217 | Did Sir Christopher Wren Shape Freemasonry? | The Wren Theory (#11 of 12)

Did England's greatest architect help shape modern Freemasonry?For generations, many Masons believed that Sir Christopher Wren served as the bridge between the medieval operative builders and the emerging speculative fraternity.But does the historical evidence support that claim?In Episode 217 of Masonic Muscle: The Origin War, we investigate Theory #11 from Brother Kenneth R.H. Mackenzie's Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia (1877) and examine why Wren became one of the most enduring figures in Masonic origin literature.More importantly, we ask whether admiration has sometimes been mistaken for evidence.In This EpisodeTheory #11 of the 12 Origin Theories of Freemasonry• Sir Christopher Wren• The Great Fire of London (1666)• St. Paul's Cathedral• The rebuilding of London• Anderson's Constitutions• The transition from operative to speculative MasonryWhy association is not the same as causationBattlefield QuestionDid Sir Christopher Wren help create speculative Freemasonry......or did later generations of Masons place England's greatest architect into their origin story because he represented everything the Craft admired?Continue the InvestigationRoyal Masonic Cyclopaediahttps://archive.org/details/royalmasoniccycl00mackAnderson's Constitutions (1723)https://archive.org/details/constitutionsoff00andeThe Origins of Freemasonry — David StevensonThe Craft — John HamillThe Pocket History of Freemasonry — Pick & KnightInternet Archivehttps://archive.orgSacred Textshttps://www.sacred-texts.comNext BattlefieldNext we conclude Brother Kenneth Mackenzie's twelve origin theories with one of the most important figures in early speculative Masonry:Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers.The Origin War continues.Strengthening the Craft... one degree at a time.