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Appendant bodies: Masonically affiliated groups that Masons or their relatives may join.
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Degree: One of three progressive stages of advancement in the lodge, conferred using a ritual ceremony; additional degrees are conferred by appendant bodies.
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Grand Lodge: A governing organization with authority over the individual lodges in its jurisdiction.
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Grip or token: A special identifying handshake used by Masons to identify each other, different for each degree.
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Hoodwink: Blindfold worn by candidates during portions of degree ceremonies.
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Initiated: The completion by a candidate of the 1st Masonic degree.
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Light: Masonic knowledge.
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Lodge: A group of Freemasons assembling under the authority of a charter issued by a Grand Lodge; also a building or a room where Masons meet.
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Operative: The period of Freemasonry when Masons actually worked with stone and constructed buildings
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Passed: The completion by a Mason of the 2nd degree.
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Profane: A non-Mason.
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Raised: The completion by a Mason of the 3rd degree.
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Recognized: The agreement between Masonic Grand Lodges that each other’s rules and customs conform to a certain accepted standard.
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Regular: A classification of Freemasonry that practices customs which conform to the laws and regulations of a Grand Lodge.
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Sign: A hand gesture used as a mode of identification between Masons, different for each degree.
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Sitting in the East: The position in the lodge room where the Worshipful Master sits, also known as the Oriental chair; lodges are symbolically situated east and west.
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Speculative: Freemasonry as practiced today, using the symbolism of Operative Masons to build character in men.
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Step: A position of the feet used as a mode of recognition between Masons, different for each degree.
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Word or pass: A password used as a mode of recognition between Masons, different for each degree.
