Many theories exist about the origins of Freemasonry but no one knows for sure when or how our fraternity began. One of the more widely excepted theories is that Medieval Stonemasons, who were highly skilled craftsmen, were urgently needed at various building projects in different countries. Therefore, the church and state gave them the privilege of traveling freely from project to project.

Masonic scholars are not sure of the exact time at which our Craft (the Masonic fraternity) came into being and many theories have been advanced through the years. One of the more plausible is that modern Freemasonry came from the “lodges” which traveling stonemasons formed at building sites in Europe during the Middle Ages. They established the apprentice-to-journeyman-to-master system of educating men in their craft. They also kept secret their methods of building and used passwords and other means to identify themselves to each other as masons. In addition, they gave apprentices and journeymen moral instruction.

With the growth of cities, the Renaissance, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and a decline in the demand for great building projects, the special privileges of stonemasons as traveling craftsmen disappeared. As a result they began to take in non-masons as patrons. In the 17th century, this led large numbers of “speculative” or non-working masons to become members of the stonemason “lodges.” By the end of that century, Masonic lodges were almost wholly speculative, made up of Masons who never touched a chisel to stone.

These new Freemasons kept the old traditions. Today, we still begin new members as Entered Apprentices, the as Fellowcrafts (journeymen) and finally Master Masons. We preserve some of the original secrecy of how we teach friendship, morality, brotherly love, relief and truth, and we still utilize the old passwords and signs.