Tradition vs. History

In each of our post-Degree lectures, two terms are commonly used. "Masonic Tradition" and "History". They are specifically used because it is important to distinguish between what we now have recorded and what we believe. A sharp demarcation occurs On St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1717. Remember that date. From then forward, what we have is History. Before it, we have Masonic Tradition.

Whence Came We?

There are scant few historical facts regarding our earliest beginnings. There are, however, many popular romantic notions, some with bigger followings than others. So-called "Secret Societies" and fraternal Brotherhoods have existed from the first formation of society. These organizations used ceremonies, symbols, emblems, private modes of recognition, promises or obligations and the concept of fraternalism or Brotherhood. Whenever and however Freemasonry was born, it employed these same, already-tested means of imparting its teachings and forming its bonds.

It is an undeniable fact that about 1390, an unknown Brother in England wrote a beautiful and lengthy manuscript, which described in some detail a fraternal society that we today know as Freemasonry. Even at that time, more than 600 years past, our Noble Craft was older than anyone could remember. Freemasonry (or rather that philosophy that is at the heart of Freemasonry) has really existed from Time Immemorial.

When the Regis Manuscript was written, what existed was Operative Masonry. Our ancient Brethren worked with stone and mortar, building great buildings. They were called "Masons", and those who were most proficient in their craft were called "Freemasons", being free to work their craft withersoever they might travel. These "Freemasons" designed, coordinated and built the great Cathedrals and other stately edifices throughout Europe.

These massive undertakings often required years to complete, and the Freemasons that were employed in the construction organized Lodges to facilitate the every-day business necessary to allow them to do their Great Work. These Lodges normally met in rooms within the building. Each Lodge was governed by a Master and his Wardens, a Secretary maintained the books and records, a Treasurer oversaw the funds, a charity fund assisted the members provided relief for Freemasons and their families when in need. The Lodge met regularly, initiated members, and conducted its business.

Sound familiar?

The great artists of the Middle Ages did not work in oils, or pastels. They worked in marble, stone, and mortar. Their canvasses were not made of parchment, but of hillsides and valleys. The beauty of, and in, their work stands to this day as testimony to their skill, their genius and their knowledge of the arts and sciences, particularly Architecture, Mechanics and Geometry. They did not come by this expertise easily, or quickly.

From as early as the age of ten, young boys were selected for their physical, mental and moral attributes, and Apprenticed to a Master of the Work. They would begin learning the skills and philosophies of the Craft, and if they showed sufficient promise, their names were entered in the records of the Lodge, making them Entered Apprentices. For seven years or more, the Master was Teacher, Mentor, Father, Taskmaster, Supporter, Guide and Friend to the young apprentice. The apprentice learned, at the hands of the Master, how to select stones for form and beauty, work the stone into an Ashler and place it strategically in the edifice to become wall, arch, pillar, column, floor, roof, window, sculpture or decoration. At the end of their apprenticeship, once the skills had been mastered, the youth would be tested. His proficiency would be proven by presenting a "Master's piece" to other Masters. If judged worthy, he would be accepted as a Fellow of the Craft.

When a building was finally completed, most Masons had to find other employment, or another building to build within the community. They were not permitted to move about. Freemasons were free to relocate, and would set up a new Lodge to facilitate building a new building.

This was Operative Masonry, and it existed for generations until Euclid's Geometry was rediscovered and published, thereby revealing many of the Freemasons' secret methods. The Reformation came, the Gothic style of Architecture went, laws changed, society underwent upheaval, and the Craft dwindled in number. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Craft had shrunk so, that only a few, widely scattered, lightly populated, Lodges remained.

Until the sixteenth century, in order to become a Freemason, a man had to be a worker in the building trades, an Operative Mason. In an effort to protect the guild, these Freemasons began to accept members who had other reasons to join their Lodges - curiosity, interest in customs, symbolism, or just wanted to associate with these Freemasons. Because these nonOperative Freemasons had never proven themselves with a Master's piece, but had just been accepted as members without actually working as a Mason, they were called Accepted Masons. Because their work was more with the moral and symbolic teachings than the physical ones, they were alternatively called Speculative Masons. Gradually, by the end of the eighteenth century, there were more Speculative or Accepted Masons than Operative ones in Freemasons' Lodges.

History begins

History takes over from Masonic Tradition on St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1717. In the back of a tavern in London, four or more old Lodges of London and Westminster met. They organized a Grand Lodge, and on the same day selected their first Grand Master, Anthony Sayer. Within a few short years, what had once been an Operative trade guild had become a Speculative fraternity. The two Degrees of Operative Masonry became the three Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. Old manuscripts and writings were collected and collated and the first Book of Constitutions was written. This newly formed Grand Lodge began issuing Charters to constituent Lodges all over the world, including the thirteen colonies here. This is the beginning of Speculative Freemasonry, as it exists today.

Other Grand Lodges were formed in Scotland and Ireland and in 1751 a second Grand Lodge was organized in England

In 1730, a Lodge was issued a Charter in Philadelphia. Others in the Americas followed. Provincial Grand Masters were appointed by these Grand Lodges in order to oversee these Lodges so far from home.

In 1776, a war was fought in the Americas, as a result of which all controls from England, and elsewhere, were severed. The several American Grand Lodges had become Sovereign and Independent, beholden to no one. There was much discussion of forming a single National Grand Lodge, with Brother George Washington as Grand Master. Brother Washington's recommendations and the collective wisdom of the Craft prevailed, and the plan was abandoned. As a result, at present, there are 51 Sovereign and Independent mainstream Grand Lodges in the USA.

In March of 1775, Prince Hall and fourteen other free Black men were initiated into Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution. On September 29, 1784, a Warrant was issued to form African Lodge No. 1 in Boston, which eventually gave birth to Prince Hall Masonry. Today there are 39 Prince Hall Grand Lodges in the USA, and 32 of them have formed fraternal Amity with the mainstream Grand Lodges in their areas.

We know that the Masonry we belong to today did not just explode into existence in 1717. We also know that Adam and Eve were not members of our fraternity. Just as a man must go through several stages before he is a man, and just as a building must do the same, our fraternity learned, grew, developed, changed and evolved, adapting itself to the changing world around it, from before anyone can remember to the Grand and Noble Craft we have today. It was built by good men who sincerely wanted to belong to something greater than themselves. We, as the Speculative Freemasons of today, owe it to them to be aware of our humble beginnings, that our future will be even more glorious. We owe it to the principles upon which our superstructure is erected, Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth, Faith, Hope, Charity, Tolerance, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice, to learn, grow, develop, change and evolve - like our beloved Craft.