❶Reverential Sign- Sign of Salute
RITUAL- The Reverential Sign or Sign of Sorrow, which is given by laying the right hand on the forehead for support, and left at the heart in a bowing humble attitude. It represents the attitude in which our first parents met Jehovah in the garden of Eden after their transgression. (MoF, 18)
CATECHISM- Q. Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.
A. Scarcely had our first parents transgressed, conscious of their crime, and filled with shame and horror, they endeavored to hide themselves from the presence of that Being, in whom before had been their chief delight; but hearing the summons of his awful voice, and unable to bear the splendour of his appearance, in a humble bending posture, they approached with awe and palpitation of heart, their right hand at the forehead for support, their left at the heart, as a shield against the radiant glory; and hence arose the reverential sign, or sign of salute. (MoF, 28)
DICTIONARY- We are taught by the reverential sign to bend with submission and resignation the chastening hand of the Almighty, and at the same time to engraft his law in our hearts. This expressive form, in which the Father of the human race first presented himself before the face of the Most High, to receive the denunciation and terrible judgement, was adopted by Grand Master Moses, who, when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush of Mount Horeb, covered his face from the brightness of the divine presence. (DoSM, 233)
According to Richard Carlile’s expose of the British Royal Arch degree, the Reverential Sign was “given by laying the right hand on the forehead for support, and the left at the heart in a bowing humble attitude.” This sign represented “the attitude in which our first parents met Jehovah in the garden of Eden after their transgression.”
After the ritual of exaltation the candidate was taught in a question and answer catechism during which the brother was asked to, “Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.” The candidate was to answer this question by explaining that the Reverential Sign was a reference to the moments just after Adam transgressed the divine to not partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The candidate explained, “Scarcely had our first parents transgressed, conscious of their crime, and filled with shame and horror, they endeavored to hide themselves from the presence of that Being, in whom before had been their chief delight; but hearing the summons of his awful voice, and unable to bear the splendour of his appearance, in humble being posture, they approach with awe and palpitation of heart, their right hand at the forehead for support, their left at the heart, as a shield against the radiant glory.”
George Oliver linked the Reverential Sign to Adam and Eve’s transgression of divine law by partaking of the fruit of Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, because this was the posture which, according to the Royal Arch ritual, both Adam and Eve approached God immediately following their transgression of divine edict. Having transgressed divine law the couples approached the divine with palpitating hearts and their hands covering their eyes lest they be destroyed by God’s divine glory. According, to George Oliver, this sign was passed from Adam to his posterity and through the flood to the God’s prophets including Moses, for this sign was given by “Grand Master Moses, who, when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush of Mount Horeb, covered his face from the brightness of the divine presence.”
❷Penitenial Sign- Supplicatory Sign | Sign of Sorrow
RITUAL- The Penitential, or Supplicatory Sign, which is given with the hand raised in the attitude of prayer, and the knees slightly bent, in allusion to the expulsion of our first parents from the garden of Eden. (MoF, 18)
CATECHISM- Q. Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.
A. It was now they heard pronounced the dreadful sentence, that the ground, for their sakes accursed, should no longer pour forth in such abundance; but themselves be driven from that happy region, to some less friendly climate, there to cultivate the hungry soil, and to earn their daily food by sweat and labour. Now banished from the presence of their God, and impelled by the wants and calls of nature to constant toil and care, they become more fully sensible of their crime, and with true contrition of heart, they, with clasped hand, implored forgiveness; and hence arose the penitential or supplicatory sign of sorrow. (MoF, 28)
DICTIONARY- The reverential sign may be considered the parent of the penitential or supplicating sign, since it justly denotes that frame of heart and mind without which our prayers and oblation of praises will not obtain acceptance at the throne of grace, before which how should a frail and erring creature of the dust present himself unless with bended knees and uplifted hands, betokening at once his humility and dependence? In this posture did Adam first kneel before God and bless the author of his being; and there too did he bend with contrite awe before the face of his offended Judge, to avert his wrath, and implore mercy, and transmitted this sacred form to his posterity forever. (DoSM, 203)
According to Carlile’s expose, the Penitential Sign was “given with the hand raised in the attitude of prayer, and the knees slightly bent” This sign alluded to “the expulsion of our first parents from the garden of Eden.”
The catechism further explained that after the transgression that Adam and Eve were brought before God; and they were “fully sensible of their crime, and with true contrition of heart, they, with clasped hand, implored forgiveness”.
George Oliver linked the Penitential Sign to Adam and Eve’s shame before the Lord after the transgression. In transgressing the laws of God, Adam recognized he was “a frail and erring creature of the dust” and with “bended knees and uplifted hand” betokened “his humility and dependence” he begged “his offended Judge, to avert his wrath.” George Oliver further told his reader that this posture of prayer with uplifted hands was transmitted “to his posterity forever” for this posture “justly denotes that frame of heart and mind without which our prayers and oblation of praises will not obtain acceptance at the throne of grace.” Thus Adam and Eve performed on bended knee with arms uplifted participated in a true order of prayer through which they could implore God’s blessings.
❸Penal Sign
RITUAL- The Penal Sign, which is given by circling the forehead with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand alluding to the penalty of the obligation; and also in the allusion to the Sojourner’s guarding his eyes from the intensity of the sun’s rays, when the perpendicular reflection shone so brilliantly on the gold plate, which was found on the pedestal at the withdrawing of the third key-stone of the secret arch, and which contained the Grand Omnific word: and further, and allusion to the fall of man. (MoF, 17-18)
CATECHISM- Q. Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.
A. The first parents of mankind, formed by the Grand Architect of the Universe, in the utmost perfection, both of body and mind, seated in a paradise of pleasure, bounteously supplied with means for the gratification of every appetite, and at full liberty of enjoyment, to the end of time itself, with only one prohibition by way on contract, whereon should depend their immortality, soon became disobedient, and thereby obnoxious to sin, misery, and death. To preserve us from which, and as a mememto to guard us from the like error, we adopted the penal sign. (MoF, 27-28)
DICTIONARY-
The penal sign marks our obligation, and reminds us also of the fall of Adam and the dreadful penalty entailed thereby on his sinful posterity, being no less than death. It intimates on sinful posterity, being no less than death. It intimates that the stiffneck of the obedient shall be cur off from the land of the living by the judgement of God, even as the head is severed from the body by sword of human justice. (DoSM, 202-203)
According to Carlile’s expose, the Penal Sign was “given circling the forehead with the thumb and forefinger of right hand.” In the process of being exalted to the Royal Arch degree, A Mason had to take an obligation that they would “not reveal the secrets” of the Royal Arch degree “under the penalty of having the crown of my skull stuck off” if they revealed the secrets of the degree. The circling of the forehead with the thumb signified their having sworn by their head to keep the Royal Arch secrets. In addition, the ritual suggested that the Penal Sign alluded to the “the fall of man.”
The catechism further explained that in penalty for after the transgression that Adam and Eve were brought before God; and they were “fully sensible of their crime, and with true contrition of heart, they, with clasped hand, implored forgiveness”. (MoF, 11-12, 17-18, 27-28)
According to Genesis, God had told Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that, “Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” (GEN3:3). George Oliver related this penalty to the penalty of the of Royal Degree noting that it “reminds us also of the fall of Adam and the dreadful penalty entailed thereby on his sinful posterity, being no less that death.”
❹Monitorial Sign- Sign of Admonition
RITUAL- The Monitorial Sign, or Sign of Suffering is given by placing the right hand on the heart, and supporting an inclination of head with the left, in allusion to the pain that arose from toil in having to till the land. (MoF, 18)
CATECHISM- Q. Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.
A. Now fervent prayer, the grand restorer of true peace of mind, and only balm to heal a wounded conscience, first raised a gleam of hope, and encouraged them to pursue their daily task with greater cheerfulness: but seized with weariness and pain, the sure effects of constant toil and labour, they were forced to lay their right hands to the region of the heart, and their left as a support to the side of their heads; and thus arose the monitorial sign, or sign of admonition. (MoF, 28)
DICTIONARY- The monitorial sign reminds us of the weakness of human nature, unable of itself to resist the power of Darkness, unless aided by that Light, which is from above, and we thus acknowledge our own frailty, and that we can do no good acceptable service but through Him from whom all good and just counsel doth proceed, and under whose divine and special favour we can never be found unprofitable servants in His sight. (DoSM, 178)
Carlile’s explained that the Monitorial Sign, also known as the Sign of Suffering, was “given by placing the right hand on the heart, and supporting an inclination of the head with the left”. This sign alluded to the “pain that Arose from toil in having to till the land.”
The catechism described how, in response to a “fervent prayer” by Adam and Eve, “the grand restorer of true peace of mind, and only balm to heal a wounded conscience, first raised a gleam of hope, and encouraged them to pursue their daily task with greater cheerfulness” However, Adam and Eve were “seized with weariness and pain, the sure effects of constant toil and labour, they were forced to lay their right hand to the region of the heart, and their left as a support to the side of their heads.” (MoF, 18,28)
AoF alludes to the prayer mentioned in the catechism when is said, “Now fervent prayer” as well as the fatigue caused by Adam and Eve’s fatigue fatigue experienced by Adam and Eve due to their constant toil and labour which was demonstrated by the positioning of the body when making the Monitorial Sign.
❺Fiducial Sign - Sign of Faith or Hope
RITUAL- The Fiducial Sign, or Sign of Faith and Hope, which is given by raising the hands above the head, in allusion to the prospect of redemption from the fall. (MoF, 18)
CATECHISM- Q. Explain the Five Grand Original Signs.
A. Now their minds being more calm, their toil seemed less severe, and cheered by bright-eyed hope, with uplifted hands and hearts, they clearly saw redemption drawing on; and hence arose the last sign, called the fiducial sign, or sign of faith and hope. (MoF, 28)
DICTIONARY-
The fiducial sign shows us if we prostrate ourselves with our face to the earth, we thus throw ourselves on the mercy of our Creator and Judge, looking forward with humble confidence to his holy promises, by which also we hope to pass through the Ark of our redemption into the mansion of eternal bliss and glory to the presence of Him who is the great I Am, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. (DoSM, 106)
The fifth sign discussed in Carlile’s expose of the Royal Arch degree was the the Fiducial Sign or Sign of Faith and Hope which it explained was “given by raising the hands above the head”; and according to the ritual this sign alluded to the “prospect of redemption from the fall.”
The catechism described how Adam and Eve, having previously communed with God, “their minds being more calm, their toil seemed less severe, and cheered by bright-eyed hope, with uplifted hands and hearts, they clearly saw redemption” through the sacrifice of the Son of God. (MoF, 18,28)
George Oliver alludes to the promise from God which created a “bright eyed hope” through which they “saw redemption” as a promise for Savior from their sins. Thus he would explain that as Adam and Eve were “expelled from Paradise, into a world cursed for their sake, our first parents must have sunk under the effects of this change, if the PROMISE had not lent them support under the extremity of misery. The calamities were great, but FAITH and HOPE, supplied them with fortitude to endure the penalty of their disobedience.”
The Sign of Faith and Hope was not just for salvation in this life, but also Faith in specific a Promise for the state after death as discussed in the Royal Arch Ritual. “When death, the grand leveller of all human greatness, hath drawn his sable curtain round us, and, when the last arrow of our mortal enemy hath dispatched, and the bow of this mighty conqueror broken by the iron arm of time, when the angel of the Lord declares that time shall be no more, and when, by this victory, God hath subdued all things to himself, then shall we receive the reward of virtue, by acquiring the possession of an immortal inheritance in those heavenly mansions veiled from mortal eye, where every secret of masonry will be opened, never to be closed[.] Then shall the great Jehovah, the Grand Master of the whole universe, bid us enter into his celestial lodge, where peace, order, and harmony shall eternally reign.” (MoF, 18,28)
Thus Masonic Royal Arch ritual as practiced under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of England specifically mentions Adam. In addition, the catechism that exalted brothers must memorize interprets the signs and tokens of the degree in light of the Fall and Redemption of Adam and all mankind.
In constructing the Mormon Temple ritual Joseph Smith was borrowing not only the teaching method but also the narrative of Adam's being initiated a Freemason with signs and tokens that directly referred to the narrative of Adam's life.