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aedifico42| Operative v. Speculative

Posted at: 11:25 am

Our ritual makes a clear distinction between O-Masons and the S-Masons.  This distinction, like so much of our ritual, is a simplistic description of what Freemasonry is really about.

In today’s Lodges, your occupation does not matter.  Our Lodge is filled with Electricians, Rebar guys, Probation Officers, Welders, Lawyers, Insurance salesmen, Retirees (from a wide variety of jobs and military) and a whole mix of others.  To my knowledge, we have no real bricklayers or mortar-haulers.  But we are still Masons.

We are not all Operative and Speculative.  Operative Masons are those that read and study the ritual.  They memorize and repeat it in our gatherings with flair and composure.  They are the bards of our noble Craft, communicating in the old style the poetry and pageantry of those arcane phrases and obscure references.  These ritualists, while invaluable to the Craft and supremely important to the value of our fraternity, are not Ss.  They are the Os.  And they are right to be proudly carrying that mantle forward for our cause.

Ss, on the other hand, recognize that the ritual is a veil - a shimmering scarf draped over the mystical face of our Craft - and her true beauty is revealed only when we look deeper than what the surface reveals.

There is where we will find the ‘hidden mysteries’ of our Craft.  A ‘virtuous education and our own endeavors’ will allow us to perfect the rough ashlar. 

Os are necessary and noble…they are a must have for the survival of Freemasonry.  But to thrive, we must learn, teach, study…think.  It is our duty.

The distinction that I address - that of O v. S - is one of perception not position.  I do not intimate that the Os are inferior to the Ss, but without the deep meditation and significant outside inquiry into all of the arts and sciences, we are but parrots.

I see a Craft, sometime in the future, overflowing with Speculative Masons…REAL Speculative Masons.  While we are not there yet, it is coming.  Are you and O or an S?  Personally, I am working towards S.  I recognize the value and importance of Operative Masonry (as described above), but it is not enough.  It is not enough to know those simple lessons in our ritual, to confuse memorization for knowledge.  It is simply not enough.

Aspiring to that higher plane of understanding…that is the goal of our Craft.  Together, we chan achieve this…but not without great work. 

Lastly, I emplore each of you to meditate on the distinction between the Os and the Ss.  Is ritual enough?  I say no.  Deep thought, honest and open conversation, learning and teaching…these are the only methods by which true enlightenment can be achieved. 

To this end, then, I challenge all Masons to be competent Os…and ever striving Ss.

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