What are operative masons?
Operative masons were skilled craftsmen during the Middle Ages who were primarily involved in the construction of buildings, particularly cathedrals and other significant structures. They were the de facto guardians of geometry and played a crucial role in the transmission of geometric knowledge through initiation and apprenticeship. As noted by James C. Stewart in his paper, Freemasonry and the Transmission of Geometry, "the history of freemasonry finds its origins in the operative lodges and guilds of the Middle Ages, passed on through various ecclesiastical orders from the remnants of the Roman collegia". This indicates that operative masons not only built but also preserved and transmitted important knowledge and skills that would later influence speculative masonry.