RE: LeoThread 2025-02-20 16:56
You are viewing a single comment's thread:
Master Mason.
There is a book, the Official Monitor of the Lodge that explains most of the symbology in Masonry. https://www.amazon.com/Official-Monitor-Ancient-Accepted-Masons/dp/1605065595
Most of what can be shared is openly published and available by the lodges. What can't be shared are the secret words, handshakes, and the rituals. This was originally to prevent traveling freemasons (operative) from passing themselves off as Master Masons to earn higher wages than they would as apprentices or fellow crafts. The secrets were essentially your work qualification credentials.
These days, there are very few operative masons. Most present masons are speculative, which means we don't really know how to lay bricks and stones. Operative masons would be the Freemasons. Speculative masons are the Accepted Masons. You'll see lodges with "Example Lodge #21 AF & AM". The AF & AM are Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The term "freemason" refers to a mason who, in old times, was allowed to travel to earn wages, which is distinct from masons who were not able to travel due to guild or feudal obligations. Freemasons, before the fraternity started, were the people who built most of the cathedrals and other European architecture.