Post by stepnwolf on Dec 28, 2012 12:14:57 GMT 9.5
The due-guard is a sign taken from the position of the hands while repeating the Ob. in each of the three degrees and to the penalty described in each. It seems to be almost universal in American old line masonry but found rarely in Europe with the reported exception of Irish LL (only for 1° and 3°).
There is some disagreement as to the derivation of the term. Mackey asserts that it means “duly guard” or “properly guarded,” referring to the Ob itself. Others assert it rose from the French Dieu Garde and the earlier form dieu vous garde = God keep you. If it is French, how did it reach the States without affecting British workings?
Another interesting theory is that the Due-Guard acts as a keeper-ring, which keeps the valuable ring on the finger by holding it in place while the keeper-ring might slip off. This sign could be viewed as insurance against the loss of the some of the secrets of the Ob. by repeating them in the sign.
The Due-Guards in Irish Lodges, which has only one for 1° and another for 3°, might point to the time when there were only two degrees. Just as easily it could suggest that the one for the 2° was lost.
To visualize how the Due-Guard is given, one stands upright and puts the hands in the same position taken with regard to the VSL on the A. Note the position of the hands. That very closely resembles the Due-Guard of the degree.
There is some disagreement as to the derivation of the term. Mackey asserts that it means “duly guard” or “properly guarded,” referring to the Ob itself. Others assert it rose from the French Dieu Garde and the earlier form dieu vous garde = God keep you. If it is French, how did it reach the States without affecting British workings?
Another interesting theory is that the Due-Guard acts as a keeper-ring, which keeps the valuable ring on the finger by holding it in place while the keeper-ring might slip off. This sign could be viewed as insurance against the loss of the some of the secrets of the Ob. by repeating them in the sign.
The Due-Guards in Irish Lodges, which has only one for 1° and another for 3°, might point to the time when there were only two degrees. Just as easily it could suggest that the one for the 2° was lost.
To visualize how the Due-Guard is given, one stands upright and puts the hands in the same position taken with regard to the VSL on the A. Note the position of the hands. That very closely resembles the Due-Guard of the degree.
