shown to you. Why, when I land
ed on the island Of Bambaroo, the king
hearing that was Mason, sent down a
detachment Of his palace"
But" said Smith, surprised, care all the
Masons thus honored 2"
"Well-no," answered Brother Jones
hesitatingly; "ony those who belong &c
the very highest degrees-and | belong to
the very highest, the double superior and
superlative degree of the combined Rose
Thistle, and Palm Tree, or the three hun
dred and siXty-fifth degree. There are but
seven members of it in the known world
and they are all crowned heads except my
self"
"And you," exclaimed Jones, show OF
earth were you admitted 2"
II don't wonder at your SURPRISE" con
tinued Jones "others have wondered a
it, and envied me. You see, such is til,
universally of Masonry, that even crowned
heads are compelled to admit one outside
into their fraternity, else what would be
come of the principle of equality r.
81 see," said Smith, savagely, for he be
gan to suspect that Brother Jones wa
chatting him, land you were very out
sider."
But Brother Jones was in earnest. |
he was not member of this superlativ
degree, he had dreamed he was and be
lieved it-so it came to the same thing.
Now about these signs" said Smith
II don't ask you to tell me your secrets
but object to take leap in the dark, ant
if I'm to join your Lodge"-for this wa
the contingency that led up to the CONVEX
sation-"if / am to join your Lodge,
should like to know just SON. little abou
it beforehand"
Brother Jones seemed to hesitate for
few moments, then he appeared buried il
profound reflection. At length he rose
and taking Smith by the hand, said:
"Smith you are my oldest friend
Said Smith:
"You can, upon my honor"
"If it were KNOWN" said Jones, "that
had divulged the least part of secret, m,
life wouldn't be safe for half an hour"
"What !" exclaimed Smith, "do yo,
Masons go about, like bandits in melo
dramas, with daggers concealed in you
boots z"
"Well, no-not exactly in our boots, be
cause the majority of US wear shoes; bu
it is so. However, I'll chance it."
Here Jones went cautiously round til
room, locked the door, and hung his ha
on the knob, so as to cover the keyholc.
"Why do you put your hat there ?" aske'
Smith
ITO keep Off" said Jones an short
to tile the ROOM"
The offshoot of Brother Jones' renectio
was this: he had thought of plan t
impart to his friend Smith Masonic sigr
without compromising his tealty to til
craft.
"When do you propose going to Bristoll
he asked him. a -.t.
"This day week."
"Good. Now if Iput you in possession {
one of our secret signs, and you are salts
. fed with the result, shall expect to pre-
pose you as Mason; it is the only wa
you can make atonement to my conscience
/ II agree" said Smith, land here's m
hand on it,"
"Very well. Now you are going
Bristol this day week well, you shall sc
the wonderful results of the Masonic sign
Double your fists thus-please to copy n
extend the forc-finger of your right han'
: and apply it three times to the right sic
of your nose, gently tapping it thus"
"But why three times ?"