I think it is safe to say that Freemasonry everywhere, of whatever rank or degree, have always shown a keen interest in the origins and history of the Craft. This is well illustrated by the fact that scholars of England, France, Germany, and North America have, over the last 250 years published a great number of papers, essays, and books on this subject.

Succeeding writers more fully developed theories of the establishment of the Order at the Temple of Jerusalem and the division of the Craft into Lodges, with degrees and offices. In short, an organization precisely such as now exists. So important, and indeed essential, to speculative Masonry is the Temple of Solomon as a symbol, that to eradicate it from Masonic symbolism would be equivalent to destroying the identity of the institution.

They attempted to solve the complex question of the origin of Freemasonry in the following way - In ancient Rome, almost from its origin, there existed certain Guilds or corporations of workmen, which are well known in history as the Roman Colleges of Artificers. From the Roman writers we learn that there was a great similarity in their form of government to that of the modern Masonic Lodges, especially in their initiations and the instructions to which candidates for admission and younger members were subjected. The "authentic" historians do not claim, as their "mystical" counterparts might have done, that these colleges were in fact Masonic Lodges. They do, however, contend that the facts of history prove that Freemasonry of today derives from these Roman Guilds, although important changes have taken place.

When Rome fell, the descendants of the Roman Colleges of Artificers established schools of architecture throughout Europe. The principal seat of this body of architects was Como, a city in Lombardy. From this school of Master Masons and architects grew the society of architects and builders who were known at that time by the name of Freemasons. They traveled all over Europe designing and building the magnificent cathedrals, churches and monasteries of that period. These Freemasons were necessarily operative masons, working at the craft with their hands. However, as time went by, a certain number of non-operative masons were admitted. These were high ecclesiastics, wealthy nobles, and men of science who were patrons of the art. The operative Masons always held the ascendancy in numbers until the seventeenth century, but the speculative Masons exerted a greater influence by reason of the higher culture, wealth and social position.

In time there came a total and permanent severance of the two elements. At the beginning of the 18th century there were several lodges in England but for a long time there had been no meeting of a great assembly. In the year 1717 Freemasonry was revived and the Grand Lodge of England established by four of the Lodges which then existed in London.

Personally, I am inclined to the theory that the Romans probably based the system of government used in their colleges on what they had learned form a more ancient society. Is it too far-fetched to assume that this ancient society was in fact that which existed at the time of the building of the Temple in Jerusalem? I think not.

Exerpts from a paper prepared and delivered by Bro. Peter Atkinson, Senior Warden, Star of the West Lodge, No. 34 to Lamont Lodge, No. 94; District Masonic Education;
9 Nov 1970; Published in Grand Lodge Bulletin; GRA; March, 1971.

Submitted by;
Ian m. Donald
PM Hillcrest Ldg. #594 GRC, Ensor Ldg. #729 GLKY