What is the typical subject of the "Word" in the Master Mason degree?

• A. It is the password to open the lodge door.
• B. It is the sacred password or knowledge associated with the Master Mason, kept secret and not spoken outside the lodge; the focus is on fidelity to the oath.
• C. It is the name of the current Worshipful Master.
• D. It is a common greeting used by Brethren.

Answer: (B)

The Word in the Master Mason degree is the sacred secret entrusted to a Master Mason—the knowledge or password that is kept within the lodge and not spoken outside. It symbolizes fidelity to the oath and the inner obligation of the Craft. In the ritual context, the emphasis is on guarding this secret as a sign of trustworthiness and commitment to the duties of a Master Mason.

This isn’t about the lodge door password, the name of the current Worshipful Master, or a common greeting. Those ideas don’t capture the deeper meaning of the Word as a personal pledge and a symbol of secret knowledge belonging to the Master Mason degree.