411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Speculative Masonry
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Etymology
From the belief that Freemasonry originated as an intellectual or “speculative” derivative of the ancient precepts of practical masonry.
Proper noun
Speculative Masonry
en archaic Freemasonry, as distinct from masonry in its ordinary sense relating to construction.
en Operative Masonry
en 18 September 1875 Freemasonry—An Advancive Science The Freemason’s Chronicle 2 38 180 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4W4tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA180 The whole scope and design of Speculative Masonry is to produce advancement in morality and virtue.