The history of freemasonry : its legends and traditions, its chronological history . that timeto go. Whatever modifications he subsequently made by the in-vention of degrees which at once established a new system were theresults of afterthoughts suggested to his mind by a sequence otcircumstances. That the change from Operative to Speculative Freemasonrywas of gradual growth, we know from the authentic records thatare before us. In the year 1717 we find an Operative guild presenting itself incold simplicity of organization as a body of practical workmen towhom were joined some honorary members
The history of freemasonry : its legends and traditions, its chronological history . that timeto go. Whatever modifications he subsequently made by the in-vention of degrees which at once established a new system were theresults of afterthoughts suggested to his mind by a sequence otcircumstances. That the change from Operative to Speculative Freemasonrywas of gradual growth, we know from the authentic records thatare before us. In the year 1717 we find an Operative guild presenting itself incold simplicity of organization as a body of practical workmen towhom were joined some honorary members, who were not Crafts-men ; with an imperfect and almost obsolete system of by-laws;with bur one form of admission; with secrets common to all classes,and whicu were of little or no importance, for the architectural andgeometrical secrets of the mediaeval Craft had been lost; and finallywith an insignificant and unpolished ritual, a mere catechism forwandering brethren to test their right to the privileges and thehospitality of the Fraternity. COLOGNE CATHEDRAL Akftaamso av^oioo. THE DEATH OF OPERATIVE FREEMASONRY 1009 Six years after, in 1723, this association of workmen has disap-peared, its place we find a new society which has been erectedon the foundations of that edifice which has crumbled into ruins ; asociety that has repudiated all necessary knowledge of the art ofbuilding ; to which workmen may be admitted, not because theyare workmen, but because they are men of good character and ofexemplary conduct; with a well-framed code of laws for its govern-ment ; with three degrees, with three forms of initiation, and withsecrets exclusively appropriated to each ; and with rituals which,produced by cultured minds, present the germs of a science ofsymbolism. Operative Freemasonry no longer wields the scepter; it has de-scended from its throne into its grave, and Speculative Freemasonry,as a living form, has assumed the vacant seat. That the transmutation was gradually a
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