The “Old Charges” are documents dating back to the 1200’s, that describe the structure of Masonic lodges. The earliest describe the laws and customs of operative stone masons guilds, which were later incorporated into the laws and rules governing the speculative lodges as we know them today. They consist of approximately 32 known manuscripts dated from 1248 up to 1730 after the formation of the Grand Lodge of England. In reviewing these documents one can see the roots of Freemasonry, and begin to understand how speculative masonry was started.