"The moors trace alot of their lineage back to that part of the world. In Morocco and northern Africa. I understand they were active during different time frames... My point is they were a vital link between ancient freemasonry (african not greek)and modern western civilization's version(European) of freemasonry. "
- Operative/speculative Freemasonry didn't exist outside of Europe for a long time. During the Enlightenment, the rediscovery of ancient cultures helped influence the people who would later influence Masonry. I believe that The Mysteries, specifically the initiatory and degree or grade system was used as a model by those who had a hand in the formation of the rituals. That doesn't mean that Freemasonry is a direct descendant of these
Mystery institutions, rather it was recognized that it proved successful to the specific nature of the craft. That, with other concepts such as grips that stonemasons used to recognize each other, also proved successful. Because Freemasonry as we know it was spawned during the Enlightenment, Many other pervading ideas were incorporated into it.
Prior to the stonemasons we knew the Romans were the ones who knew the building and mathematical techniques used to erects massive structures.
