New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
THE GRIND HONORS.
From Masonic Miscellany.

From Masonic Miscellany
The grand honors Of Masonry those peculiar
acfs and GESTURES 10y which the craft have always
been accustomed - express their homage, their
joy or their grief memorable occasions, They
arc of two kinds The private ana the pubc-and
each of them is used on different occasions and FOR
The private grand honors OF Masonry are per-
formed In a manner known only 10 Master MasQns,
rhcv are pracised by the craft only on four occa-
. new lodge 10 be constituted "A Master-eect to he
Installed or "A Grand Master or his deputy 20 bc
received on m Official visitation TO lodge. They
grafulnfion and homage. And have already
said that they can only be given by Master Nasons.
IL is evident that every consccratIon or Il man, or
constitution OF new lodge every installation of a
WoIshipful Master and every reception or Grand
also c4Idcn' from what has been said that the mode
and manner OF giving the private grand honors can
only bc personally communicated 70 Master Masons.
They are among the apporeta-ihe Things loro'ddeh
The public grand honors. as their name Imports.
given on all public occasions. In the presence OF
Inc nrofane as wei as the initiated. They are used
or in other services in which the min.stratons Of
the fraternity are required. and especially I'm funer-
ais They are given in the following manner: Both
arms crossed on the breast IN" l"ft upprrmost,
and the open palms ~ the hands sharply striking
the shoulders: they then raised above the head,
the palms striking each other. and then made 20
fil smnrtv upon the thighs This IL repeated three
,,mes ami as there are three blows given each time
namely. the breast on tho palms OF the hands
and ON the thighs-making nine conclusions in all.
tb, Grand honors are technically said 20 be- glven
ne fhr.. times three" on the occasion of funerals
c.rh an. of these hOnors f. accompanied by the
word alas audiby pronounced by IN" brethren
These grand hCnors pf Masonry hay" undoubtedly
a classical origin. and are but an imitation OF the
nlouli.s and vaccinations practsed 10y the ancient
Greeks and Romans in their theatres their scnates
and their public games. There II abundant evidence
iu the writings OF the ancicns that IN the days 81
ia. cr,ulre the Romans had circumscrhcd the mode
~ doing homage To their cmpcrors ana great men
when they made their appearance In public. ana of
vurossinc their approba lion of actors at the thea
ire within as explicit rules and regulations as those
that govern the system Of giving the grand honors
in Frcomasonry This was not tho case I'm the
earlier ages Of Rome. for Ovid. speaking OF NE
Sabrcs says that when they applaud"l they uld
"a without any rules ~ art-"ln medic piausI,
f,i,sns tuuc aric carehat" And PrOpertlus speaks.
al a later day Of the ignorance OF me country
u.,nic who 1T the theatres destroyed the general
t,rnmonv bv their awkward attempts 10 Join In the
rnrdriaf,I applauses of the more skilfil CITIZENS.
The ancient Romans had carried their science on
fhs subject to such an extent as q" diNllc THESE
horors INTO three kinds differing from each othc:
f., 10 mode I'm which the bands We're struck against
.,ch other and I'm the sound that thence resulted.
,nr.s ~ these various kinds OF applause. which he
Tvs warc cn lci hOmbi. imbricrs ana tesue; ana
srn.ra I'm his ''Naturnlcs Qu;esiic ncs gives de-
s,riufiou % the manner In which they were exc
cu,ca The 'bOmhi." huns. were produced by
.trik ng The palms Of the hands together while they
u,er. In a hollow or cOncnvc. and doing this at fire.
",,enf Intervals. but with little force. so as 10
ire .'l-liriccs" tiles. were made u" brishy
striking the fattened ara extended pair OF the
hands against each other, 80 as 10 rcse.-lie the
sound OF hail patterng upon the Ties or roof
The stestir" or earthen vases. were executed oy
striking the nalm OF the left hand with the fingers