The sign is made by raising both hands in the air with palms facing out. It looks like someone holding up their arms, as in being help-up. According to some conspiracy theorists, if a Mason ever finds himself in a court law and wishes to appeal to the Masons on the Jury or the Judge, he can perform the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress, and get a chance at getting off. Any mason hearing those words are seeing that sign is oathbound to help by any means possible. The sign consists of raising your hand up precisely like someone getting held-up. It might look a suspicious if a mason attempted to use this sign in Court according to some legends… According to Duncan’s Monitor, not only does the sign consist of raising your arms up, which itself would probably arouse suspicion, it also involves dropping your hands down straight down and back up

You’d look like a bird attempting to take flight…