Spoken only "mouth to ear," at "low breath" (US, 1826 and 1866)
Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upLens: our readingOpen: not yet provenCode: a stated code
Year: 1826
SUMMARYSpoken only "mouth to ear," at "low breath" (US, 1826 and 1866) [Connections: Word coding & Masonic method, Nov 5, 2026]
RECORDMorgan's obligation says the Master's word may be given only "on the five points of fellowship, and then not above my breath" (p. 74). The five points are "foot to foot," "knee to knee," "breast to breast," "hand to back," and "mouth to ear" (p. 84), "in which position alone you are permitted to give the word" (p. 84). The candidate "must never give it in any manner other than that in which he receives it" (p. 85). The Royal Arch words, too, "are given at low breath" (Duncan p. 224)
CODEThese are documented rules for passing words on by voice alone
PATTERNOral passing makes changes in sound likely, which helps explain why spellings vary between texts (for example Mahhahbone vs. Mah-hah-bone, Seboleth vs. Sibboleth)
LENS (WW9)Words handed down by mouth do shift in sound. That is a documented reason to track sound, and also a reason not to over-read one spelling
OPENnone for the basic facts
SOURCEMorgan (mirror), pp. 74, 84–85; Duncan, Royal Arch (mirror), p. 224.