The Worshipful Society of Operative Freemasons

An Introduction to the WORSHIPFUL SOCIETY OF FREE MASONS, ROUGH MASONS, WALLERS, SLATERS, PAVIORS, PLAISTERERS AND BRICKLAYERS

“THE OPERATIVES”

A Masonic Society which exists to perpetuate a memorial of the practices of operative Free Masons existing prior to modern speculative Freemasonry. Membership of the Society is restricted to those who are Master Masons, Mark Master Masons and Holy Royal Arch Companions in good standing.

An Assemblage of Lodges consists of one Lodge each of the degrees IV° to the I°, four Lodges in all, at work in a certain location. In theory each lodge is a separate entity working under a qualified Master of the VI°, who has been deputed by the Grand Master Masons to take charge of the work therein performed. The V° and VI° lodges operate under the auspices of Grand Assemblage and the VII° Lodge is under the direct control of the Grand Master Masons.

Lodges are briefly referred to as Lodges of:

I° Indentured Apprentices (Bro.), II° Fellows of the Craft (Bro.),
III° Fitters and Markers (Bro.), IV° Setter Erectors (Bro.),
V° Super Intendents (Wy.Bro.), VI° Passed Masters (W.Bro.),

VII° Passed Master honoris causa (Rt.W.Bro.) & VII° Grand Master Mason (M.W.Bro.).

Currently the three Grand Master Masons are:

The day-to-day administration is currently carried out by the Grand Clerk:

Rt.W.Bro. David Joyce VII°

Grand Assemblage meets on the 4^th Tuesday in September at Mark Masons Hall.

The Society’s Headquarters is situated at 166, Great North Road, The Green, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EH.

Rt.W.Bro. Dr Miguel Godfrey VII° is the Deputy Grand Master Mason and Senior Passed Master deputed to rule over the South Eastern Counties region.

The regalia is minimal, consisting of a blue cord or blue collarette from which is suspended the badge of the member’s grade. Badges are simply exchanged as progression is made. All members wear the distinctive Society tie.

The Society has ordinarily generated considerable loyalty and affection among its members and, in addition to the merits of its ceremonies and practices, one reason is that the Society fills a notable gap in the masonic structure.

The Operatives exists to ensure that we do not all forget the practices of the ancient stone masons.

The Society has thirty-three Regions, in excess of two thousand five hundred members in over one hundred Assemblages.

You can find an informative lecture introducing the Order by the First Grand Master Mason Rt.W.Bro. Paul Mycock VII° by following this link.