Masonic Handshake Revealed
The Freemasons are famous for having a series of hand signals by means of which their members can identify each other wherever they may happen to be in the world. Now you too can pretend to be a Freemason. The secret is that, first, you need to memorize a series of hand signals all of which indicate different days of the week. The signals also require that you have pockets in your clothes (or that you have clothes on, period... so these won't work in a nudist colony):
Note that you also need to be wearing a waistcoat! Now for the secret greeting. When a Brother meets a Brother he first has to give the signs of the two preceding days, and then the other Brother returns the 7th or Saturday sign. And that's it!
Unfortunately, these signs probably won't work today. The info comes from Secrets of the Freemasons Revealed by a Disgusted Brother, published in 1759. According to Wikipedia, the Freemasons periodically change their secret signals, in order to keep them secret. Nowadays, you may also be required to produce some kind of certificate, or paperwork, to prove your Freemason membership.
Sunday sign: right hand in pocket of breeches, with thumb out, pointing to the left side.
Monday sign: left hand in left pocket, thumb out, pointing to the right side.
Tuesday sign: right hand in right waistcoat pocket, with thumb out, pointing left.
Wednesday sign: the reverse—left hand in left waistcoat pocket, with thumb out, pointing right.
Thursday sign: right hand in right coat pocket, with thumb and forefinger out, pointing downwards.
Friday sign: exactly opposite—for right, read left.
Saturday sign: putting the first three fingers of the right hand to that part of the right eyebrow next the ear, and so drawing it along till the 3rd finger touches the nose.
Monday sign: left hand in left pocket, thumb out, pointing to the right side.
Tuesday sign: right hand in right waistcoat pocket, with thumb out, pointing left.
Wednesday sign: the reverse—left hand in left waistcoat pocket, with thumb out, pointing right.
Thursday sign: right hand in right coat pocket, with thumb and forefinger out, pointing downwards.
Friday sign: exactly opposite—for right, read left.
Saturday sign: putting the first three fingers of the right hand to that part of the right eyebrow next the ear, and so drawing it along till the 3rd finger touches the nose.
Note that you also need to be wearing a waistcoat! Now for the secret greeting. When a Brother meets a Brother he first has to give the signs of the two preceding days, and then the other Brother returns the 7th or Saturday sign. And that's it!
Unfortunately, these signs probably won't work today. The info comes from Secrets of the Freemasons Revealed by a Disgusted Brother, published in 1759. According to Wikipedia, the Freemasons periodically change their secret signals, in order to keep them secret. Nowadays, you may also be required to produce some kind of certificate, or paperwork, to prove your Freemason membership.
Comments
Actually as a former member I can tell you that those handshakes are still used as described and that actually paperwork or writing anything down that is used by the FM is technically against the oath that is taken when you sign up (and punishable by pain of death). So, there are no certificates.
For what its worth, I haven't read of anyone else receiving said punishment in at least 200 years.
For what its worth, I haven't read of anyone else receiving said punishment in at least 200 years.
Posted by Fim on 08/31/12 at 12:48 PM
Monty Python joked Freemasons often. CLICK HERE To see the secret hand shake in action! It's at the end.
John Cleese makes jokes about FM during so watch the whole thing. :coolsmile:
John Cleese makes jokes about FM during so watch the whole thing. :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 08/31/12 at 01:14 PM
OK .. we need a secret WU handshake that only those of us here know. Alex will come up with it and send it to Paul who will send it to ... etc etc.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 08/31/12 at 03:46 PM
In the Church Of The Subgenius, we will never reveal our secrets because we don't need handshakes or passwords like those wimpy, weak "secret" societies.
Posted by KDP on 08/31/12 at 03:49 PM
@ KDP Bob LIVES! :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 08/31/12 at 04:36 PM
I'd rather have a secret hug.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/31/12 at 05:04 PM
These actually work for Mormons too. See this wonderful talk by an ex-Mormon where he reveals how Mormon temple traditions actually come from Masonic rituals.
Whole talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NU9RTiIMc8
Or skip to 33 minutes in where he discusses the Mormon-Mason link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NU9RTiIMc8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1972s
Whole talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NU9RTiIMc8
Or skip to 33 minutes in where he discusses the Mormon-Mason link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NU9RTiIMc8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1972s
Posted by Robin on 09/04/12 at 03:18 PM
Intriguing, Robin - Considering Mormons are now banned by their own church from becoming FMs. 😊
Could be worse though - Each Pope has had a different view om Masonry, so a Catholic who joined under a Pope who permitted it might find he's in big trouble when the next one says it's an offence.
Could be worse though - Each Pope has had a different view om Masonry, so a Catholic who joined under a Pope who permitted it might find he's in big trouble when the next one says it's an offence.
Posted by D F Stuckey on 12/24/12 at 08:29 AM
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Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations