NO.8 HAND OVER HEART
Devil’s claw, Lion’s paw, Hand on Heart
The sign is made by holding the right hand over the heart sometimes raising the left hand with the palm facing forward.
The sign of the hand over the heart represents a reminder of the Masonic obligation of silence from the Fellowcraft degree in which the heart shall be torn out if a Mason were to break his Masonic oath.
“All this I most solemnly promise and swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than of having my breast torn open, my heart plucked out, and placed on the highest pinnacle of the temple (some say, My heart and vitals taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder, and carried into the valley of Jehoshaphat, there to be devoured by the vultures of the air, should I ever knowingly violate the Fellow Craft obligation.”
~ Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor
Heavy stuff.
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