When I was a Mason in California we didn't do it but here we do. As to why I'm not sure. It may be a way to show respect. We cross our arms Left uppermost over right.
It is a sign of the slain master hiram Abiff and alludes to the position arms are placed at burial since all "raised" master Masonic go through a symbolic death and are brought to light and a raised perpendicular. It later became a battle flag of the templar marine force on ships, later adopted by Buccaneers, corsairs and pirates. Many notable pirates were masons,hence the pirate code mimicking many of the ancient landmarks of freemasonry as dies the constitution. Famous Masonic pirates were sanctioned by england to raid the Spanish fleets to combat European inflation of the Spanish gold pilfering of americas...interestingly,most conquistadors were also freemasons as were other early explorers. A small scottish rite flags on the moon, which wasloosly attachedtoBuzz Aldrins space suit.
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