The secret word “Mahabone” means “the door to the Grand Lodge opened.” The Lion’s Grip is used to whisper it into the ear of a candidate as they move up to the third degree of Freemasonry.

Masonic scholars say that the word “mahabone” has its roots in the year 967 B.C. Hiram Abiff, who was a mason, said he knew the secret of the temple. Then, Abiff was taken by three people who said they would kill him if he didn’t tell them the secret. He was killed because he didn’t want to talk.

When King Solomon heard that Abiff had died, he told a group of masons to find Abiff’s body and give back the secret to the temple. But the body was never found. The King decided to set up a new secret, which is thought to be mahabone.