When did Freemasonry start?
Freemasonry's origins can be traced back to the operative stonemasons' guilds of the Middle Ages, which were responsible for constructing the great cathedrals and castles of Europe. These guilds had their own secrets and rituals related to their craft, passed down through generations. The transition to speculative Freemasonry began in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when men not directly involved in stonework were admitted as 'accepted' members, bringing their own moral and philosophical interpretations to the existing traditions.
The formal establishment of the modern Grand Lodge of England in 1717 is widely considered a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of organized, speculative Freemasonry. This event unified existing lodges and laid the groundwork for the fraternity's global expansion, as noted in The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey.