Where the hero triumphs when he accepts his own death
The secret handshake of the Master Mason is the most complex of the three degrees. Commonly known as “the lion’s claw,” the thumb and little finger are used as a grip, while the other three press against the inside of the brother Mason’s wrist. Historically this was done with the body in a particular position, known as the five points of friendship-foot to foot, knee to knee, chest to chest, a hand on the other’s back and cheeks touching. This practice was abandoned in the twentieth century. The secret name of this handshake is MAHABONE, and the special way of spelling it out is by dividing it into three syllables: MA-HA-BONE.