booknetsaWebster-secretSocietiesAndSubversiveMovements

CHAPTER V
ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY
" THE origin of Freemasonry," says a masonic writer of the eighteenth century, " is known to Freemasons
alone."(1) If this was once the case, it is so no longer, for, although the question would certainly appear
to be one on which the initiated should be most qualified to speak, the fact is that no official theory on the
origin of Freemasonry exists; the great mass of the Freemasons do not know or care to know anything about
the history of their Order, whilst Masonic authorities are entirely disagreed on the matter. Dr. Mackey admits
that " the origin and source whence first sprang the institution of Freemasonry has given rise to more
difference of opinion and discussion among masonic scholars than any other topic in the literature of the institution."(2)
Nor is this ignorance maintained merely in books for the general public, since in those specially
addressed to the Craft and at discussions in lodges the same diversity of opinion prevails, and no decisive
conclusions appear to be reached. Thus Mr. Albert Churchward, a Freemason of the thirtieth degree,
who deplores the small amount of interest taken in his matter by Masons in general, observes: Hitherto there
have been so many contradictory opinions and theories in the attempt to supply the origin and the reason
whence, where, and why the Brotherhood of Freemasonry came into existence, and all the " different parts "
and various rituals of the " different degrees." All that has been written on this has hitherto been theories,
without any facts for their foundation.(3)
In the absence, therefore, of any origin universally recognized by the Craft, it is surely open to the lay
mind to speculate on the matter and to draw conclusions from history as to which of the many explanations
put forward seems to supply the key to the mystery.
According to the Royal Masonic Cyclopædia, no less than twelve theories have been advanced as to the
origins of the Order, namely, that Masonry derived: " (1) From the patriarchs. (2) From the mysteries of the
pagans. (3) From the construction of Solomon's Temple. (4) From the Crusades. (5) From the Knights Templar.
(6) From the Roman Collegia of Artificers. (7) From the operative masons of the middle ages. (8) From
the Rosicrucians of the sixteenth century. (9) From Oliver Cromwell. (10) From Prince Charles Stuart for
political purposes. (11) From Sir Christopher Wren, at the building of St. Paul's. (12) From Dr. Desaguliers
and his friends in 1717."
This enumeration is, however, misleading, for it implies that in one of these various theories the true origin
of Freemasonry may be found. In reality modern Freemasonry is a dual system, a blend of two distinct
traditions-of operative masonry, that is to say the actual art of building, and of speculative theory on the
great truths of life and death. As a well-known Freemason, the Count Goblet d'Alviella, has expressed it: "
Speculative Masonry" (that is to say, the dual system we now know as Freemasonry) " is the legitimate offspring
of a fruitful union between the professional guild of medival Masons and of a secret group of philosophical
Adepts, the first having furnished the form and the second the spirit."(4) In studying the origins of
the present system we have therefore (1) to examine separately the history of each of these two traditions,
and (2) to discover their point of junction.
Operative Masonry
Beginning with the first of these two traditions, we find that guilds of working masons existed in very
ancient times. Without going back as far as ancient Egypt or Greece, which would be beyond the scope of
the present work, the course of these associations may be traced throughout the history of Western Europe
from the beginning of the Christian era. According to certain masonic writers, the Druids originally came
from Egypt and brought with them traditions relating to the art of building. The Culdees, who later on established
schools and colleges in this country for the teaching of arts, sciences, and handicrafts, are said to have
derived from the Druids.
But a more probable source of inspiration in the art of building are the Romans, who established the
famous Collegia of architects referred to in the list of alternative theories given in the Masonic Cyclopædia.
Advocates of the Roman Collegia origin of Freemasonry may be right as far as operative masonry is concerned,
for it is to the period following on the Roman occupation of Britain that our masonic guilds can with
the greatest degree of certainty be traced. Owing to the importance the art of building now acquired it is said
that many distinguished men, such as St. Alban, King Alfred, King Edwin, and King Athelstan were
numbered amongst its partons,(5) so that in time the guilds came to occupy the position of privileged bodies
and were known as " free corporations"; further that York was the first masonic centre in England, largely
under the control of the Culdees, who at the same period exercised much influence over the Masonic Col-
Nesta H. Webster — Secret Societies and Subversive Movements — Part I
— 58 —