Moderns do not go as far as bloodshed over the word "HELE" (pronounced HAIL), but of the determinations of philologists and Masonic authorities who may well be considered final, now and then some more or less learned Freemason wishes to change either the meaning of the word or its pronunciation, or its spelling, or any two, or all three!
"HELE" is almost invariably associated with the word "conceal" (as it should be) and "HELE and conceal" may be translated by transposition- "conceal and HELE". "HELE" is and old Anglo-Saxon belan, meaning to conceal. "Conceal" is Norman, and means to hide. Dr. Pease has well brought out that in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries language in England was part Norman-French and part Anglo-Saxon and that early ritual writers, desiring to make sure that no misunderstanding was possible, often expressed ideas in word pairs, one word from each language. Hence such phrases as "HELE and conceal", "parts and points". "Free will and accord", etc.
To the objections of those who contend that "HELE" should be pronounced "heel" because it rhymes with "conceal and reveal" the answer is that in the early days of the language, our "conceal" was pronounced :consayle" and our reveal was pronounced "revayle".
The word "HELE" (meaning to hide) has no connection with the word "heal" meaning to make whole again, or Masonically, make legitimate, nor with the word "heel", meaning part of the foot, or with the word "hale", meaning in good health, or the word "hail" meanining to call to or to greet