Is there definitive information on the origins of Freemasonry being traceable to Operative Masonic Guilds from 14th and 15th centuries or earlier?
Yes, there is substantial evidence suggesting that the origins of Freemasonry can be traced back to the Operative Masonic Guilds of the 14th and 15th centuries. According to various scholars, Freemasonry seems to have arisen from the craftsmen's guilds shortly after the Norman Conquest. The masons did not form guilds in the traditional sense but rather established 'Lodges' associated with specific quarries or buildings. These Lodges aimed to regulate trade, uphold moral standards, and impart trade knowledge to younger members. The earliest Masonic manuscripts, such as the Regius Manuscript (circa A.D. 1390) and the Cooke Manuscript (15th Century), indicate that these Lodges had requirements for secrecy and began admitting non-operative members, known as 'Accepted Masons', early on. Over time, the Operative element in these Lodges diminished, leading to a predominance of Speculative Masonry by the end of the 17th century.
As noted in the paper WHAT SHALL WE TELL THE CANDIDATE? by Bro. J. R. Dashwood, 'the earliest Masonic manuscripts now extant date from about A.D. 1400 and are known as the Regius and Cooke Manuscripts. Both contain the injunction to secrecy on Lodge matters, and both show that, even in these early times, the Lodges admitted members who were not working masons'.