Barefoot.

Barefoot. The ritual of the Royal Arch Degree makes use of the injunction given by the Lord unto Moses (Exodus 3:5): ”put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” There was a similar command given to Joshua (Joshua 5:15). But there is a question as to how much this custom was religious and how much merely polite social conduct, for it was the habit throughout the ancient East to remove the foot covering, usually sandals, upon entering even a private house, and sometimes for the host to wash the feet of the guests. Perhaps such was only the more mandatory upon entering a temple or other holy place. This custom seems to be distinct from the pledge of good faith by surrendering a shoe to the pledgee, and also distinct from the slip shod condition.