The Substituted Secrets of the 3rd Degree

THE SUBSTITUTED SECRETS OF THE THIRD DEGREE

DR. A. T. BRAND

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THAT there is considerable uncertainty, or want of due
appreciation, among the Brethren as to what exactly
constitutes the Substituted Secrets of the Third Degree, is
evident from the manner in which they are usually
communicated during the closing of the Lodge in the 3 rd
degree in extenso.

It will, therefore, be my endeavour this evening to define
exactly what I believe these Substituted Secrets to be, and
then to discuss the manner in which they axe usually
communicated, pointing out where I consider extraneous
and irrelevant matter is introduced.
This will involve reference to the secrets of the 3 rd degree
as a whole, and also to the method of proving oneself a
M.M. by signs.

In treating this subject, I take as my authority the Ritual itself,
just as it stands, and as rendered in our Lodges.

I. WHAT ARE THE SUBSTITUTED SECRETS OF THE 3rd
degree, AND HOW DID THEY ORIGINATE?

Referring to our Ritual, we find, in the continuation of the
Traditional History, that when King Solomon was informed of
the discovery of the fact that his principal Architect had
indeed suffered a cruel death as the penalty of his devoted
adherence to his sacred trust, he informed the Fellowcrafts,
who had brought the afflicting intelligence to him, that, in
consequence of the crime, the genuine secrets of a M.M.
were irretrievably lost, and this declaration most, ox all of us,
can appreciate who now know what they are.

King Solomon directed the F.Cs. to return and raise the body
of the martyred H.A., and convey it to Jerusalem for such
sepulture as became one of his exalted rank and
distinguished talents. At the same time he charged them to
observe very carefully, and to note any casual signs, tokens,
and words which might occur and be spoken during the
performance of their sad duty.

We find that they faithfully carried out their instructions, and
that they reported to the Supreme Grand Master what they
had observed, viz., two casual signs which they repeated,
and which we now know as those of H. and Sy. They also
reported that they overheard two words having a similar
signification. Finally, they described the peculiar G. which
was found necessary, owing to the condition of advanced
decomposition in which the body was found, and the special
attitude assumed in effecting the elevation of the body. This
G. and attitude we now denominate the F.P.O.F.

King Solomon thereupon decreed that these two casual
signs of H. and Sy. the G. used as described, and the words
overheard, should thenceforth designate all M.Ms.
throughout the world until time ox circumstance should
restore the genuine Secrets.

Thus we find that the Substituted Secrets of the 3 rd degree
consist definitely of the two casual signs only, viz., those of
H. and Sy. a G. given with certain adjuncts, and two words,
nothing more and nothing less.

2. COMMUNICATION OF THE SUBSTITUTED SECRETS.

When closing the 3 rd degree the W.M. invites the Wardens
to communicate to him certain s ...d s..s which they state
they have discovered. This is done differently in different
Lodges, but in many cases the Ss. and Ws. of the 1 st
degree and 2 nd degree are given, and P.G. and P.W.
leading to the 3 rd degree, after which several of the Ss. of
the 3 rd degree proper are given, including those of H. and
Sy., the P.S. and generally the S. of G. and D. Finally the
Ws. are given on the F.P.O.F.

Now I submit that this procedure is not in accordance with
the decree of the Supreme Grand Master, and is not the
faithful communication of the s..d s..s of a M ... r M ... n,
which alone are asked for and which should alone be given.
The Ss. and Ws. of the 1 st degree and 2 nd degree and the
P.G. and P.W. leading to the 3 rd degree are not substituted
in any sense. They are real and do not belong to the 3 rd
degree, all of them having been given before the L . . . e was
opened in the 3 rd degree. They are, therefore, in my
opinion, extraneous and irrelevant. Again the S. of G. and D.
and the P.S. are not casual or s ... d s ... s, the former being
simply one of the auxiliary Ss. of the Third, and, moreover,
not intended to be used inside the L ... e, but only outside in
case of emergency as a signal of distress, while the latter is
the P.S.

I would submit that when the Wardens are directed to
communicate the s .. d s ... s they should respect the decree
of King Solomon, and strictly confine themselves to an exact
compliance with the specific order.

Thus, the J.W., having taken up his proper position, should
simply take the s . . . p and make the two casual Ss. of H.
and Sy. only, then give the G., followed by the other 4
P.O.F., and in this position repeat the Ws. in a w . . . r.
Having done so he should disengage himself and then
salute the S.W. with the P.S., keeping it up while returning to
his chair.

The S.W. then repeats the procedure with the W.M. but
speaks the Ws. aloud.

It is the custom of the Craft for the J.W. to communicate the
s ... d s ... s to the S.W. before the latter communicates them
to the W.M., but it has always seemed to me that such
rehearsal is as unnecessary as it is uncalled for. It is the
S.W. who announces to the W.M. that they bring with them
certain s ... d s ... s, and the W.M. then directs that they shall
be forthwith communicated to him. Why then should not the
S.W. himself communicate them to the W.M. as ordered,
without the rehearsal between the Ws. ?

3. THE Ss. OF THE 3 rd degree AS A WHOLE, AND THE
METHOD OF PROVING ONESELF A M.M. BY Ss.

I have alluded to the S. of G. and D. as forming one of the
Ss. used in communicating the substituted secrets. It is also
used in proving oneself a M.M. in many Lodges in the East
Riding of Yorkshire, and I believe it is confined to them. It is
only fair to state, however, that the third sign referred to is
not given in the same way as the sign is directed to be given
in the Ritual, nor has it even the same name. It is called the
S. of Sw.

The whole of the Ss. of a M.M. are 5 corresponding in
number to the F.P.O.F., and are as follows:- Those of H. and
Sy. which are the casual or substituted signs proper,
reported to King Solomon by the F.Cs. and decreed by him
to be those which alone should designate M.Ms. These
constitute the first two signs. The third is the P.S., used for
the purpose of standing to order with, and for saluting
generally in the 3 rd degree.

Then we have the 4th and 5th, the signs of G. and D. and
the G. and R.S. of J. and E. These last are known as the
auxiliary signs, the latter being chiefly used as a salute in the
3 rd degree only, and the former for quite a different and
specific purpose.

This sign of G. and D. is a most interesting one, which is
NOT intended for use inside the Lodge, while it is the only
sign in Freemasonry which may be legitimately used outside
the Lodge, indeed, it is intended to be used OUTSIDE
ONLY, and not even then except in the case of great and
pressing emergency, for its use indicates to any M.M., who
may, fortunately, observe it, that the individual making it is a
brother mason who believes himself to be at the time in
great danger or distress, and that he is signalling for
assistance. It is interesting to note that in the Scottish and
Irish M.M. Obs. the use of this sign is strictly defined and
insisted on.

I would suggest that the only legitimate way to prove oneself
a M.M., by signs, is to make the two substituted signs of H.
and Sy. only, as specially decreed by King Solomon, and
then, having done so, to stand to order with the P.S., not
forgetting the S . . . p, which is so often omitted.

Such, Worshipful Brethren, are my views on the Substituted
Secrets, and the method of their communication, and I shall
be glad for you to discuss and criticise them freely and fully.

Freemasonry is founded on the immutable laws of Truth and
Justice and its grand object is to promote the happiness of
the human race. WASHINGTON.

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