Hermetic Masonry

This text by A.E. Waite explores the origins of Speculative Freemasonry, questioning the commonly held belief that it directly descended from medieval operative guilds. The author argues that Hermetic schools, specifically Alchemical, Rosicrucian, and Kabalistic traditions, played a crucial role in transforming operative Masonry into a speculative fraternity focused on philosophical and spiritual pursuits around the mid-17th century. Elias Ashmole's initiation into Freemasonry in 1646 is presented as a key event, potentially symbolizing this transition, although the Waite acknowledges a lack of conclusive historical evidence. The text ultimately suggests that Hermetic influence, rather than a direct lineage, shaped the symbolism and spiritual aspects of Freemasonry, culminating in a blend of operative and speculative practices by the early 18th century.