How did Freemasonry evolve from operative to speculative?
Freemasonry evolved from operative to speculative through a gradual transformation that began in the Middle Ages. Initially, operative masons were skilled craftsmen who formed guilds to regulate their trade and impart knowledge. These guilds, known as lodges, were primarily focused on the practical aspects of masonry, including the construction of cathedrals and other significant buildings. As the demand for such construction declined in the early 17th century, these lodges began to admit non-operative members, or 'Accepted Masons', who were not involved in the physical craft of masonry.
By the end of the 17th century, the operative element within the lodges had weakened significantly, leading to a predominance of speculative members. This shift culminated in 1717 when four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge, marking the official transition to speculative Freemasonry. This new form of Freemasonry focused on moral and philosophical teachings, using the symbols and tools of the operative masons as allegories for personal and spiritual development. As noted in *The ABCs of Freemasonry* by Delmar Darrah, 'the present system of speculative Freemasonry had its beginnings in the old operative guilds of traveling Freemasons'.