How It Began:

The actual beginning of Freemasonry is itself the cause of much confusion, even among its members, for there is disagreement concerning the fraternity's earliest origins. There are those who find evidences of Freemasonry dating back to the Roman Empire. Others mark its beginning in ancient Egypt. You can find almost as many theories as there are Masonic researchers. This account will not concern itself with conflicting viewpoints, dealing only with that with which all are in general agreement.

The name Freemason appeared as early as 1212 in connection with the master builders who traveled about Europe erecting the wonderful churches and cathedrals, many of which still stand and which attest to the truly amazing building arts of the craftsmen in that early age. These builders were called Freemasons because they were a privileged class, not subject to servitude or taxes, and free to travel about when many were in bondage.

The Freemasons were jealous of their art, guarding against any proliferation which could cheapen it or could cause them to be in less demand. They knew that so long as their art was practiced only by relatively few craftsmen, the demand for their services would continue and the particular freedoms they enjoyed would persist. But they were also aware of the necessity that their work should continue, that the secrets of their craft must be passed on to future generations.

So the Freemasons formed themselves into lodges in which their secrets might be taught and preserved. They were naturally most selective of those making application to join their lodges, determined that the secrets of their art should be handed down only to those morally and otherwise fit to receive and perpetuate them. To qualify, an applicant had to be of good reputation, he could have no physical impairment, he had to be recommended by members of the craft, and he could be neither too old nor too young to learn and perform the tasks he sought to undertake.

When an applicant had been properly investigated and found to be in all particulars suitable for admission, he was elected and entered upon the rolls as an apprentice. (Remember entered as an apprentice, you will read more of it later.) The new apprentice was set to work under the supervision of the master masons (another term to remember) and had seven years in which to prove his skill and his worth Having successfully completed his seven-year apprenticeship, he was permitted to submit his "master's piece" to the master and wardens of the lodge for their inspection and judgment. If it did not receive favorable judgment, he was assigned to further instruction; if the judgment was favorable, he became a fellow of the craft and was made privy to certain secrets not previously revealed to him. (The designations fellow of the craft, master, and wardens are additional terms that will be referred to later in this account.)

The old practicing Freemasons, popularly called operative Masons, were highly regarded not only for their great building achievements, but also for their circumspect behavior and their loyalty to their fellows. Many sought admission to their lodges, few were chosen.

Master Masons, the most skilled of the craftsmen, adopted individual marks. As they built, they inscribed their marks upon certain stones to distinguish their work. Recent evidence of this practice came to light when the White House was rebuilt during the presidency of Harry S. Truman, many of the old stones removed from the walls bore Masons' marks. President Truman arranged for each Masonic grand lodge in the United States to receive one of the marked stones which had been originally set in place during the 1790s.

The reader interested in finding more detailed accounts of Freemasonry's beginnings may do so in any good public library.

The Masonic Ring by Howie Damron